Beat the Heat

It was a sweltering 90 degrees at the Abbey today.  Of course we have seen warmer, and during most summers, we would regard 90 as nothing special, but it has been a cooler summer, so it feels downright hot and humid today. Thunderstorms caused some havoc in the area, mainly with the electricity toward the end…

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Back to School

The new seminarians arrived on Wednesday.  A small group of the returning seminarians were on hand to offer hospitality and assistance to the new students, as part of the Seminary Orientation Team.  The schedule has involved different conferences, introducing students to the various aspects of seminary formation, including academic, character, and spiritual formation.  The evening…

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Two Men Enter the Novitiate

Eric Kral and Joseph Fussner entered the novitiate today in a ceremony this afternoon in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Members of the community gathered for this joyful occasion, chanting verses of Psalm 84 as Br. Bernard, the Novicemaster, led the two novices-to-be to the altar, where they made their petition.

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Monastic Experience Weekend

This past weekend (August 15-17), we welcomed three men to the monastery for our “Monastic Experience.”  The weekend allows men who are considering a vocation to monastic life an opportunity to learn more about our way of life, join us for prayer, meals, work, and recreation.  Abbot Gregory and Br. Bernard (Novicemaster) both gave conferences…

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Solemnity of the Assumption

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a very festive day for the monks of Conception Abbey.  In recent years and occasionally in the past, this is the day when novices make profession.  If Novice Eric and Joseph persevere, they will profess vows on this day in 2015. Here is a list…

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Temporary Dining Room

On Saturday evening, the monks began taking their meals in a new location. We had been eating in the seminarian dining room, but since many of the seminarians return in one week, we had to vacate their space and find our own new location. Obviously none of this would be an issue if the monastery…

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Family Baptism

I was able to go home for the weekend to baptize my niece. It was a pretty awesome experience and nice celebration.  Let us welcome our newest Christian! It is good to have some time away to enjoy the company of my family.  I also celebrated Mass and preached at my home parish and was able…

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Auction Time!

The memories of moving out of the monastery this past May are still fresh on our minds. When the monks moved out of the monastery, they could put stickers on their belongings and mark it in one of three ways: Temporary Storage Long-term Storage (not accessible during renovation) Auction All the extra furniture, religious art, and…

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Stanberry Parish Carnival

Yesterday evening after prayer, Br. Maximilian and I headed over to St. Peter’s Parish Carnival in Stanberry, Missouri.  It is only a 9 mile drive.  One of our monks, Fr. Karl Barmann, is pastor of St. Peter’s and the annual carnival is a pretty big event.  The town has just over one thousand people, and…

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