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Linked to this is the Seminary Mission Team, originally made up of Abbot Benedict along with the four monks working directly in the seminary: Fr. Victor, Fr. Pachomius, Fr. Paul, and Fr. Etienne. The Mission Team has grown to include members of our Development Department and a newly-created position, the Director of Mission and Admissions. After assembling a group of younger monks to head the seminary, the hiring of key lay professionals in philosophy, academic administration, and pastoral training have been key to seeing that all the boats rise at Conception Seminary College.

The short-term goals of Operation: Thunder were to increase overall student enrollment by 10 and to gain two new dioceses each year. Although the growth was slow at first, we have witnessed the fruits of Operation: Thunder (cf. infographics, page 6-7).

Some of what speaks to our sending bishops and vocation directors is our seriousness in implementing the most recent edition of The Program for Priestly Formation. The sixth edition required a new sequencing and emphasis at the college level with Propaedeutic (12 months) and Discipleship (2-3 years) Stages. The Seminary Mission Team took a full year to prepare for the Propaedeutic Stage, while at the same time, coordinators of the different dimensions recrafted the Seminarian Handbook to adapt to the new Benchmarks. This faithful and thoughtful implementation of the new PPF demonstrated that Conception was more than prepared to do what the Church asked, and even provided the ideal environment for these first two of four stages. In the past, we may have believed people would simply come to us to find out what we are doing, but now we proactively promote the good work we do.

Operation: Thunder was not only an initiative of self-promotion, but also one of self-betterment. If we were going to succeed, we had to take honest feedback, asking bishops, vocation directors, and our alumni what they were looking for in seminary formation. Oftentimes, we were already anticipating these suggestions. Asking the right questions gave us a chance to articulate how we were meeting needs. Additionally, we made it a concerted effort to survey our current seminarians to see what they believe we do well and what we can improve. We have a moral responsibility to them to live up to the standards they place before their formators. Lastly, we improved our relationships with sending dioceses in Human Formation by knowing our seminarians exceptionally well—a hallmark of Conception. We now routinely hear from bishops that our annual evaluations are the most thorough and informative of any seminaries to which they send.

The work of Operation: Thunder has been making a difference. Now, our reputation precedes us, and new and once-sending dioceses are approaching us. We have increased seminary personnel to meet the demands of increased enrollment. This has also become a new goal, not only onboarding young monks, but attracting exemplary diocesan priests for the seminary. While our reputation has improved, the recent ebb has taught us not to become complacent.

—Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB
Vice-Rector / Dean of Students

Key Hires

Mr. Ben Darnell: Conception Seminary’s first lay formation advisor in Human Formation, he is an alumnus who brings with him 14 years of pastoral ministry in several different dioceses throughout the Midwest. Hired in 2020, he shared his gifts in teaching Theology of the Body and organizing ministry field education assignments in a range of experiences through his myriad contacts in the Kansas City area.

Dr. Jonathan Fuqua and Dr. Jason Costanzo: Hired in 2019 and 2021, respectively. They continue to awe and challenge our seminarians in their philosophy major. Dr. Costanzo holds a philosophy table in the Student Refectory once a week to encourage further philosophical discussion. Dr. Fuqua won greater respect from our seminarians when he joined the 2024-25 Propaedeutic cohort on their backpacking retreat through the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming in August.

Dr. Larry Welch: Hired in 2022 after a three-decade career teaching theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. Along with drawing from his various experiences, such as working on a Vatican commission, he has a keen eye for detail that has navigated our reaccreditation process and worked to increase collegiality among the faculty.

Msgr. Patrick Gaalaas: After fifty years of priesthood in Oklahoma, Msgr. Gaalaas came to Conception in 2022 as a spiritual director. He immediately endeared himself to the seminarians as something of the ideal parish priest: gentle, present in community, studious (especially in the writings of G.K. Chesterton), and always ready to affirm them as Christ would. So beloved was he, that the Diocese of Tulsa encouraged him to stay an extra two years to share his wide experience and accompany seminarians in the confessional or to the local ice cream stand.

Mrs. Laura Provance: Hired as adjunct Latin instructor in 2021, Mrs. Provance took the new position as Director of Mission in 2024. Known to the seminarians as Magistra, the Latin feminine for teacher, she has an infectious energy that inspires students and keeps wayward monks on task for the seminary initiative.

Fr. Michael Maples: Hired in 2025 for Counseling Services, he brings with him experience working with college students and helping with the application process for seminarians. Not only is he an on-site counselor, but he also assists with Propaedeutic Stage small group reflection and consultation for Human Formation.

Fr. John O’Neill: Hired in 2025 to be the Coordinator of Spiritual Formation as well as a spiritual director, Fr. O’Neill is also an alumnus. He is trained as a medical doctor, having worked in Ireland, the UK, and even Pakistan. Already, he has won the affection of seminarians for his joyful spirit, genuine love for the Lord, and readiness to put their needs first.