Monastery News
Seminary Fall 2025 Events
Open House | Alumni Reunion | Thunder Cup | PFP Day of Giving Open House The fifth annual Seminary Open House was a source of joy and fellowship as the seminary monks and seminarians hosted donors and friends under a big white tent outside. More than 250 people came together for Sunday Mass and…
Operation: Thunder
Four years ago, the administration of Conception Seminary College began a bold initiative to increase enrollment, better communicate strengths, and enhance our relationships with sending dioceses. We dubbed this Operation: Thunder. The name was a play on the seminarians’ sports team, the Sons of Thunder, which refers to Sts. James and John. Linked to this…
An Exceptional School of Love: Pastoral Formation
“Pastoral charity is at the heart of the Church and the priesthood; so demonstrating a genuine concern for others, the poor, a spirit of generosity, and a developing habit of self-donation are necessary benchmarks to be achieved prior to the seminarian’s acceptance into the Discipleship stage.” Thus, we have implemented a series of poverty immersions…
Alumni Spotlight: Formator, Bishop, Friend
Long before his forthcoming appointment with the Diocese of Jefferson City was announced, Bishop Ralph O’Donnell was in formation at Conception Seminary College—both being formed and leading the formation. The 20-year-old O’Donnell enrolled at Conception Seminary College as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1989. Right away, he was struck by…
Conception To Host Fall Production
Conception Seminary College will present Murder on the Monkey Express by Angie Settlemire with underscoring music by Jonathan Swain as its annual fall theater production this year. The production is scheduled for November 7-9, 2025. You’ll go bananas for Murder on the Monkey Express, a zany, delightful show that’s more comedy than mystery, filled with…
A New Chapter Commences
On Saturday, May 10, Conception Seminary College graduated eight seminarians with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and one with a Bachelor of Philosophical and Theological Studies. Pictured Above: Front Row (left to right): Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB, Vice-Rector Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB, President-Rector Fr. Victor Schinstock, OSB, Abbot-Chancellor Benedict Neenan, OSB, Coordinator of Spiritual…
Conception Seminary College releases Spring 2025 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 2025 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…
Alumni Spotlight: Fr. Ryan Rojo
Fr. Ryan Rojo is a priest of the Diocese of San Angelo, currently serving as diocesan Vocation Director and Director of Seminarians. Fr. Rojo is an alumnus, a 2011 graduate of Conception Seminary College and a member of the Alumni Board. He attended Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago and was ordained a priest…
A Firm Foundation: Benedictine spirituality for the diocesan priest
Several years ago, an alumnus of Conception Seminary College called me up to share his experiences after attending the Institute for Priestly Formation Program in Omaha. After unpacking some of his experiences, he told me that his priest-formators said that diocesan priests should cultivate a “monastic heart.” Of course, as a monk, a priest, and…
Pilgrims On A Journey
For the second year, seminary formation staff guided seminarians off-campus “into the wilderness” to begin the Lenten season. Not to be tested for forty days, but just for a few days in prayer and reflection. The adventuresome experience was affectionately referred to as the “Lenten Wilderness Retreat,” and has quickly gained popularity among the seminarians…