Information regarding coronavirus, COVID-19

*Revised 03/23/2020 at 11:47:26 AM  In light of the rapid spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic, Conception Abbey and Seminary College will be taking further precautions to minimize the spread of the virus and protect the health of our seminarians, guests, faculty, employees, and monastic community. The Conception campus is now a single quarantine zone.…

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Conception Seminary College graduates 15

CONCEPTION, Mo. – Conception Seminary College celebrated the annual commencement ceremony in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, May 12, 2018. Fifteen seminarians completed the requirements to earn undergraduate degrees and become alumni. Conception Seminary’s annual spring commencement ceremonies also celebrated numerous seminarians and their academic achievements as they were honored with scholarships.…

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Conception Seminary College announces Spring 2018 Dean’s List

CONCEPTION, Mo. – The Office of the Registrar at Conception Seminary College, in Conception, Missouri, announced the students named to the Dean’s List for the 2018 spring semester.   To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student and earn a 3.70 GPA or higher on at least…

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Young men encounter Experience With God’s Call

Encounter With God’s Call is a seminary discernment experience for high school juniors through recent college graduates (ages 16-25). During Encounter, the participants further discern the call to priesthood and learn about college seminary life. Throughout the weekend, participants pray, meet, and relax with seminarians. Together we all seek to listen for God’s voice and our call.…

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Conception seminarians experience Hispanic culture

Seminarians reflect on their weekend immersion experience Conception Seminary College seminarians traveled to a Des Moines, Iowa for a weekend experience immersed in a vibrant Hispanic community. Following are two of the seminarian’s reflection on their experience. by Hugo Rodriguez, a seminarian of the Diocese of Davenport in Iowa This past weekend I along with…

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Conception Seminary travels to Mundelein Basketball Tournament

Twelve men from Conception Seminary College traveled to Mundelein Seminary in Chicago for the 18th Annual Father Pat O’Malley Invitational Basketball Tournament held January 26-28, 2018. The Sons of Thunder were one of sixteen seminaries competing and ended the tournament defeating Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary with a score of 40 to 7 in a…

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Conception Seminary College announces Fall 2017 Dean’s List

The Office of the Registrar at Conception Seminary Collge, Conception, Mo. announces the students named to the Dean’s List for the 2017 fall semester. To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student and earn a 3.70 GPA or higher on at least 12 semester credit hours. A list…

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Conception Seminary College welcomes 99 Encounter retreatants

 “We’re just a bunch of normal guys,” said Shane Kiethermes of Loose Creek, Mo. about the 99 young men who attended the fall Encounter With God’s Call discernment weekend at Conception Seminary College November 11-13, 2017. Shane is a senior at Helias High School in Jefferson City, Mo. and saw the weekend as an opportunity…

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CSC fall play promises laughter and absurdity!

Conception Seminary College to hold fall play Conception Seminary College will present the hilarious comedy entitled 12 Incompetent Jurors by Ian McWethy on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 and Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. in St. Michael Hall Gymnasium on the Conception Seminary College campus in…

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Conception Seminary college has busy weekend

Board of Regents meetings and annual Thunder Cup Soccer and Volleyball Tournament held at Conception Seminary College It was a busy weekend at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo. as they hosted their fall meetings of the Board of Regents and their annual Thunder Cup Soccer and Volleyball Tournament held October 13-15, 2017. The CSC…

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Conception Seminary College hosts annual Family Weekend

Conception Seminary College hosted their annual fall Family Weekend September 30 – October 1 at their campus in Conception, Mo. Over 300 gathered for the weekend’s activities that included Evening Prayer with the monastic community on Saturday, an outdoor barbecue and games, and entertainment provided by seminarian musicians. Family Weekend is an annual event that…

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Conception Seminary College holds annual Alumni Reunion

Conception Seminary College honors Mr. Brian Bergkamp with Distinguished Alumni Award 115 alumni attended the annual Alumni Reunion held September 22-23 on the campus of Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo. Attendees of note were the class of 1967 who celebrated the 50th anniversary of their graduation. During the weekend, alumni attended a presentation by…

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Conception Seminary College welcomes new and returning students

It has been a busy two weeks as twenty-eight new seminarians arrived on the campus of Conception Seminary College shortly followed by seminarians returning for a new year of formation. The halls of CSC, quieted during the summer months, are once again filled with the boisterous noise of seminarians getting to know each other, preparing…

