One hundred fifty years are like yesterday
Abbot Frowin Conrad, founding abbot
If 1,000 years are like yesterday to God, 150 years are but a moment. But for us at Conception, 150 years is a lifetime: the lifetime of our monastery.
On September 18, 1873, Fr. Frowin Conrad, OSB of Engelberg Abbey in Switzerland, arrived at the colony of Irish settlers named Conception in Northwest Missouri to establish a Benedictine monastery where God could be glorified, and the people of the region could be served long into the future. We are part of that future, and this year in 2023, we will mark the milestone of 150 years of Benedictine life at Conception Abbey. We do this both to honor the heritage of those hundreds of monks and thousands of neighbors who have been part of Conception Abbey, and to ask God’s continued grace and guidance as we move forward.
In Christ,
Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB
Tenth Abbot of Conception Abbey
Milestone worth celebrating
We are pleased to celebrate with you our 150th anniversary throughout 2023. To commemorate this milestone, we are renovating the sanctuary of our beautiful Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and invite you to tour the church, from which our prayer and action flow. This sanctuary update will be completed this Spring.
We are grateful for many generous friends. And to celebrate with everyone in a special way, we are releasing special events as they are available on this page.
In addition, we will host retreats centered on the Benedictine tradition, offering commemorative items, and more. See our silent retreat listings here.
For more information about the 150th anniversary, email communications@conception.edu.
