Seminarian Blog
Retreats to feature Benedictine Spirituality
2024 Encountering Christ Retreats Benedictine Spirituality You have most likely heard of Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises. Conception Abbey is now offering a series of retreats rooted in Benedictine Spirituality. These Benedictine Retreats focus on addressing the greatest hunger for today’s Catholics and are aptly named, “Encountering Christ” retreats. These retreats aim to help…
Fr. Samuel Russell, OSB, enters eternal rest
On Tuesday, 14 November 2023, our beloved confrere, Father Samuel Russell, OSB surrendered the cares of earthly life to answer the final calling of his Lord and Savior. His monastic life had been one of diligent service to his community and the wider Church, encompassing a broad array of assignments from maintenance and manual labor…
Fr. Clarence Wiederholt enters eternal rest
We announce the peaceful death at Conception Abbey, Conception, Missouri, on the 27th day of October 2023, at the age of 93 of REVEREND CLARENCE EUGENE WIEDERHOLT Retired Priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City Last of the Founding Fathers of the Diocese Father Clarence E. Wiederholt was born on January 5, 1930, in Conception,…
A Family’s Sacrifice
This might shock you, but monks come from families. No matter what you have heard, they were not hatched or dropped off at the monastery doorstep shortly after their birth. They were born into this world, much like you, experiencing the most formative years of their lives as part of a family. Some monks are…
Notable Visitors of Conception’s History
Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma | Blessed Stanley Rother | Von Trapp Family | Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma Empress Zita, born in May of 1892, was the wife of Emperor Charles I and the last Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. Her husband, Emperor Charles I, was named Blessed…
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary
The monks of Conception Abbey recently completed enhancements to the sanctuary in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB, blessed the sanctuary of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, June 4, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Many of the monks’ families were present for Monastic Family Weekend and…
Fr. Reginald Sander, OSB, enters eternal rest
On Saturday, 9 September 2023, in the hours after midnight that await in night’s darkness the coming of day, our beloved confrere, Father Reginald Sander, OSB, set aside his earthly burdens and answered the call of his Heavenly Father to enter the joys of eternal light. Fr. Reginald was a Jubilarian of both priesthood and…
Fr. Richard Cleary, OSB, enters eternal rest
At 10:34 a.m. on Friday, 21 July 2023, our beloved confrere, Father Richard Cleary, OSB, laid aside the cares of earthly life to enter that sanctuary not made by hands, in full hope of hearing those words of welcome addressed by the Lord to his faithful servants: “Come, blessed of my Father; enter the joy…
Listen Carefully, My Son
A man becomes a monk in order to form a relationship to God. The opening words of St. Benedict’s Rule call the reader to hear God’s invitation to this relationship: “Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who…
Drawn to Monastic Life
Abbot Benedict Neenan | Br. Bernard | Fr. Paul | Br. Mark | Br. Placid | Fr. Pachomius | Br. Anselm | Fr. Victor Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB I had considered monastic life for several years before entering Conception and even tried a smaller, less active monastery first, but it…