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Encouragement for vocation discernment

Fr. Xavier offers this reflection to young people discerning their vocation This past January, in announcing the Fall 2018 synod in Rome, on vocations, Pope Francis said: “We are not lacking young people who are very generous, who act in solidarity and are involved on a religious and social level, young people who seek a…

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Conception Seminary College celebrates the largest group of graduates in twelve years

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of Conception Seminary College brimmed with graduates, family, and friends on Saturday, May 13, 2017, as thirty-one seminarians completed the requirements to earn bachelor’s degrees this spring. Conception Seminary’s annual spring commencement ceremonies also celebrated numerous seminarians and their academic achievements as they were honored with…

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Conception Seminary College honors academic excellence

Conception Seminary College announces Spring 2017 Dean’s List The Office of the Registrar at Conception Seminary College, Conception, Mo. announced the students named to the Dean’s List for the 2017 spring semester. To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student and earn a 3.70 GPA or higher…

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Conception Seminary College Summary

Conception Seminary College

Conception Seminary College provides a unique setting for men discerning the call to Holy Orders to pursue their liberal arts education. Following the model of Jesus Christ, formation and conversion of heart are nurtured in the intimacy of community and deepened by the discipline of prayer in the Benedictine tradition. Programs Offered Conception Seminary College…

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5 Reasons to Visit a Catholic Seminary College

5 Reasons to Visit a Catholic Seminary by Aaron Hooper, Junior, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Discerning a vocation to the priesthood can be difficult. Often you don’t know where to turn or who to ask for help. Visiting a Catholic seminary can actually help in this discernment process. This is why Conception Seminary College…

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CSC Announces Fall 2016 Academic Honors

Conception Seminary College Announces Fall 2016 Dean’s List The Office of the Registrar at Conception Seminary College, Conception, Mo. announced the students named to the Dean’s List for the 2016 fall semester. To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student and earn a 3.70 GPA or higher…

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Sunday Reflection: 4th Sunday of Advent

“A time of waiting and longing” by Jon Tolberd, a senior from the Diocese of Wichita in Kansas We are in the midst of one of the most joyful times of the year. It is almost Christmas. Christ is almost here. Houses are being fervently cleaned and decorated, so as to look immaculate from when relatives…

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Sunday Reflection: “Rejoice in the Lord”

Reflection for the Third Week of Advent By Johnnatan de José María Ibarra Juárez, Freshman from the Diocese of Amarillo “Gaudete in Domino semper” (Rejoice in the Lord always) are the words that the church sings today with a singular spirit of hope and faith because our Savior is near. Our hearts have been preparing…

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Sunday Reflection: First Sunday of Advent

“So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 1st Sunday of Advent 1st Reading: Isaiah 2: 1-5 2nd Reading: Romans 13: 11-14 Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44 This Sunday is the first week of Advent. Perhaps at your parish the advent wreath is going…

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Sunday Reflection: God’s Mercy

Reflection over the Gospel Reading for Sunday, November 20, 2016: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universeby Upton Sewell, Sophomore from the Diocese of San Angelo.  I can only begin to wonder what it must have been like to look at Jesus on the Cross and hear him say the words…

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Sunday Reflection: To Be Disciples

by Sergio Legarreta, College 4 of the Diocese of El Paso These last months have been very controversial for many, but as Jesus said, “Do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end” (Luke 21:9). We have to learn from the past and continue on with…

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Veterans Day and Vocations to Catholic Chaplaincy

Today we celebrate Veterans Day, in honor of all veterans who have faithfully served this great nation. In light of this, Father Aidan Logan the Vocations Director with the Archdiocese for Military Service recently visited the campus of Conception. Father Aidan stated that over a million members are serving in the military and less than…

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Discerning the Priesthood after College

The decision to discern a priestly vocation after graduating from college can be a difficult one by Casey Zimmerman, Pre-Theology I of the Diocese of Salina in Kansas “Why would you leave a stable, successful, enjoyable career for seminary? Wouldn’t that waste your college degree and experience?” These were the first, and most common, questions…

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Sunday Reflection: Living the Faith

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: 2 MC 7:1-2, 9-14 Gospel: LK 20:27-38 by Casey Zimmerman of the Diocese of Salina, Pre-Theology 1 In today first reading from 2 Maccabees, we hear the story of two of the seven Jewish brothers captured and tortured by the king. The captives refuse to eat pork, which…

