SUMM E R
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V O L U M E
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CO NCEPTI O N, M I SS OU R I
Contents F E AT U R E S
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A Year in Review From the Rector’s Desk
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Graduation 2016 Conception Seminary College
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Alumni Ordinations Conception Seminary College
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Ordained Deacon Br. Etienne Huard, O.S.B.
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Reflection: Year of Mercy Fr. Xavier Nacke, O.S.B.
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A Day in the Life of a Monk Monastic Life
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Abbey Trails New Seminary Hymnals
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Monastery Renovation Update Seminary Endowment
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Beyond the Monastery: Giving Back at Camp Quality
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Faith, Family, Fun Retreat Abbey Guest Center
IN EVERY ISSUE
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Alumnitems Footnotes Blessings Oblate News Calendar of Events
GREETINGS OF PEACE FROM CONCEPTION ABBEY Dear Friends, A good friend once said to me, “If we are good parents, we give our children ‘wings to fly.’” The heart of that message is that in our lives – whether as parents, teachers, bosses, formators, or even friends – if we truly wish to do what lies at the heart of healthy and loving relationships, we give others gifts to move forward in life. Sometimes that means that we see those we love most move on to new and different places or opportunities. Parents must feel this the most. After having nurtured their children, it’s never easy to “let them go” and find their own path in life, yet that is what life is all about. That is true for us also who work in the area of priestly formation. Men come to our seminary and they bring with them what they have learned and acquired in their earlier life experiences. We work to open new horizons of faith and commitment to Christ as leaders in the Church, building on what they had earlier learned or experienced. When they graduate and move on to a School of Theology, or another path in life as Catholic laymen, we know that we have worked with them in some of the most formative years of their lives, growing into adulthood, learning about commitment, and forming a vision of service. Our goal is to give them “wings to fly” – as men of prayer, of service, of lifelong learning, of commitment to Christ, and of responsible leadership. In the summer months, those of us who work on the faculty of the seminary college, have the privilege of attending the ordinations of those who have studied at Conception Seminary College. These occasions bring deep joy as we have the opportunity to visit with the seminarians who are now priests. To hear the excitement in their voices about serving others, finding Christ in the poor and the needy, finding a rhythm of prayer in their lives, and discovering the richness that comes in serving others and not counting the cost shows us that our efforts in the work of priestly formation have been more than successful – those efforts have been touched by God’s grace.
“We work to open new horizons of faith and commitment to Christ...” We also find much consolation in the men who go through our program of priestly formation and discover that their path in life is service as Christian laymen. Our lay alumni serve in their parishes in a variety of different capacities, some working in dioceses as Directors of Catholic Charities, religious educators, diaconal ministry, and importantly, as good parents who give their children “wings to fly” with faith in God and a desire to be of service in whatever walk of life they take. In this issue of Tower Topics, you will read about our work in priestly formation, the paths which some of our seminarians have followed, and how some have followed the monastic way of life as a monk of Conception Abbey. We rejoice in the ordination to the diaconate of our own Br. Etienne, heading now into his final year of study and formation before ordination to the priesthood next spring. This letter carries the prayers and best wishes of the monks of Conception Abbey to you and your loved ones. Sincerely in Christ,
Abbot Gregory
Tower Topics 3 Summer 2016 | 3
CONCEPTION SEMINARY
Fr. Brendan visits with seminarians.
From the Rector’s Desk
A Year in Review
“College teaches you how to make a living; seminary teaches you how to live!” These words of a brother monk have shaped my understanding of college seminary for more than 25 years. As my first year at Conception Seminary College draws to a close, I am pleased to say the adage that seminary teaches you how to live could not ring any truer than it does at CSC! Seminary formation is built on four pillars: character, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation. Each of these pillars offers more than a program of preparation for priesthood; each pillar aids the seminary in teaching the Sons of Thunder how to live. I share a few reflections on the many ways CSC helped your seminarians learn how to live during the 2015-2016 formation year. Time and time again, when I ask our seminarians: “What is the greatest part of CSC?” They reply: “the fraternity.” Our seminarians are men of community! CSC seminarians deeply appreciate the many opportunities to share in the unique brotherhood community life offers. I saw it from the very start of the year. As new students arrived on campus, the orientation team helped the men unload their cars 4 | Tower Topics
and settle into their new rooms. In a matter of days, they knew each other by name and the brotherly banter that happens in any house of boys echoed through the halls. Each month during one of our Thursday night “News and Views” programs, the birthday commemorations highlighted a particular gift—and sometimes quirk—of one of their own. The work of building fraternity, though, is not a work solely on the part of the seminarians. Building a fraternity of seminarians requires much effort from our chaplains and our character formation program. Every two weeks our chaplains meet with the majority of their seminarians to reflect on the seminarian’s lives and review their participation in formation. To be a good brother seminarian is to participate in formation; to be outstanding is to work with a chaplain to grow in one’s understanding of self so as to be able to love like Christ; to be willing to give of one’s self for another. I am very proud to say CSC has many outstanding seminarians. Our seminarians, with the help of their chaplains, learn how to give of themselves. Our seminarians’ self-donation, their service to others is most readily seen through our program of
In the end, it is clear most colleges will teach you how to make a living, but at Conception Seminary College, we strive to help men learn how to live! pastoral formation. A significant part of a seminarian’s week is his apostolic assignment. Whether visiting a nursing home, assisting with a Religious Education class, facilitating a retreat, or evangelizing on a college campus, the men of CSC regularly put themselves out there to assist others to grow in their relationship with Christ. Further, our men routinely go above and beyond what is expected and are quick to serve the larger Church whenever they can. During this past formation year, one of our student bands offered a concert for a local Knights of Columbus event. Our own Knights of Columbus Council hosted a Eucharistic Procession for the seminary and surrounding communities—a true highlight for the Year of Mercy. Time and again, I witnessed students traveling among the local dioceses to assist with retreats and other spiritual events. Even at home, the work of charity could be seen daily. It may have been simple acts of kindness by one brother to another or more involved acts of charity. At CSC one only needs to let others know they need a hand, and a battalion of men are ready to heed the call. Giving of one’s self reaches its zenith when one gives their self to God. In 2015-2016, our community had ample opportunities to give themselves to God. Through our program of spiritual formation, the men of CSC develop intimate relationships with God. At the heart of it all was, and will always be, the Eucharist. First, in our daily sharing in the
Seminarians perform at annual seminary talent night.
