Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB.
The Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB, will present a retreat titled, Astronomy and Faith at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on April 6 - 7, 2024.
Astronomy explores planets, stars and distant galaxies in search of life. Looking through a telescope into the “infinity” of the cosmos fills us with awe of the Creator. Science and faith do not contradict each other; rather they are related and offer us different, complementary approaches to the one reality. They can lead one other to greater depth and truth: astronomy can move faith out of its human narrowness and faith takes astronomy toward its Origin and Creator. Together we will have a look into the universe and its physics. In Scripture and in Christian tradition we find God, the Creator of the universe. Relating both to each other will bring about a stimulating conversation about God and God’s fascinating world. If we take seriously the findings of astronomy, they also affect our view of our environment, and we will deal differently with nature and the limited resources of our planet earth. In the evening, if the sky allows it, we will observe the beauty of the starry sky with and without a telescope.
Benedictine Father Christoph Gerhard is an astronomer and comes to us from Germany for this retreat. He lives at the Abbey of Muensterschwarzach in Bavaria. He has authored several books on faith and astronomy, presents retreats, and is also the abbey’s business administrator. Visit www.klostersternwarte.de.
The retreat begins on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch. The program fee is $60; room and board charges are additional. Register by calling (402) 352-8819 or select the button below.