Saying Goodbye

A monk I studied with at St. Vincent, who is from St. Andrew’s Abbey (Cleveland), left me a voice message last night notifying me that Fr. Bill Wiethorn passed away.  Fr. Bill was a friend of mine and was a Capuchin priest whom I met in February 2004 when I was in seminary.  It was…

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Seminary Volleyball Team

The Seminary volleyball team is preparing for the big tournament which will be held on Saturday, October 18.  Several other seminaries will travel and bring soccer and volleyball teams to the inter-seminary tournament hosted by Conception Seminary College, named “The Thunder Cup.” Our seminarians have been practicing twice a week since early September, and now we…

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Partnering for Future Priests

Friday evening we had our annual Partnering for Future Priests Dinner and Auction at Our Lady of Guadalupe church in St. Joseph, Missouri. It was an enjoyable evening and delicious meal, with the proceeds benefiting Conception Seminary College. This is the 6th year for the event. Monks, faculty, and seminarians attended the dinner.

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From Sunrise to Sunset

This week I have had Mass for the Benedictine Sister of Perpetual Adoration at Clyde.  It is a great week to go to Clyde because Mass is at 7:30am, but the sunrise is around 7:15am.  I get to see the sun showing itself as it creeps above the horizon.  I packed my camera along and…

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St. Michael’s Hall Open House

Every year on the evening of the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the college freshmen and sophomores open their doors for an open house.  They welcome other seminarians and the monastic community for a social and for the chance to greet them on their own turf.  Open house was from 7:30pm to 10:00pm…

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Tri-C Celebration

Conception Abbey hosted the Tri-C Celebration (the communities of Conception, Conception Junction, and Clyde).  It started with the annual Lollipop Parade at 12:30pm, traveling from the St. John Paul II Recreation Center to the Basilica Parking Lot. The “100 year after” Community picture was taken in front of the Abbey Basilica at 1:00pm.  The 1914…

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Tri-C Celebration

Conception Abbey hosted the Tri-C Celebration (the communities of Conception, Conception Junction, and Clyde) on Sunday, September 28.  It started with the annual Lollipop Parade at 12:30pm, traveling from the St. John Paul II Recreation Center to the Basilica Parking Lot. The “100 year after” Community picture was taken in front of the Abbey Basilica…

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‘Real’ Volleyball

I have been coaching the seminary volleyball team for the past few weeks.  Our tournament against other seminaries is on October 18.  In order to prepare them for the games, I wanted to take them to a Northwest Missouri State Women’s Volleyball game to show them some “real volleyball.” The Bearcats are a talented group…

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Adventures in Ministry

It is a great joy and blessing to be a monk and a priest.  I enjoy the benefits of common prayer, community life, and I am able to take pastoral assignments, particularly on the weekend.  Several weeks ago, I saw on the calendar that I would be assigned for three weekend Masses at St. Gregory Barbarigo parish in…

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Alumni Reunion

We welcomed back our alumni from Conception Seminary for the 2014 Alumni Reunion (Sept. 19-20).  Alumni and guests arrived Friday in time for Mass and the Alumni Award Presentation (presented to alumnus Vic LeBreton) in the Basilica.  Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB, presided at Eucharist with many alumni priests in attendance.  The prayers for Mass were…

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