Tower Topics ~ Fall 2000

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Conception Seminary College
welcomes 98 students, largest enrollment since 1971

Ninety-eight students are enrolled for fall semester at Conception Seminary College, representing the largest student body since 1971.



Almost quadrupling the national trend, Conception has enjoyed a 75 percent increase in enrollment over the past four years.

“We are experiencing something that other seminaries across the country are also experiencing,” said Father Benedict Neenan, president-rector. Citing statistics from the Center for Advanced Research in the Apostolate, he noted that the number of college seminarians in the country has risen by an average of 5 percent a year since 1996. In that same time, Conception’s enrollment increased by an average of 19 percent. “There is a rising interest in the priesthood among younger men,” he said, “which must be attributed at least in part to the movement of the Holy Spirit. But it also reflects the hard work of many people.”

Although the dramatic increase at Conception has coincided with his presidency, Father Benedict gives full credit to his staff and faculty.

“We have a fairly wide reputation as one of the best college seminaries in the country and it comes mainly from theology schools where our graduates do very well,” he said. “The reputation also comes from bishops and vocation directors who have sent men here. They are impressed with our ability to genuinely connect spirituality, character formation and intellectual excellence. The people on our staff and faculty are one of the main reasons for this.”

Father Benedict also cited improved support to diocesan recruiting efforts since the addition of Director of Admissions and Recruitment Keith Jiron three years ago, and the establishment of the Language, Culture and Church program (LCC).

LCC is an English-as-a-second-language program that helps prepare men from other nations for priestly service in the U.S. Church. This year there are 13 men enrolled.

Conception’s students come from 23 dioceses. This year the Diocese of Cheyenne in Wyoming sent the school’s largest diocesan representation, 11 students. Conception has a direct connection to Cheyenne. The diocese’s coadjutor bishop, David Ricken, and its vocation director, Father Carl Gallinger, are both alumni, and the current bishop, Joseph Hart was originally a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The next largest contingent is nine seminarians from the Diocese of Wichita. Jefferson City is sponsoring seven.

There are 18 seminarians studying for religious life, 13 from the Congregation of Mary Co-Redemptrix, a Vietnamese religious order located in Carthage, Mo., and five for Conception Abbey.

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