Conception Abbey
Prior’s Journal: The Upcoming Abbatial Election
Many people have been recently asking about how an abbot is elected – what is the process? do monks run? what happens during the election? I wanted to take a few minutes to clarify the process and how the community has been preparing for all of you – our friends. Abbot Gregory’s election to the…
5 Ways to Discern Religious Life
Here are five things you can do to help discern your vocation by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB, Conception Abbey Vocation Director Take time daily for personal prayer Prayer is the foundation for discerning your vocation and deepening your relationship with Christ. You can listen best when you remove yourself from the things that distract us and…
Conception Seminary Board of Regents Meet for Fall Meeting
Board of Regents approves new mission statement for Conception Seminary College to guide priestly formation The Board of Regents of Conception Seminary College met for their annual fall meeting on October 14-15, 2016. Focus centered again on developing the strategic plan that will guide the seminary into the future. Regent Jan Lewis of Overland Park,…
Conception Seminary College to Host Annual Soccer/Volleyball Tournament
Soccer and volleyball tournament brings together seminarians discerning God’s call The 9th Annual Thunder Cup Soccer and Volleyball Tournament will be held October 15-16 at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo. Seven seminaries from across the Midwest will gather for a weekend of faith, fellowship, and friendly competition at this annual event. “The Thunder Cup…
Alumni Reunion Weekend
Mass for the Conception Seminary College Alumni Reunion was on Friday late afternoon and the principal celebrant was Abbot Gregory. This would be the last Mass he would celebrate in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception before he departed for Rome to assume his new role as Abbot Primate. The prayers and readings for Mass focused…
Reception for Abbot Gregory
On Wednesday evening the monks had a reception and banquet in honor of Abbot Gregory. It was a time to gather as a monastic community as say “thank you” to Abbot Gregory for almost 20 years of service as abbot, as he soon departs for Rome, Italy to begin serving as Abbot Primate. During the evening…
Abbot Gregory Returns Home
After being elected Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation on Saturday, September 10th, Abbot Gregory was set to return home to Conception Abbey last night. However, his flight out of Rome was delayed, so the original plan of welcoming him at 8:30 PM was pushed back to just before 11:00 PM Saturday evening. The Prior, Fr. Daniel,…
Evening Prayer with the Monks
What is it like to pray with the monks? I recently completed a video of Vespers, our evening Office of Thanksgiving. As a major hour of the Divine Office, the monks line up in order of seniority in the monastery glass hallway. The Abbot, Prior, and Subprior are at the head of the line, followed by those…
New Tower Topics
The Summer 2016 Tower Topics should be hitting mailboxes this week. As the Editor of the magazine, it is always rewarding to see it finally in print. Some of you may be thinking that mid-September is a little late for the summer issue. Well, you would be correct. We finished the magazine and sent it…
Graduate Pilgrimage: 2016
4 Days. 30 Men. 1 Priest. We recently returned to Conception Seminary College from the Rector’s Pilgrimage and thus, its time for a little blog update. The Rector’s Pilgrimage is a chance for soon to be graduates of CSC to spend time with each other and Fr. Brendan, our Rector, to visit a couple of theology…