JPL’s Gallagher gives talk on ‘Finding Life’ at YMCA annual prayer breakfast

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With an image of the Pillars of Creation, towering tendrils of cosmic dust and gas that sit at the heart of the Eagle Nebula, JPL Associate Director Dave Gallagher gave the keynote address, “Finding Life,” at the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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About 400 people listened to JPL Associate Director Dave Gallagher give the keynote address, “Finding Life,” at the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Anne Averill smiles as JPL Associate Director Dave Gallagher gives a spirited and spiritual keynote address, “Finding Life,” at the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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The Crescenta Valley High School Charismatics Chamber Choir sang the Star-Spangled Banner at the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Keynote speaker and JPL Associate Director Dave Gallagher, left, with board of directors member and breakfast chair Scott Young, center, and chaplain Lucinda Guarino, right, at the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Jana Ace Wunderlich smiles during the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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With an image of solar system planets behind him, JPL Associate Director Dave Gallagher gave the keynote address, â€œFinding Life,â€ at the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Former mayor and capital campaign chair Laura Olhasso talks about the capital project at the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Master of Ceremonies Chris Erskine, left, has a laugh after the 29th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, at the YMCA of the Foothills, in La Canada Flintridge on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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By Raul Roa

Nov. 2, 2018 5:15 PM PT

A crowd of about 400 early risers attentively listened Thursday morning to a spirited — and spiritual — keynote address by Jet Propulsion Laboratory associate director Dave Gallagher during the annual YMCA of the Foothills prayer breakfast. The event was held in the gymnasium at the Crescenta-Cañada Family Y in La Cañada Flintridge.

Gallegher, a resident of Glendale, gave an introduction to the history of JPL and talked about its work.

“What exciting discoveries we’re making,” he said. “The search for life which is this exciting race between finding life in the universe and within our solar system. For me personally there’s no conflict between science and my faith. It fits perfectly that God created [the universe]. We are privileged to be able to unlock some of those secrets as a human species.”

The breakfast, according to chaplain Lucinda Guarino, is held each year to “provide a place for the community to get together and pray, express their faith.” Funds raised via ticket sales, Guarino added, will help provide pastoral counseling, grief support and other services to the community.

Local resident Harriet Hammond said afterward she found the keynote address “very interesting. I think [Gallagher] did a great job trying to explain new missions that are going to take place.”