Mass, the men of CSC have offered themselves to God. As bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, so were the hearts of our seminarians transformed by the Eucharist we consumed. In this Year of Mercy, the men of CSC had the privilege of regularly praying in the Basilica where a Door of Mercy stood open to receive all and remind us of the abundance of God’s goodness to us. In the seminary chapel, the Holy Cross Oratory, we gathered on Wednesdays and Fridays for times of adoration in addition to our Holy Hour on Sundays. That time with the Eucharist called us all not only to personal time with the Lord but also to be Eucharist for the world. From personal prayer, the men of CSC were led to public service. Intellectually the men were stretched as well. For the first-time, CSC offered our Christian Classics courses. This new program was designed to provide short, intense courses where seminarians would work first-hand with primary texts. Whether considering the Rule of St. Benedict or the works of St. Catherine of Sienna, seminarians could go above and beyond their normal course load to further challenge their intellectual growth. In the end, it is clear most colleges will teach you how to make a living, but at Conception Seminary College, we strive to help men learn how to live! May God bless us always in our endeavors. X —Fr. Brendan Moss, O.S.B.
Seminary Eucharistic procession Summer 2016 | 5
ARTICLE TITLE
C S C Gr a d u
Above: Fr. Pat York, Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B., and Fr. Brendan Moss, O.S.B. pictured with the 2016 graduates. Below: (left) Tomas Sandoval (Oklahoma City) delivers the commencement speech; (center) Hayden Charles (Wichita) receives his diploma; (right) Kevin Lenius (San Angelo, Texas) receives a congratulatory embrace from Fr. Pat York.
Thirteen men received their Bachelor of Arts degree. They are Keith Chadwick, Hayden Charles, Bradley Distler, Jonathan Fox, Jon Hynek II, Kevin Lenius, Nicholas Newton, Phillip Novotny, Br. Tuyen Quang (Peter Damian) Phung, C.M.C., Tomas Sandoval, James Sulanka, Ty Taylor, and Mauricio Tovar. Receiving a Bachelor of Philosophical and Theological Studies were James Flattery and Joseph Hurdle. 6 | Tower Topics
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n Saturday, May 14, 2016, Conception Seminary College concluded its academic year with a commencement ceremony in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. This year’s graduates represent eleven different (arch) dioceses and one religious community spread throughout the mid-west. The following day, Pentecost Sunday, the graduates and their families, monks and seminarians gathered for the Mass of Thanksgiving where Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas was the principal celebrant and homilist. Tomas Sandoval of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City addressed those present at the commencement ceremony with the speech reprinted below.
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e may not remember this moment: the walk to receive the diploma we have worked and prayed so hard for over the years, a diploma that one day too will be faded and tarnished… Or, after they’ve healed, we may not remember the scars and broken limbs from team sports. Or, we may forget some of the names and faces of our brothers who have come and gone. Or, perhaps, we may not be able to recall the morning meditations we slept through… Yes, even if we should forget these things, if they become a little fuzzy in our memory, let us never forget the person we’ve met and have come to know and to love during our years here: Jesus Christ. The man who we’ve we come to know is not a firm judge or an unaffected God, but a merciful and jealous lover who freely gives of himself every single day to us on the wedding bed of the altar. That he is a living, breathing person who desires each of us to love Him and to be loved by Him as His most intimate friends.
It is this man – the man who we’ve fought with, laughed with, bargained with, smiled with, yelled at, got angry with, loved with and through – yes it is this man in whose presence we gather in today to receive our diplomas as graduates of the class of 2016. It is with, and for the sake of this man that we will come forward into the sanctuary to receive our diploma; the same place where – if it is God’s will – we will one day lay prostate to be ordained as His priests or where we will take the hand of our beloved in holy matrimony. No, my brothers, let us not once forget for whom we are here today. Let us never lose sight of the eyes of the one who loves us as His sons. It is in those eyes, in that gaze of love, that we will find the courage to go forth from this sanctuary, this place of Conception where our life with Jesus began and deepened, unafraid to love and to fall ever more in love with Him and His Bride, the Church. Until we look upon His face for all eternity. May His love, the love of Jesus Christ, never be forgotten, and may it urge us on. X —Tomas Sandoval Summer 2016 | 7
Alumni Ordinations 2016 Fr. Luke Thielen (Salina) at his first Mass.
(top of page) Fr. Ignacio Olvera blessing Bishop Kevin Farrell (Dallas); (above) Fr. Joshua Duncan and Bishop John Gaydos (Jefferson City); (below) Fr. David Baunach and Bishop Edward Rice (Springfield-Cape Girardeau).
Fr. Andrew Kinstetter (Cheyenne) at his first Mass. 8 | Tower Topics
Priesthood
Diaconate
Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Diocese of Wichita
David Baunach Shaun Cieslik
Diocese of Joliet
Joshua Duncan
Diocese of Jefferson City
Br. Dang (Trieu) Hoang, CMC
Congregation of Mary Co-Redemptrix
Andrew Kinstetter
Diocese of Cheyenne
John Paul Lewis
Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Braden Maher
Diocese of Springfield, IL
Rafael Majano
JD (John David) Betzen Adam Bradley
Diocese of Green Bay
Jacob Carlin
Diocese of Wichita
Paul Clark
Diocese of Jefferson City
Kyle Dugan
Diocese of Wichita
Andrew Galles
Diocese of Sioux City
Olvin Giron
Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Joshua Gray
Archdiocese of Omaha
Diocese of San Angelo
Agustin Martinez
Andrew Hoffman
Jorge Martinez
Br. Etienne Huard, O.S.B.
