Head of Vatican Observatory preparing for fourth NZ trip
Mia Boothroyd was a student at Carmel College in Auckland when Br Guy visited New Zealand for a speaking tour. She is currently a summer school doctoral student at the Vatican Observatory.
The director of the Vatican Observatory will soon make his fourth visit to New Zealand, taking in the Southern Hemisphere skies and sharing his insights on theology, astronomy and science.
Br Guy Consolmagno SJ first travelled to New Zealand in 1996 as part of a trip that featured collecting meteorites from the East Antarctic Plateau and a New Year’s Eve concert headlined by iconic band The Muttonbirds.
His visits have included astronomical observations from Lake Tekapo, exploration of Great Barrier Island and a well-attended speaking tour in 2019.
During the upcoming visit, Br Guy will give talks in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Timaru in early August, as well as spending time at a number of world-renowned sites for stargazing.
As a member of the Society of Jesus, his tour will commence with an event at St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College in Drury, which opened last year with a Jesuit charism.
He will speak at other Catholic schools, at Te Kupenga – Catholic Leadership Institute campuses, at a Christchurch parish and at universities as he makes his way down the country.
While he is looking forward to renewing friendships and offering his thoughts with new groups of people, Br Guy concedes the Southern Hemisphere skies hold great appeal.
“New Zealand is one of the few places of dry land on Earth that’s at the same latitude south as the places where I have lived in the north. Southern stars are not to be missed,” he said.
“But I say that in part because I know that the stars (if not the clear skies needed to see them) can be predicted. The more important part of the trip, the people, can’t be predicted; I am prepared to be surprised.”
Br Guy concedes that life as a scientist and a professed member of a religious order often prompts some interesting questions. After decades of speaking around the world, he has detected a change in recent years.
“I’ve noticed in the past five years or so a fascinating shift in the sorts of questions I get and the attitudes that people have,” he said
“My fellow scientists are much more open now to questions of faith than they were 30 years ago, while there’s been a lot less faith in science among the general public.
“I will be fascinated to see what sorts of questions and conversations I have when I get to New Zealand, to see how these changes are playing out there.”
One line of questioning he’s preparing for is how the new Pope views faith and science.
Br Guy said, of Pope Leo XIV: “Since he’s a mathematician by training, I know he understands the beauty of finding God in our academic search for truth.
“His name is also a good clue; his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, was the Pope who founded the Vatican Observatory!”
Te Kupenga acting chief executive John Kleinsman said the tertiary provider is pleased to be supporting Br Guy’s visit.
“The Catholic tradition is one steeped in the interaction between faith and science, and Br Guy stands at the forefront of that connection today,” Dr Kleinsman said.
“We encourage people to come and hear about some of the wonders of our creation from someone who gazes upon it and reflects on it through a lens of faith.”
Br Guy wonders if his visit might encourage the next generation of scientists or astronomers. A high school student who attended one of his 2019 talks in New Zealand is now a doctoral astronomy student attending the Vatican Observatory Summer School.
See a list of public events below. More information will be posted to Te Kupenga's website and on social media.
AUCKLAND
Friday, August 1 at 2pm
Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College
40 Vermont St, Ponsonby
Topic: When Science Goes Wrong: The Cult of Intelligence
Sunday, August 3 at 1pm
NZ Christians in Science & Auckland University
102-G36, Old Government House, 24 Princes St
Topic: From Galileo to Laudato Si’: Why Science Needs Faith
WELLINGTON
Wednesday, August 6 at 6pm
Te Kupenga –Nathaniel Centre; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington Astronomical Society
RHLT01, Rutherford House, 33 Bunny Street, Pipitea
Topic: From Galileo to Laudato Si’: Why Science Needs Faith
CHRISTCHURCH
Friday, August 8 at 3pm
Canterbury University; Christchurch Astronomical Society
Rehua 002, University of Canterbury
Topic: TBC
Sunday, August 10 at 12.30pm
Our Lady of Victories Church, Sockburn
106 Main South Road, Sockburn
Topic: When Science Goes Wrong: The Cult of Intelligence
Wednesday, August 13 at 7pm
Canterbury University; Christchurch Astronomical Society
A3, University of Canterbury
Topic: TBC