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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…
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.…
Jesus calls us to seek Him
The world is filled with distractions. With smartphones, we all carry a modern-day ‘Ring of Power’ in our pockets—a tool of immense power, but also a source of temptation and control. If you’ve read Tolkien, you know this isn’t a compliment. Our modern media landscape seems designed to drain us, turning us into wraiths—restless, distracted,…
To Sing is to Pray Twice
Readers of Tower Topics who already know me may also know me as one of the cantors for Conception Abbey’s liturgy and divine office. I have been a member of the monastic schola and a cantor for fifty years, one of several hats I wear in the community. Singing has been part of my life…
A Perfect Day for Abbey Trails 2025
The annual Abbey Trails 5K Run / 2-Mile walk brought guests from near and far to Conception Abbey on Saturday, May 3 to celebrate health and wellness. The sun was shining bright as more than 250 people arrived to participate in the walk, run, health fair, and brunch. The 5K course began at the Abbey’s…
Father Norbert Schappler, OSB, enters eternal rest
On Saturday, 1 March 2025, Father Norbert Schappler, OSB, beloved confrere and senior member of our community in age and profession, was called to into the everlasting beatitude of his heavenly homeland. In his long monastic life—79 years under a rule and an abbot—he had long since attained jubilees of profession and ordination; these were…
Father Kenneth Reichert, OSB, enters eternal rest
In the early hours of the afternoon on Thursday, 19 December 2024, our beloved confrere, Father Kenneth Reichert, OSB laid down the burdens of earthly existence and surrendered his soul to the Lord, in whose service he had spent his life as monk and priest. A golden jubilarian of both monastic profession and priestly…
3 Questions for the Junior Monks
1. Where are you from? 2. What are some of your hobbies? 3. What is one thing you have learned or learned about yourself since entering the monastery? Br. Gabriel Chinn, OSB Clarence, Missouri I enjoy reading and maybe just anything I can take outdoors or do outdoors. Recently it’s been taking my schoolwork…
Reflect on Professing Simple Vows
Br. Francis When in the novitiate were you sure that you wanted to continue this path and make simple vows? The surety of wanting to continue with this path of life came with continual growth, but in the end, I had to make a leap of faith and petition to make vows. And…
Beginning the Journey
The monastic community at Conception Abbey has received a true blessing from God that all such communities dream of: an increase in young men discerning monastic life. Ten men are currently in various stages of formation, following one monk who professed solemn vows to the community this summer. For a religious community, receiving new members…