Visit Conception
There are many reasons to visit Conception Abbey! Whether it’s to join the monks in their daily cycle of prayer, to visit the Gift Shop, or make an overnight stay in the Abbey Guest Center, the monks of Conception Abbey welcome all.
Monday – Saturday
| Vigils | 6:00 a.m. |
| Lauds | 7:15 a.m. |
| Eucharist | 11:45 a.m. |
| Daytime Prayer | 1:00 p.m. |
| Vespers | 5:15 p.m. (on Thursdays, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament immediately following Vespers until 6:10 p.m.) |
| Compline | 7:15 p.m. (no public Compline on Tuesdays) |
Sundays and Solemnities
The following solemnities will follow the Sunday schedule: Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Passing of our Holy Father Saint Benedict (March 21), Annunciation (March 25), The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 15), and All Saints (Nov. 1).
| Vigils | 6:20 a.m. |
| Lauds | 7:45 a.m. |
| Eucharist | 10:30 a.m. |
| Daytime Prayer | 12:30 p.m. |
| Vespers | 5:30 p.m. |
| Compline | 7:15 p.m. |
From Kansas City: (90 miles), take I-29 North to (Exit 56A) for U.S. 71 North towards Maryville to Highway M. Turn East (right) on Highway M, continuing to Highway AH. Turn North (left) on Highway AH, continuing to Highway V V. Turn East (Right) on Highway V V. Continue on Highway V V to the Abbey entrance, on your right.
From Omaha: (120 miles), take I-29 South to U.S. 136 East through Maryville. Go past Conception Junction to Highway VV at Conception. Turn South (right) on Highway VV to the Abbey entrance. Alternate route: take I-29 S. to Hamburg, then 333 East from Hamburg to 59, the J-64 to Braddyville. Go South on 71 to Maryville and continue as above.
From Des Moines: (125 miles), take I-35 South to U.S. 136 West (right) at Bethany. Continue on U.S. 136 to Highway VV at Conception. Turn South (left) to the Abbey entrance.
BRIDGE CLOSURE NOTICE: The Missouri Department of Transportation will close the Route VV Platte River Bridge, west of Conception just beyond the AH intersection, starting Monday, July 6, for a bridge replacement project. The closure is expected to last through early November 2026.
Use the directions provided above to avoid the closure on your way to Conception Abbey.
The Conception Gift Shop in the St. Raphael Welcome Center is the perfect place to buy books, Altar + Home religious cards and gifts, including products made at Conception Abbey such as cookies from our kitchen, items from our Abbey Oven, and soaps and lotions from the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri. We also have items from local crafters and artisans available for purchase. Many of these items support charities.
Regular Gift Shop Hours:
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday-Friday | 9:00-11:15 a.m. 1:30-4:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 8:30-11:15 a.m. 1:30-4:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 8:45-10:00 a.m. |
Holiday Gift Shop Hours:
March 21, St. Benedict Solemnity............... 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. & 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
April 3, Good Friday.................................... CLOSED
April 4, Holy Saturday................................. 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. only
April 5, Easter Sunday................................ CLOSED
April 12, Divine Mercy Sunday.................... 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
May 16, Seminary Baccalaureate............... 8:30 – 11:15 a.m. & 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
The beautiful grounds of Conception Abbey feature four different trails for walking and running.
The Stations of The Cross Trail begins at the southeast corner of St. Gabriel’s Guest House and makes a short circuit behind the building with 14 crosses representing the traditional fourteen stations in the devotional practice.
Connected to the Stations Trail is the Orchard Trail that goes east on the Abbey property through the orchard, around the farm buildings, and ends at the JPII Fitness Center.
The Lake Placid Trail begins at the JPII Fitness Center and loops around Lake Placid. On the southwest end of Lake Placid, a fork allows one to take the 2-mile Grotto Trail loop to the southern edge of the Abbey farm and come back to the JPII Fitness Center from the east.
Campus Map
