Thomas Berry's legacy unfolds like the universe

One sunny Saturday in November 2002, more than 200 environmentalists packed into St. John's Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, Calif., to honor Passionist Fr. Thomas Berry. For us, he was always Thomas, a gentle, humble soul, our beloved teacher, mentor and spiritual guide who brought joy to everyone.

In 2002, I was working as assistant editor of EarthLight Magazine, an interfaith journal of ecological spirituality published in Oakland, Calif. During my previous studies for a master's degree in creation spirituality at Holy Names University there, the work of Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme functioned as part of the core curriculum. Their enlivening on-campus lectures were not to be missed.