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas Diocese of Salt Lake City
Br. Bonaventure (Tuan Van) Nguyen, CMC
Diocese of Wichita
Conception Abbey
Clay Kimbro
Congregation of Mary Co-Redemptrix
Diocese of Wichita
Ignacio Olvera
Herbie (Andrew) Labenz
Diocese of Dallas
Juan Salas
Diocese of Dodge City
Mauro Sanchez
Diocese of Sioux City
Joseph Sund
Archdiocese of Omaha
Michael Thiel
Diocese of Green Bay
Diocese of Wichita
Jorge Lopez
Diocese of Wichita
Matthew Nash
Diocese of Grand Island
Grant Spinhirne
Diocese of Amarillo
Jon Thorsen
Diocese of Green Bay
Luke Thielen
Diocese of Salina
Br. John (Hien) Tran, CMC
Congregation of Mary Co-Redemptrix
(left to right) Bishop Edward Weisenberger (Salina), Archbishop Paul Coakley (Oklahoma City), Fr. John Paul Lewis, his father, Deacon Paul Lewis, and Archbishop Emeritus Eusebius Beltran (Oklahoma City). Summer 2016 | 9
Br. Etienne Ordained Deacon
Br. Etienne Huard, O.S.B. and Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
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t seemed like Br. Etienne Huard had just made solemn vows when he was ordained a transitional deacon on May 19, 2016. It has been only two and a half short years between these two milestones, though his journey to his vocations to the monastic life and Holy Orders themselves took a bit longer. As he put it: “I grew up wanting to be a priest, and as such, I never gave serious thought to any other life. This simple belief eventually came to an abrupt end, but as it turned out, only a temporary end... I simply needed to know more about myself and who I was to become.” However, now sharing the order of his patron, St. Stephen, he also shares that saint’s zeal and confidence, already preaching to his confreres on the Feast of Corpus Christi little more than a week after ordination. Br. Etienne was ordained on the Thursday of the monastic community’s retreat. Along with his brother monks, his mother and extended family from Wichita were present. Also in attendance were several monks of St. Vincent’s Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, at whose theological seminary Br. Etienne has been studying. In turn, both Abbot Gregory and Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, thanked his family and seminary and monastic formators for the important roles they played in preparation for Br. Etienne’s life. 10 | Tower Topics
In the admonition homily, Bishop Johnston reflected on the origins of the diaconate: conflict. The early Church had a great need of service and charity for neglected members, and this caused division. Yet the solution demonstrates that the Church always responds to perceived problems, not with aloofness or neglect, but with creativity and compassion. For from out of conflict came the Order of Deacons. So, Br. Etienne was being ordained for service in the abbey and for the local church. Reflecting on the experience of the ordination rite, Br. Etienne says, “I wish I could say that the ceremony was deeply moving, that I felt Christ’s presence, but the experience was much more subtle than that.” The sobriety of the liturgy and the “task at hand,” kept his emotions focused. “That being said, as the Mass was ending and the bishop and I were walking to the altar to kiss it, I realized then what had just happened, and I felt a surge of both joy and gratitude; at that moment, I was truly happy.” This summer Br. Etienne will remain at Conception in order to research and write his master’s thesis. He will assist at the liturgy at Conception and travel to different parishes staffed by monks in the local area, to preach and assist. X —Fr. Pachomius Meade, O.S.B.
THE YEAR OF MERCY
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don’t know when Christ will return and the world end, but I know that I want to live in Christ’s light now! So I ask myself, ‘Can I see my life more clearly, more transparently, by keeping in mind that Christ will return?’ This Year of Mercy is a graced opportunity to get and keep perspective on what is real in life. It’s not just a matter of diminishment of anxiety. It’s also about more faithfully and fully living the Christ-life. In an election year, in a world seemingly gone mad with terrorist attacks and violence, in the midst of all kinds of fears, doubts, and hopes for the future, it’s about living in fear or in hope. Our rector, Fr. Brendan, suggests our seminarians ask themselves, “Who are we and whose are we?” This question is answered every time we consciously participate in Mass. Right after the Our Father, for example, we ask to be delivered “from every evil…safe from all distress… as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” As members of Christ, we believe that we already live with a victorious future before us. We belong to Christ. Do we choose to belong to him? The Year of Mercy is a graced opportunity to get real. As we turn toward Autumn and the final months of this Year of Mercy and the end of another Church Year, performing the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy opens us to the presence of Christ in our daily lives. We can be changed. These traditional applications of the Gospel open us to hope and show us where life is really headed! Next year, the Church will take her Sunday readings from Year A. The last Sunday of that year we will be reminded forcefully of where life is headed. The Gospel is that of St. Matthew, 25:31-46. Here is part of it: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” We live our blessedness in the present, awaiting the return of Jesus. We do this not only by prayer and meditation but, as members of Jesus, doing the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, as we have so often been reminded in this Year of Mercy. Living these works, as we hear from St. Matthew’s Gospel, reminds us that we expect Christ’s return while we live in the present. X —Fr. Xavier Nacke, O.S.B.
