The Archbishop’s Garden By the Work of Their Hands A Feature on Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB A first-time guest to the Abbey came upon one of the monastery grounds workers with an old baseball cap, wearing a pair of dirty blue jeans and a saturated gray T-shirt. “Excuse me, sir…” the lady uttered. “Yes, ma’am,” replied the man. She questioned, ... Continue Reading...

Priest, Monk, Brother, Father: What does it all mean? This article was originally published in Tower Topics, Spring 2020 Understanding Religious Roles Sometimes it can be difficult to understand the differences and similarities between the title “Brother” and “Father,” a priest of Conception Abbey and a priest in a parish not associated with the Abbey, or even the monks at Conception and the seminarians studying at Conception ... Continue Reading...

Brothers Living in Unity campaign makes significant progress CONCEPTION, Mo. (June 19, 2020) – Conception leadership is pleased to announce that we have raised just over $1.6 million of the $2.8 million needed for us to receive the $1 million challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation. This leaves $1.2 million to fundraise by January 14 to receive the grant. In February of this year, ... Continue Reading...

Fr. Albert: Formed in Community Fr. Albert walks into the fourth-grade classroom with his usual grin on his face. The students light up as he enters the room, and he is immediately received by a chorus of greetings. They put down their pencils and direct their attention to their pastor who stands before them in the front of the classroom. ... Continue Reading...

Fr. Anthony celebrates 80 years of service and fidelity There are often firsts in every family, so even in a monastic community, we too have the pleasure of participating in an event happening for the first time. This year, on March 12, our Fr. Anthony Shidler, OSB, celebrated 80 years as a professed Benedictine monk. For the first time in our community’s 147-year history, a ... Continue Reading...

Conception receives $1 million challenge grant in Brothers Living in Unity campaign CONCEPTION, Mo. (February 3, 2020) — To aid Conception in its final push to raise funds for the construction of the new seminary residence hall component of the Brothers Living in Unity campaign, the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation has awarded Conception Abbey and Seminary College with a $1 million challenge grant. The challenge grant outlines ... Continue Reading...

Abbot Primate Polan receives McManus Award This news release was originally written by the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions. The McManus Award is the highest honor bestowed by the nations’ liturgists and it recognizes significant contributions to furthering the liturgical renewal in the United States. This year, it was, appropriately, presented to Abbot Primate Gregory Polan, OSB — acknowledging his more than ... Continue Reading...

Conception receives $2 million gift toward campaign CONCEPTION, Mo. (December 4, 2019) — Conception Abbey and Seminary College have received a $2 million gift toward the Monastic Retirement Endowment component of the Brothers Living in Unity campaign. St. Benedict’s Priory in Benet Lake, Wisconsin, has committed the $2 million gift as a symbol of their reunification with Conception, which took place in ... Continue Reading...

Abbot Andrew Garber, OSB, enters eternal rest In the early afternoon of Tuesday, 12 November 2019, our beloved confrere, Abbot Andrew Garber, OSB, passed into eternal rest. Abbot Andrew was a Jubilarian of both profession and ordination. He had resided in St. Stephen’s Infirmary at Conception Abbey since his arrival here in 2016 from St. Benedict’s Abbey at Benet Lake WI, when the latter ... Continue Reading...

Br. Luke, Br. Matthew, OSB, profess solemn vows CONCEPTION, Mo. – On Saturday, September 7, 2019, Br. Luke Kral, OSB, and Br. Matthew Marie, professed solemn vows as monks of Conception Abbey in the presence of their family, friends, seminarians, and monastic confreres. In the ceremony, Br. Luke and Br. Matthew made perpetual commitments to live as monks of Conception’s monastery, vowing obedience, stability, ... Continue Reading...

Young monks profess simple vows at Conception Abbey CONCEPTION, Mo. — On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thursday, August 15, 2019, two young men professed simple vows as monks of Conception Abbey in the presence of their family, friends, seminarians, and monastic confreres. For a religious community, receiving a new member is a sign of joy and vitality and ... Continue Reading...

Conception Abbey releases past allegations list Abbey joins dioceses in response to Church crisis CONCEPTION, Mo. (August 5, 2019) — Concern for transparency and accountability has prompted many dioceses and religious orders to publish information about members within their groups who have had allegations of sexual abuse of minors made against them. With that goal, Conception Abbey is providing the names of eight ... Continue Reading...

Br. Joseph professes solemn vows as a monk of Conception Abbey VIDEO: Solemn Profession of Monastic Vows for Br. Joseph O’Neill CONCEPTION, Mo. – On the Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter, May 18, 2019, Br. Joseph O’Neill, 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, Br. Joseph made a ... Continue Reading...

Conception’s Abbey Trails welcomes more than 250 participants Conception, Mo. – The 24th annual Abbey Trails 5K Run / 2-Mile walk brought guests from near and far to Conception Abbey on Saturday, May 4 to celebrate health and wellness. Saturday morning was cool, clear and brisk, creating perfect weather for more than 250 participants, an increase of about 25 from 2018. The 5K course began at the ... Continue Reading...

Living Easter Joy We all have that one friend that cannot keep a surprise party a secret. We can think of someone who prematurely yells out “Surprise!” several seconds too soon, before an unsuspecting birthday guest is able to turn on the light switch and reveal a roomful of his or her closest friends. In some ways, today’s culture ... Continue Reading...

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 is ... Continue Reading...

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. Aquinas made a ... Continue Reading...

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 ... Continue Reading...

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 been present at ... Continue Reading...