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Sunday Reflection: Love for the Marginalized

Christ’s example challenges us to love those less fortunate by Ben Rogers, seminarian for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas Today, Sirach tells of God’s love for the orphans, weak, oppressed, and widows. This Old Testament teaching is echoed later by Christ in the Beatitudes. In the last several years Pope Francis has been…

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Conception Seminary Board of Regents Meet for Fall Meeting

Board of Regents approves new mission statement for Conception Seminary College to guide priestly formation The Board of Regents of Conception Seminary College met for their annual fall meeting on October 14-15, 2016. Focus centered again on developing the strategic plan that will guide the seminary into the future. Regent Jan Lewis of Overland Park,…

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Conception Seminary College to Host Annual Soccer/Volleyball Tournament

Soccer and volleyball tournament brings together seminarians discerning God’s call The 9th Annual Thunder Cup Soccer and Volleyball Tournament will be held October 15-16 at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo. Seven seminaries from across the Midwest will gather for a weekend of faith, fellowship, and friendly competition at this annual event. “The Thunder Cup…

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Vocations are Supported by Families

Vocations supported at Conception Seminary College’s annual Family Weekend Discerning a priestly vocation, sometimes over six hours from home, can be challenging for both seminarians and their families. This is why Conception Seminary College hosted its annual Family Weekend October 8-9 for the families of its over 90 seminarians. More than 350 people arrived Friday…

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A Community Cemented Together

St. Michael’s Hall open house brings community together Thursday, September 29, The Solemnity of the Holy Archangels, Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael was the cause for a little revelry in the underclassmen dorms. The freshman and sophomore of Saint Micheal’s Hall hosted an open house for the upperclassmen, pre-theologians, monks, and staff to see the…

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Reflection on the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux

“…Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven”   The following is a meditation on the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux. The Gospel of the day was: Luke 10:17-24   Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited is packed with Catholic characters of all sorts and tells the tale of salvation in each of their lives. Cordelia,…

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Priest and Seminarian Appreciation Day draw 300

Priests and seminarians from KC-SJ and KCK gather for annual golf event  The 25th annual Seminarians and Priests Appreciation Day was held Monday, 19 September at the Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate in Overland Park, Kansas. Over 300 people were in attendance; it was a day for priests and seminarians to relax but most of…

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70 Donors Give Blood

The blood drive at Conception Abbey and Seminary College held on Tuesday, September 20 brought in 70 donors! This was just shy of our record breaking 70 donors from last spring. Seminarians, monks, staff, and area residents of the Conception community did their part in giving generously. Alessandro Calderoni, a seminarian of the Diocese of…

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Conception Seminary College announces new program

High school youth conference expands to Conception, Missouri “One Bread, One Cup” – a five-day liturgical leadership conference for high school youth and the adults who minister to them – is coming to Conception, MO, in 2017.  For more than 20 years, the summer conferences (usually shortened to OBOC) have been held three times a…

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Graduate Pilgrimage: 2016

4 Days. 30 Men. 1 Priest. We recently returned to Conception Seminary College from the Rector’s Pilgrimage and thus, its time for a little blog update. The Rector’s Pilgrimage is a chance for soon to be graduates of CSC to spend time with each other and Fr. Brendan, our Rector, to visit a couple of theology…

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Humans of Conception: Mark Famuliner

Anyone at Conception Seminary College can see from a mile away (if Conception were a mile long) that Mark Famuliner is a country boy. From boots to Carhartt jacket to cowboy hat, you know that Mark comes from country roots. Although recognized around seminary for his country quirks, he is known more so for his…

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Inside Scoop: Letting go of “Plan B”

This obstacle is typically tough for most seminarians to overcome. In some ways, it is nearly impossible to let go of the idea of a Plan B entirely altogether, but there are things a seminarian can do to not let this temptation hinder growth within the formation process. We all come to seminary from different…

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Inside Scoop: People will treat you differently

Quitting the job, applying to seminary, purchasing my new four-volume breviary set, breaking the news to family and friends was exciting.  In my mind, it was only my simple response to God’s call.  I prayed God spoke, and I answered his call to enter.  Done.  And then I noticed various relationships began to change.  In…

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