Mosaic art work from the monastery. Summer 2016 | 11
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of a
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he monastic horarium or schedule is the heartbeat of the monastic community. It is the structure in which the monastery functions as an institution, and most importantly, it punctuates the specified times for giving thanks and praise to God. The schedule is the rhythm of our daily life that gradually forms us into what Christ has called us to be, which is men seeking holiness and constantly turning to God. Guests come among us regularly to seek God in the silence and pattern of this way of life that has been tried and tested for more than 1500 years. Our guests, many of whom come from a hectic nine to five workday, long for the time to listen and reconnect with God. They experience and treasure the time allotted for communal prayer and the abiding peace that comes only from a profound encounter with Jesus Christ. His gentle voice continually beckons them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Matthew 6:31). Certainly, the experience of a weekend retreat to a monastery can be physically refreshing and spiritually revitalizing, but what is it like to live a similar routine day in and day out? Does the schedule ever become tiresome, confining, or even boring? What do the monks do all day? What do the monks do for fun? These are familiar questions I am often asked once a group finally gets up the courage to voice what is on their mind. It is the daily routine of a monk that animates, gives life, nourishes and brings forth great interior freedom, but like any path, it is wrought with challenges and difficulties, especially for beginners. St. Benedict himself attested to this dynamic when he wrote in the prologue to his Rule, “Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset. But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love” (48-49). The bells that call us to prayer is the voice of God inviting us to leave the task at hand, no matter how important it may be, and proceed with due diligence to the Work of God. While the monks are engaged in numerous good works like Conception Seminary College, the Printery House, the Abbey Guest Center, and serving in parishes, prayer remains the primary duty of a monk. With all the uncertainties and turmoil in today’s broken world, it can be argued that what the world needs most is a transforming experience with the healing love and peace of Christ. Today there is a great need for young men to take up their cross, be generous with their lives, and remain open to the possibility that God may be calling them to monastic life. This way of life keeps one focused on the central goal of our lives—heaven. The early mornings, which are often challenging, the daily struggles and doubts, are somehow less burdensome when you are supported by others making the same sacrifices. Community life is a source of joy for all who are willing to open themselves to growth and conversion. Whether you are a young man considering a religious vocation or someone seeking to live more fully in God’s presence, you are welcome to take a glimpse into our daily schedule, where we find God. X —Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B. Summer 2016 | 13
The house bell rings exactly at twenty to six in the morning. By this point, many of the monks have already been awake, some for longer than others. Many of the monks pay a visit to the coffee room for a fresh cup of brew as part of their morning routine. Some enjoy time in meditation or adoration before the first communal prayer of the day, while others appreciate a brief stroll outside.
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise,” chants the monastic community as the first spoken words of the day. Since ten o’clock the night before, the community has observed grand silence. This practice helps create an atmosphere of quiet reflection which concludes only after breakfast. The Office of Vigils compares to the Office of Readings found in the Roman Breviary, except that the monks pray a second nocturn of Psalms, and even a third on solemnities.
The heart of Benedictine spirituality is lectio divina, or the prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture. This thirty-minute period, which is observed twice each day, is an opportunity for the monk to foster his personal relationship with the Word of God, coming to listen how God is speaking to him uniquely. Most monks spend the period in their rooms, and some prefer a cup of coffee to accompany their reading. The pattern of reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation is a time to rest in the peace of God’s presence.
The monks chant the Office of Lauds while standing in choir. Lauds as morning prayer and Vespers as evening prayer are the two hinges on which the daily office turns, and are considered as the “chief hours.” At Lauds, the Psalms focus on the theme of “praise.” The monks praise and bless God for the light of a new day. Psalm 149, prayed on Sunday morning Week I, proclaims: “Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of 14 |the Tower Topics faithful.”
The first meal of the day is taken in silence as the monks continue to reflect on God’s Words which they have just prayed. Monks can choose to go to breakfast immediately after Lauds, stay in the Basilica to pray briefly, or even log-on to the computer to check e-mails quickly before navigating the food line. Grand silence concludes after breakfast, and some monks appreciate visiting in the coffee room before getting ready for the morning work period.
The work in the monastery is diverse and varied. The Abbot assigns each monk his job assignment. Monks teach in the seminary, work on music and the liturgy, mow lawns, clean buildings, welcome guests, offer spiritual direction, or work in the sacristy, library, or Printery House. Junior monks (i.e. those in temporary vows) or novices might spend the morning studying or preparing for classes. In short, there is a lot of work to do and a monk’s assignments are usually given based on his particular gifts and interests, based on the needs of the community, or simply at the Abbot’s discretion. Fr. Benedict teaches the seminarians, Br. Placid does some maintenance repairs on the dishwasher, and Br. Anselm tends to the beehives.
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” for the Church, and in the monastery, it is no different. The monks gather daily to celebrate the Eucharist. The Sacristan (one of the monks) arrives early to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels for the celebration. The Prior of the monastery makes arrangements for the weekly schedules, which includes everything from the daily Mass celebrant to the monk who rings the tower bells. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the beautiful place of worship where the monks are privileged to pray six times a day.
Five minutes after Mass, the monk assigned as headwaiter for the week rings the house chime signaling that it is time for the monks to proceed to the monastic dining room for lunch. All stand in seniority, and once all are gathered, the superior begins the meal prayer. The monk assigned as the reader for the week receives a blessing. During the week the lunch period is accompanied with reading.
Summer 2016 | 15
The evening lectio period provides another time for a prayerful reading of the Scriptures. This practice is similarly done individually and in the quiet of one’s room. The house bell rings to signal the monks to proceed to supper.
As a major hour of the Divine Office like Lauds, the monks line up in order of seniority in the monastery glass hallway. The Abbot, Prior, and Subprior are at the head of the line, followed by those who professed vows earliest, with the newest members of the community taking the final place at the end of the line. This time in statio and in silence is intended to allow the monk to recollect before chanting the Psalms. The Psalms at Vespers communicate thanksgiving to God.
Afternoon work mirrors the morning period. Archbishop Jerome spends time in the garden and Fr. Joel assists, Br. Michael scores music and prepares worship aids in the Liturgy Workroom, and Fr. Pachomius takes up where he left off with his iconography. Later in the afternoon a few of the monks make time for exercise—going for a walk, a jog, or a bike ride.
