Conception Abbey
Catholic Radio with Bishop Pates
Bishop Pates called into his regular show on Friday mornings on Des Moines Catholic Radio from Conception Seminary College. He spoke about his experiences of being in Washington, D.C. during Pope Francis’ Apostolic visit. Bishop Pates had Abbot Gregory, Fr. Brendan, and the three Des Moines seminarians join him for the hour long radio program. It…
KC Golf & Dinner
The days continue to be very busy with many good activities. Yesterday was the annual Priests and Seminarians Appreciation Dinner and Golf outing. The proceeds from the event benefit Conception Seminary College. It is a day to say “thank you” to the priests who serve in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the…
Tri-C Celebration
We welcomed another monastery vocation guest who was here for the weekend visiting our community. He and Archbishop Jerome were discussing gardens, so we took a tour of the gardens Sunday morning. Above: Our vocation guest and Archbishop Jerome checking out the cherry tomatoes. Below: Br. Justin picking Habanero peppers to make some salsa. We had…
Labor Day Weekend
It was a warm Labor Day Weekend in Missouri. Saturday morning I was at Viking Lake with the students from the Newman Center at Northwest Missouri State. We had Mass, then spent a few hours swimming and going out on the boat. Several of the priests from the Abbey take turns on the weekends celebrating…
Donor Thank You
On Sunday we invited our donors and benefactors to join us for Mass, a banquet, and an open house and tour of the newly renovated monastery. Many local friends from around the Abbey were also invited to take a look at our new house. The Basilica was completely filled with guests as we extended our…
Novice Eric Becomes Brother Luke
August 15- After spending one year in the novitiate, where he discerned and tested his vocation to monastic life, Novice Eric professed first vows in the presence of family, friends, and his monastic brothers. It was a powerful ceremony as Abbot Gregory bestowed upon Novice Eric the name “Luke”, under the patronage of the Evangelist…
A New School Year with New Leadership
We officially welcomed Fr. Brendan Moss, O.S.B. (St. Meinrad Archabbey) and Fr. Pat York (Diocese of Wichita) to the Conception Seminary community. Fr. Brendan was installed as President-Rector in a very beautiful and joyful ceremony on Sunday. He was joined by family, friends, monastic confreres of St. Meinrad, and the Conception community. Fr. Pat takes…
Seminary Orientation
The new seminarians arrived and are slowly getting accustom to campus. As the new freshmen chaplain, I have the privilege of living on the residence floor with 26 freshmen. Yes, it is good news…numbers are up, with total enrollment at 108. This news is a great cause for hope in the Church. The freshmen seem…
A Touch of Beauty
Campus is looking nice these days, plenty of beautiful colors. The seminarians return, so that will keep many of us plenty busy. Enjoy the colors!
Open Hearts, Open Doors
These past few days have been filled with God’s many blessings. On August 14, Novice Adam Haake, a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, who has discerned a call to monastic life at Conception Abbey, is testing that call in the novitiate. During this one year period of discernment, he will pray and…