Monastery News
Conception unifies apostolic works under new brand
CONCEPTION, Mo. — The monks of Conception Abbey have been living, working, and praying in the rolling farmlands of northwest Missouri for 145 years. Our roots within the Benedictine tradition are strong and run deep. Over time, Conception’s apostolic works within the Abbey, Seminary College, Abbey Guest Center, and The Printery House have flourished. As…
Fr. Aquinas professes solemn vows as a monk of Conception Abbey
VIDEO: Solemn Profession of Monastic Vows for Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen CONCEPTION, Mo. – On the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Saturday, February 2, Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB, professed solemn vows as a monk of Conception Abbey in the presence of his family, friends, seminarians, and his monastic confreres. In the ceremony, Fr.…
Pray Like a Monk
Not everyone is called to monastic life, so hopefully you can now take a deep sigh of relief. However, everyone is called to focus on the same goal for which the monks of Conception Abbey strive, namely, eternal life in heaven. This summer I was able to spend a few days visiting my family in…
Brother Stephen Cardinal, O.S.B., enters eternal rest
On Tuesday morning, 11 September 2018, between the Offices of Vigils and Lauds, the monastic community of Conception Abbey was informed of the unexpected death of our beloved confrere, Brother Stephen Cardinal, O.S.B. Late the night before, Brother Stephen had suffered a fall in his room in the monastery. Through the evening he had…
Brother Jeremiah Tuttle, O.S.B., enters eternal rest
In the hours before dawn on Wednesday 5 September 2018, our beloved confrere, Brother Jeremiah Tuttle, O.S.B., heeding the call of the Lord to set aside the cares of this life, passed unburdened into the joys of heaven. Brother Jeremiah came to monastic life in his mid-forties; prior to this he worked in counseling…
Conception Abbey welcomes novices into monastic community
CONCEPTION, Mo. – “Come, Follow Me.” Just as Jesus once spoke this invitation to his Apostles, three young men discerned that God was leading them to try monastic life at Conception Abbey. The monks of Conception Abbey clothed with the monastic habit and scapular three new novices on Tuesday, August 14. These candidates, Cole Johnson,…
Conception’s fifteenth-century book collection attracts binding expert
Conception, Mo. – A floor above the Conception Abbey and Seminary College library’s extensive collection sits a small, well-lit “rare book room.” The room houses around 3,000 unique and historical books, and among those is a small collection of 59 books from the 15th century. Books printed in Europe before 1501 are known as incunables.…
The Printery House appears on national TV
The Printery House is making waves – airwaves, that is – to market new and upcoming stationery in preparation for their attendance to the National Stationery Show in New York later this month. Printery House Director, Fr. Guerric Letter, O.S.B., recently traveled to Florida to talk to the Home Shopping Marketplace about some of the…
Father Denis Dougherty, O.S.B., enters eternal rest
On Saturday, 28 April 2018, at 7:48 a.m., our beloved confrere, Father Denis Dougherty, O.S.B., succumbed to a fairly sudden convergence of numerous physical circumstances that had brought him to the hospital twice in recent weeks. At age 89, Father Denis was still the very active and much-beloved pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Springfield, Missouri. In…
Language, Culture, Church program celebrates 20 years
Now in its 20th year, the Language Culture, Church (LCC) program, and director Sr. Maria Armijo, S.F.C.C., have become an institution at Conception. Not only does the program provide a niche opportunity for its students, it also enhances cultural mindfulness on the Conception Seminary College (CSC) campus. CSC’s LCC program began in 1998 with Sr. Maria,…