The shortest hour of the Divine Office is immediately preceded by a brief recreation period. The collect for Wednesday captures what this minor hour of prayer is for the community when it says, “God of mercy, this midday moment of rest is your welcome gift. Bless the work we have begun, make good its defects, and let us finish it in a way that pleases you.” 16 | Tower Topics
The most formal meal of the day is a served, sit-down meal. Three monks are assigned as table waiters for the week and, as instructed in the Rule of St. Benedict, “The brothers should serve one another” (35:1). At the beginning of the week, the table waiters receive a blessing from the superior for their service. The meal is concluded when the last brother is finished eating, and all the dishes have been cleared. At the superior’s signal, a portion of the Rule of St. Benedict is read, and the community stands for a post-meal prayer. Fr. Macario, as one of the waiters for the week, helps clean off the tables after supper.
The last hour of the Divine Office has themes of reconciliation and vigilance. After the usual invocation, the monks kneel for an examination of conscience. This brief time of prayer concludes with a traditional Marian Antiphon. On Saturday evenings the community processes to the apse of the Basilica to chant the Solemn Salve Regina before the Marian statue.
Community life is an important and key component of life in a monastery. The monks have quality time to spend with one another, and recreation takes on many forms. During nicer weather, the monks walk outside in groups of two or three or sit down on the back porch. On other evenings, the monks prefer staying indoors, playing cards, assembling a puzzle, or enjoying one of many board games.
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21st Annual Abbey Trails Runners taking flight at the start of the 5K run.
(left to right) Seminarians Hayden Charles, Tomas Sandoval, and Seth Arnold.
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n Saturday, May 7, Conception Abbey welcomed 163 participants, 90 walkers and 73 runners, to the 21st Annual Abbey Trails 5K Run/2-Mile Walk, brunch, and health fair. This unique event is hosted right here on the campus of Conception Abbey with a focus on promoting healthy living in and around our community. This is achieved with a 5K run out and back on scenic highway 136 and a 2-mile walk here on the Abbey grounds. Afterward, participants are invited to attend a health fair filled with area vendors taking blood pressure, providing glucose testing, info on healthy eating and even selling vegetable plants for home gardens! After visiting all the booths, participants can dish up some delicious food and listen to the award ceremony while enjoying their meal. Be sure to save the date for next year’s Abbey Trails event – Saturday, May 6, 2017. X
Seminary Receives New Hymnals
Seminarians using their new hymnals. 18 | Tower Topics
He who sings well, prays twice. This famous quote attributed to St. Augustine reflects the deep and often subliminal role that music plays in the conceptualization of our faith. Religious hymns and music are an integral part of seminarians’ faith formation as they worship in daily prayer and Mass. Thanks in part to a grant from Orscheln Industries Foundation, seminarians received a new set of hymnals for the Seminary’s Holy Cross Oratory. The new WLP One in Faith and Flor y Canto hymnals include the new official translations of Psalms and Mass settings as well as songs in Spanish and English. X
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Monastery Renovation update
O
ne year ago we monks moved into our newly-renovated monastery, built originally in 1880. We very much appreciate the simplicity of its design and the convenience of its many improvements. We had been talking about this renovation since the building was 100 years old in 1980 but only took the leap to actually do it four years ago. The 80,000 square foot building required a complete overhaul that cost $15 million to accomplish. Through the generosity of our supporters, friends and several foundations, we were able to raise about two-thirds of the needed funds in the “Renewing Our Father’s House” capital campaign before beginning construction in June 2014. By the time we moved in a year later, we were only $3.1 million shy of the goal. So we inaugurated the “Signature Phase” of the campaign in June 2015 and our friends have again responded generously with an additional $2.2 million in the meantime, leaving less than one million yet to raise, which we expect to accomplish in the next year. Abbot Gregory and Fr. Benedict are visiting donors to seek their support in “signing off” on this long-needed and much-appreciated project. X —Fr. Benedict Neenan, O.S.B.
Building Seminary Donations & Endowment Last year it cost $3,400,000 to educate the 100 seminarians at Conception Seminary College. Tuition and fees covered most of that cost, but the seminarians depended on donors and scholarships to cover the deficit. Our friends donated $261,000 through the Rector’s Annual Appeal last Fall and scholarships from the endowment provided $253,000. Clearly, we could not carry on this vital work of training future priests 6% without the regular gifts from friends to the 253,000, Annual Appeal and without income from the many scholarships that 261,000, have been created7% in the past. Currently, our seminary endowment has a market value of $5,371,000. As we strive to increase enrollment in the seminary and offer more financial assistance to seminarians, we have set a goal for this coming year to increase Annual Appeal income by 5% to $274,000 and the scholarship endowment also by 5% to $5,640,000. 20 | Tower Topics
3,400,000, 87%
Seminary Operation Costs and Donations 7%
6%
87%
Seminary Costs 2015 Annual Rector's Appeal Scholarships from Endowment
Beyond the Monastery: Giving Back at Camp Quality “I’m down there because I think God wants me down there,” said Mark Wiederholt, Conception Abbey Director of Facilities and Environmental Services, concerning his 20-year experience serving as a volunteer with Camp Quality in St. Joseph, Missouri. When Mark came to work at Conception in 2011, he got the Conception community involved as well. The week-long camp is an opportunity for children ages 3-18 living with cancer to be “kids again,” as Camp Quality’s tag line states. Campers have the option to partake in a variety of activities including fishing, paddle boating, swimming, bounce houses, crafts and games, as well as special events like a Camp Prom, tea parties and visits from local publicsafety officials and celebrities. For the past five years, Conception Abbey monks and employees have volunteered cooking and serving food in the dining hall at Camp Quality. Over the years, it has become an event that many on campus look forward to. This year, seventeen monks and employees made the trek to Camp Quality to lend a hand. Service to others is a Christian tenet – one that is important to the Conception community. Volunteering at the camp affords the community an opportunity, “to expand our ministry beyond the walls of the monastery,” remarked Fr. Benedict. Trish Wiederholt of the Abbey Development Office says, “There is really no way to describe the feeling it gives you when you see the young ones
Pictured (top row) Connie Preston, Juliusz Draganski, Fr. Benedict Neenan, O.S.B., Mark Wiederholt, Br. Etienne Huard, O.S.B., Sandra Stubbs, Chuck Redden, Jeff Jobes, and Mike Smith. (bottom row) Trish Wiederholt, Melissa Brown, Erin Mullins, Jenny Huard, Fr. Macario Martinez, O.S.B., and Br. Placid Dale, O.S.B.
