STEM and the Faith: CatholicTech’s First Term Comes to a Close

With three days left until the end of Catholic Institute of Technology’s historic first term of classes, we find it important to reflect on the mission of the school, and how CatholicTech’s unique location contributes to its purpose.

Although quite small, the town of Castel Gandolfo bears great significance for the Catholic Church. Situated just outside the center of town is the Vatican Observatory—“an institution established by the Holy See for astronomical research and public outreach to advance the scientific understanding of our universe.” It is appropriate that CatholicTech, an institution dedicated to forming STEM experts who are knowledgeable and faithful Catholics, be established and grow in a space already reserved for scientific research fully aligned with the Catholic Church. 

On Sunday, November 10th, students and faculty took their last weekend trip of the semester to visit the Vatican Observatory and learn about the Church’s history as a leader in astronomical studies. CatholicTech was joined by several members of the Castel Gandolfo community, many of whom were making their first visit to the observatory. Also in attendance was Brother Robert J. Macke, S.J.—Curator of the Vatican Meteorite Collection at the Vatican Observatory and friend of CatholicTech—who helped lead parts of the tour and explain different features of the museum exhibits. 

The highlight of the visit was the observation of Saturn and the Moon through the famous, and recently-restored, 19th-century “Carte du Ciel” telescope. The Vatican’s Carte du Ciel telescope was originally located on the walls of the Vatican itself. The Vatican Observatory used this telescope to participate in the Carte du Ciel project—an international astronomical effort to produce a complete photographically-based map of the stars and planets. It was through this historic telescope that each student had the opportunity to gaze at close-ups of the Moon’s craters and at the more distant Rings of Saturn. 

CatholicTech aims to form the next generation of saints, scholars, and scientists by continually placing its STEM education in the context of the Catholic faith. For this reason, it is fitting that, as studies at CatholicTech come to a close, students return to the ultimate original stimulus for learning—wonder at the marvels of God’s Creation.