Daily Life
Encountering Christ at Conception Abbey
“He left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35) Encounter Conception Abbey’s Benedictine retreats draw from more than 1500 years of wisdom in the Benedictine tradition and are rooted in the principles outlined by St. Benedict in his Holy Rule. Reflect A Benedictine monk leads four conferences…
Preserving Today, Ensuring Tomorrow
Over the last 25 years, we have carried out many projects to shape our campus and community for our work today and to handle the ever-changing road ahead. Through these years, you have journeyed alongside us, supporting us in ministering to the needs of the Church and her people. You worked with us to renovate…
Faithful Response To A Divine Call
When one asks the question, “What is a Sacrament?” the traditional response, often drawn from the Baltimore Catechism, is that a sacrament is “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.” While a Solemn Profession is not counted among the seven sacraments of the Church, it is nonetheless replete with external signs that point…
Camp Savio & Childlike Joy
If I were to give someone advice before coming to Camp Savio, I would say this: embrace the unexpected. The saying goes that God is a God of surprises, so if you don’t like surprises, well… I never had the opportunity to experience Camp Savio as a middle schooler, but it has been a great…
Made for Relationship
Monastic Family Weekend 2025 Recently, the monks hosted our families for our Monastic Family Weekend—a time to reconnect with our loved ones through a weekend of prayer and leisure. And how fitting that the weekend ended with the celebration of the Most Holy Trinity. Why? Because of relationship. From all eternity, God exists in a…
A Benedictine Pilgrimage Across Time and Terrain
Benedictine monasteries are autonomous houses, and while we may share with all monks a similar way of life and adherence to the Rule of St. Benedict, it does not necessarily mean we have much regular interaction with individuals from other monasteries. It’s possible to form closer relationships with monks from other monasteries, but most of…
Br. Joachim, OSB, professes solemn vows
On Friday, May 16, 2025, Br. Joachim Conti, OSB, professed solemn vows as a monk of Conception Abbey in the presence of his family, friends, seminarians, and monastic confreres. In the ceremony, Br. Joachim made the perpetual commitment to live as a monk of Conception’s monastery, vowing obedience, stability, and conversion of life. After the…
Following in Giants’ Footsteps
What’s it like to follow someone’s footsteps? That question immediately generates additional questions. Questions like: Why would you want to do that? Are you following a famous person? Are you learning something in the process? What would you accomplish in the end? Has anyone else done this? Lest you’re wondering where this is going, it’s…
Another Kind of Legacy
Benedictines, especially the Benedictine Monks of Conception Abbey, had a lasting impact on the life of Julia Bonen and her family—an impact that would lead to a lifelong relationship spanning generations. The Bonen siblings grew up near Pilot Grove, Missouri, where St. Joseph Catholic Church was staffed by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey. Julia’s…
Living the Monastic Horarium
In Chapter 48 of his Rule, St. Benedict outlines the daily schedule of prayer and work for his monks. The monastic horarium, or schedule, is the heartbeat of the monastic community. It is the structure in which the monastery functions as an institution and punctuates the specified times for giving thanks and praise to God.…