Chuck Redden and others prepare and serve the meals for the campers in the kitchen and clean up afterwards.
fighting to be a kid and know that you helped a little. Each year, as I watch the campers come into the dining hall, I say a prayer for them.” When asked why volunteering at Camp Quality was important to him, Fr. Macario answered, “Being a monk and living within a monastic community means serving and showing compassion to your fellow monks. It’s what Christ commands, ‘Love one another, as I have loved you.’” Of course, service to those in need is the main reason the Conception community has been involved with Camp Quality, “And we have fun!” said Mark Wiederholt. X —Daniel Chinn
ALUMNITEMS
Giving it All for Another Brian Bergkamp graduated from Conception Seminary College as a member of the Class of 2014 and continued his preparation for the priesthood by continuing studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland. A seminarian of the Diocese of Wichita, Brian went missing while kayaking on the Arkansas River after saving the life of a friend. The following article appeared in The Catholic Advance and is reprinted here with permission.
Brian Bergkamp was known in the seminary as a man who gave himself without asking for anything in return. He felt called to give of himself once again Saturday, July 9. Bergkamp, 24, was kayaking with four friends on the Arkansas River when one of the women in the group fell out of her kayak after they hit rough water. According to officials, the seminarian went in after her and
was able to help her reach safety, but was pulled under by the strong current. “I knew Brian to be an exceptional seminarian, well on his way to demonstrating so many of the qualities needed to be a good and faithful priest,” Bishop Carl A. Kemme wrote in an email. “I personally looked forward to the day when I might be able to ordain him.” Bishop Kemme said Brian was quiet, dedicated, diligent in his work and studies, and presented himself always with a sense of decorum and maturity, well beyond his years. “Now we must mourn his much anticipated ministry and the many fruits we all knew would be abundant by his priestly life and ministry. Life on this side of heaven is full of mysteries, contradictions, ironies,” Bishop Kemme said. “Brian’s untimely death is full of
these mysteries, which must wait until heaven to be solved.” Brian showed a true priestly quality in his last moments, he said, apparently saving the life of another while risking his own. “This all took place on the weekend when we heard the parable of the Good Samaritan. Brian was living that parable in his last moments. No one could ever hope for or expect a greater homily than this!” As we move on – now without him, Bishop Kemme said, “I entrust him to the mercy of God, who gave him life and the love of a good and supportive family. He found new life, membership, and belonging in the church through baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. He wanted to dedicate his life to the service of the church as a priest. While this was apparently not to be, he nevertheless lived an already priestly life and died a priestly death, giving it all for another. X
Fr. Edward Hays, 85, died on April 3, 2016, on the Second Sunday of Easter due to a fall in his home. An alumnus of Conception Seminary College and Theology (1950-58), Fr. Ed Hays has left a world-wide pastoral legacy of more than thirty books on prayer and spirituality, memorable lectures, and retreat programs celebrating the surprising presence of God in all places, people, and times. While remaining faithful to the Church and obedient to his bishop, Fr. Ed had the bold creative ability to push the imagination toward new horizons of faith and hope. 22 | Tower Topics
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ALUMNI DEATHS
Rev. Mr. Leonard Fennewald Dr. Paul D. Jones (H 1958, C Mr. Eugene F. Schoemann (C (C 1960) of Wichita, Kansas, 1962) of Maryville, Missouri, 1965) of Cook, Nebraska, died died July 5, 2016. died April 15, 2016. Aug 23, 2015. Mr. Philip C. Gardos (C 1969) of Kansas City, Kansas, died May 24, 2016.
Rev. John J. Joyce (C 1970, T 1974), of Albers, Illinois, died April 8, 2016.
Mr. Robert Shumate (H 1945) of Moberly, Missouri, died on May 12, 2016
Rev. Lawrence E. Grennan (SI 1962) of Ogden, Kansas, died May 22, 2015.
Mr. Francis J. McGuire (C 1969) of Kansas City, Missouri, died May 24, 2016.
Mr. Michael J. Winstead (C 1969) of Corpus Christi, Texas, died June 5, 2016. Summer 2016 | 23
ABBEY GUEST CENTER
Faith, Family, Fun Retreat a Success I
Retreat Schedule 2016-2017
magine a weekend with your family with no cell phones or electronic devices. No TV. Where tossing a beanbag is “fun,” enjoying a homemade root beer float is “cool,” and going on a hayride is “awesome.” Sounds like something from perhaps another era, but it is not. This summer in mid-June, families came to Conception Abbey for a twenty-four hour getaway for an Abbey Guest Center family retreat. “They do things that families like to do together,” was the comment from six-year-old Sophia Novak. There were craft rooms where one could make decorative cement garden stepping stones, collages from recycled greeting cards and icon prints, bead art, bookmarks and many other hands-on crafts. Families worked together to create towers out of gumdrops, miniature marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti. Sidewalks around the Abbey were covered with family murals as they used sidewalk chalk to display visually how God and their Catholic faith was a part of their family. Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy was the central theme for the main faith activities. Each family made a
Br. Placid offers a hayride at sunset.
