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Listen Carefully, My Son
A man becomes a monk in order to form a relationship to God. The opening words of St. Benedict’s Rule call the reader to hear God’s invitation to this relationship: “Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who…
Drawn to Monastic Life
Abbot Benedict Neenan | Br. Bernard | Fr. Paul | Br. Mark | Br. Placid | Fr. Pachomius | Br. Anselm | Fr. Victor Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB I had considered monastic life for several years before entering Conception and even tried a smaller, less active monastery first, but it…
Rains clear in time for Abbey Trails 2023
The annual Abbey Trails 5K Run / 2-Mile walk brought guests from near and far to Conception Abbey on Saturday, May 6 to celebrate health and wellness. Morning rain cleared just as more than 250 people arrived to participate in the walk, run, health fair, and brunch. The 5K course began at the Abbey’s circle drive…
Fr. Donald Grabner, OSB, enters eternal rest
At 3:51 p.m. on Monday, 17 April 2023, our beloved confrere, Father Donald Grabner, OSB put aside all matters of worldly concern in his final obedience to the upward calling of God and passed into the eternal. Fr. Donald was in his 95th year of life, and a Jubiliarian in both monastic profession and priesthood.…
Conception Abbey to host Camp Savio
Information shared from the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph. Camp Savio announces move to Conception Abbey for Summer 2023 March 20, 2023 The Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry is thrilled to announce that Camp Savio will be held at a new location this year. “The monks of Conception Abbey are pleased to welcome Camp…
Suscipe Me, Domine, Br. Simeon professes solemn vows
Br. Simeon Johnson desired to begin monastic life through the inspiration of St. Benedict and to imitate Sacred Scripture. Simplicity, the desire for obedience, and a quiet confidence in God characterize the monastic life. So, it was fitting for Br. Simeon to receive the quiet prophet of Luke 2:25-32 as his monastic patron. Br. Simeon…
Monastic Anniversaries
FR. NORBERT | FR. DANIEL | FR. ROGER | ABBOT EDMUND | FR. PATRICK Fr. Norbert Schappler, OSB | 70 years ordained We give thanks to God for Fr. Norbert’s many years as a priest of our Lord Jesus Christ. As the oldest and most senior in the community, he deserves our…
Donor Spotlights
Loyal friends make impact Though the landscape and the faces of Conception have changed over time, we are grateful for that which has remained the same: our mission of prayer, our dedication to seminary formation, and the loyal support of friends who have made such growth possible. Jim and Marnie Weidmaier of St. Joseph, Missouri,…
Farm Venture Proves Fruitful
By the Work of Their Hands Br. Jacob Kubajak, OSB, wasn’t born on a farm, but his mother’s family farmed, and as a kid when they visited, he would help his uncles with various tasks around the farm, which first sparked his interest in agriculture. When he went off to college years later, he pursued…
Journey to our Motherhouse
In 2020, Abbot Gregory Polan and I planned to lead a group of pilgrims to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the founding of our Swiss motherhouse, Engelberg Abbey, to visit several other monasteries in Switzerland and Germany, and to attend the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, which is only performed every 10 years. The pandemic…