commitment to do something that centered on the corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Commitments included yard work for a grandparent, being more patient with one another, giving food to the poor, regular family prayer times and visiting shut-ins. It was a weekend packed with memories, new insights and a chance for alumnus Christopher Sampson to show his daughter and two sons where he went to seminary college. There were root beer floats, toasting of marshmallows, prayer with the monks, a big screen movie, popcorn and a sunset hayride with Br. Placid. “We enjoyed the opportunity for an affordable and fun retreat with our kids. We had ample opportunities to laugh, play, pray and relax. Our kids enjoyed making new friends, and we appreciated spending time with parents committed to their faith,” remarked Kelly Hall. X —Karen Ceckowski
October 15-18 October 28-30 November 11-13 November 18-20 December 7 December 30 - Jan 1
Annual Harvest Days Retreat (Saturday-Tuesday) Oblate Retreat: “The History of the Beuronese Style of Art” (Friday-Sunday) Lettering the Word Calligraphy Refresher Retreat (Friday-Sunday) Praying the Liturgy of the Hours (Friday-Sunday) Advent Day of Reflection (Wednesday) New Year’s Retreat (Friday-Sunday)
January 27-29 March 8 March 10-12 March 24-26 April 8-9 April 13-16 April 21-23 April 21-23 May 26-28 May 26-29 May 29 - June 3 June 10-11 July 7-9
Flannery O’Connor weekend (Friday-Sunday) Lenten Day of Reflection (Wednesday) Lenten Retreat: Holy Men & Holy Women (Friday-Sunday) The Mass as Sacrifice: Impact on Self and Others (Friday-Sunday) Palm Sunday, RCIA and Adult Faith Renewal Retreat (Saturday-Sunday) Paschal Triduum at the Abbey (Thursday-Sunday) Bible Scripts Preparatory Retreat (Friday-Sunday) Oblate Retreat: “The Iconography of the Abbey Basilica” (Friday-Sunday) Annual Gardener’s Retreat (Friday-Sunday) Lettering the Word–Beginner’s Retreat (Friday-Monday) Calligraphy Bible Scripts Gothic Quadrata (Monday-Saturday) Family, Faith, & Fun weekend (Saturday-Sunday) Oblate Pray & Work weekend (Friday-Sunday)
Visit our website www.conceptionabbey.org for more information about three more retreats to be added to the 2017 calendar: Couples retreat, Retreat with Abbot Gregory, and a weekend on Forgiveness and Reconciliation.
24 | Tower Topics
FOOTNOTES Fr. Albert Bruecken, O.S.B., May 30 - June 2, conducted a retreat for the monks of St. Bede Abbey, Peru, Illinois. June 18-28, he also gave a retreat to the sisters of St. Martin’s Monastery, Nassau, Bahamas. July 25-29, he went on a pilgrimage with people from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the death of Fr. Stanley Rother in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Br. Jonathan Clark, O.S.B. and Br. Maximilian Burkhart, O.S.B., May 26, along with the St. Stephen’s Infirmary staff, attended a hospice workshop at Our Lady of Richenbach Healthcare Facility, Clyde, Missouri. On June 15, the St. Stephen’s Infirmary staff hosted a workshop entitled, “Dealing With Difficult Personalities in the Health Care Setting.” Archbishop Jerome Hanus, O.S.B., June 5-9, conducted a retreat for the priests of the Diocese of Des Moines, at the Abbey’s St. Gabriel Guesthouse. Br. Justin Hernandez, O.S.B., June 11-18, attended a Fides et Ratio seminar in Manchester, New Hampshire. The topic was American Catholic social thought from the Civil War to the 1920’s. July 19-21, he also attended a three day conference in St. Louis of the Association of Veterans Educational Certifying Officials. Dr. Paul Johnson, June 3-5, attended the Teaching Professor Conference in Washington, D.C. Br. Michael Marcotte, O.S.B., May 27-30, conducted a beginner’s calligraphy retreat, Lettering the Word, with a central focus on the use of lettering as a means of doing lectio divina. May 30 - June 4, he led a Bible Scripts Retreat: Carolingian Minuscule. Participants continued the practice of daily lectio divina using calligraphy and learned the minuscule script that was used in the creation of bibles during the Carolingian period.
Fr. Pachomius Meade, O.S.B., April 22, successfully defended his thesis entitled “The Depiction of Smell in Fifteenth-Century Netherlandish Painting as Cultural Sense Memory and Odorcued Prayer Context,” receiving a master’s degree in Art History at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Fr. Brendan Moss, O.S.B., May 14, graduated in absentia from Felician University, Lodi, New Jersey, earning a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education. Also, June 14-17, he attended One Bread, One Cup at St. Meinrad Archabbey where he gave a presentation on lectio divina to one hundred young people from across the country and spoke with small groups on the topic of how to preach at the Liturgy of the Hours. Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B., had an article published in the March-April issues of The Bible Today on the topic of “sacrifice” as found in Psalms 50 and 51. In mid-June, he directed the community retreat for the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kansas. In late June, he led the canonical visitation of the monks of Our Lady of Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, Massachusetts. In late July, he attended the abbatial blessing of Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, O.S.B., of St. Meinrad Archabbey. Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B., and Br. Etienne Huard, O.S.B., June 19, played in the 3rd Annual Pitching for Priests softball game at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas. Dr. Shalina Stilley, throughout the summer, gave numerous talks on Laudato Si, human trafficking, and vocations, at various parishes and colleges in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Br. Thomas Sullivan, O.S.B., June 3-10, attended a Rare Book School Advanced Seminar in Medieval Manuscripts at Yale University. He also had an article published in the American Benedictine Review entitled: “Two Choirs of Angels? The Visitation of the College Saint-Germain Saint-Benoit (Montpellier) in 1365.” He also submitted an Oxford Online Medieval Bibliography on Sts. Benedict and Scholastica. Br. David Wilding, O.S.B., July 29, was awarded the Master of Arts in Music Degree at St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana. Fr. Pat York, May 31- June 3, attended a meeting of the National Association of College Seminaries. He also led a retreat, June 6-10, for clergy of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese in St. Louis, Missouri. He also, July 10-15, helped with a young person’s retreat and camp at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas.
Do you have unwanted books? We would LOVE to have them!
Please donate your lightly used books to the Conception Abbey & Seminary Library annual book sale. Books can be on any subject, even fiction. We’ll take DVDs and CDs too! Proceeds from the book sale go toward the renovation of the Library Reading/Reference Room. Please contact Chris Brite, at (660) 944-2863 or at cbrite@conception. edu, if you have any questions. You can drop off items anytime throughout the year at the library or mail them to: Christopher Brite, Conception Abbey & Seminary Library, P.O. Box 501, Conception, MO 64433 Summer 2016 | 25
BLESSINGS Donor
Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Marilyn Alldredge Knights of Columbus St. Benedict Assembly #3287 Mr. Charles Berman Mr. & Mrs. Vic & Cheryl Buechter Ms. Patricia Jones Burris Mr. Dennis Cobb
Mr. Donald Gramlich Mr. Scott Hillyard Ms. Mary E. Kelly Ms. Mary H. Kersten Ms. Mary H. Kersten Mr. Louis L. Kosiba
In Honor Donor or Memory of
Rev. Daniel Petsche, OSB & the 125th Anniversary of Basilica Rev. Mr. Martin Goedken Ms. Dolly Berman Ms. Alverna A Buechter
Mr. Richard Richards Deacons Arvol Bartok, James Farnell, James Haaf, Tyler McClay, Bruce Mobley, Philip Ordonia, Ric Telthorst, Christopher Wickern Rev. Mario Gramlich Ms. Nancy Hillyard Mr. John P. & Elizabeth Chloe Davis Ms. Peggy Wines Ms. Dorothy M. Peterson Mr. Frank Czapla
Mr. Louis L. Kosiba Mr. Louis L. Kosiba Rev. Edward G. Lambro Rev. Edward G. Lambro Ms. Margaret R. Lister Ms. Margaret R. Lister Ms. Margaret R. Lister Mr. & Mrs. John & Mary McCarthy Mr. & Mrs. Donald & Jeannette Rotert Mr. & Mrs. Francis Schwartze Mr. Raymond C. Stoecklein Rev. Mark Tomasiewicz Mr. & Mrs. Roman & Donna Weiler Ms. Leann Wilson
In Honor or Memory of
Mr. Donald Hinnenkamp Ms. Clara Olson Rev. John R Tulipana Rev. James H. Ford Dr. William Redmond Mrs. Muriel Redmond Mr. William (Bill) Redmond Mrs. Mary Barbara Mathis Ms. Monica Weimer Ms. Donna Jean Tidmore Rev. Philip Schuster, OSB Mr. & Mrs. Felix & Maxine Tomasiewicz Mr. & Mrs. Antion & LaVerne Klein Mr. Brent Wilson
Send Your Blessings: honor a friend or family member, memorialize a deceased loved one, or commemorate a
special occasion, while furthering the work of Conception Abbey and Seminary College. Enclosed is my Memorial/Honor Gift of $___________________ Donor’s name ____________________________________ Address________________________________________ City ____________________________________________ State _____________ Zip _______________ Recipient’s Name Choose one: q In memory of q In honor of q In commemoration Send card to ____________________________________ Address ________________________________________ City ____________________________________________ State _____________ Zip_______________ Mail to: Conception Abbey, c/o Blessings Program, PO Box 501, Conception, MO 64433
OBLATE NEWS Oblate Prayer & Work Weekend
More than thirty oblates attended the Prayer and Work weekend this past July. They helped with a variety of tasks including gardening and also joined the monastic community for prayer. Oblates seek to adapt the Rule of St. Benedict to their state of life. They share a desire to know God better, pray well, and be united with the prayer of this community. For more information about the oblate program, please contact Fr. Albert Bruecken, O.S.B. (660) 944-2900 or oblates@conception.edu 26 | Tower Topics
Final Oblations David Longstreet, Blue Springs, MO (April 2, 2016) Margaret Longstreet, Blue Springs, MO (April 2, 2016) Joann Weldon, Wichita, KS (April 2, 2016) Therese Wilbourn, Raymore, MO (April 2, 2016) Oblate Novices Michael Brogan, Kansas City, MO (April 3, 2016) Patrick Flanigan, Carthage, MO (April 2, 2016) Patricia Flanigan, Carthage, MO (April 2, 2016) Randy Roeth, Des Moines, IA (May 11, 2016) Denize Ruiz, Kansas City, MO (July 9, 2016) Emilio Serrano, Des Moines, IA (July 9, 2016) Christine Welles, Kansas City, MO (April 3, 2016) Oblate Deaths Rev. Mr. Leonard Fennewald, Wichita, KS (July 5, 2016)
CONCEPTION ABBEY & SEMINARY COLLEGE DONATION Enclosed is a contribution for q Renewing Our Father’s House Capital Campaign q Facilities Endowment q Seminary Endowment q Lenten Appeal q Conception Seminary College Annual Appeal q Other_________________________________________________________________________ I would like to donate: $____________ q one time q monthly q quarterly q semi-annual Credit Card Information q Visa q MasterCard q Discover Information (if different from the back of this form) Name_________________________________________ Account Number ______________________________ Address_______________________________________ Expires ________CSCode(on back of card):__________ City_________________State ______Zip____________ Name on Card _________________________________ Phone (home)_____________(work) _______________ Signature______________________ Date___________ E-mail_________________________________________ Checks may be made out to Conception Abbey. Give securely online by going to: www.conceptionabbey.org
Electronic Funds Transfer ($10 minimum) Please deduct from my q checking q savings Attach a voided check (not a deposit slip) Signature______________________ Date __________
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 5 8-11 9-11 17 19 20 21 23-24 30-2
SEPTEMBER Labor Day CSC Senior Pilgrimage Diaconate Program Tri-C Grotto Experience CSC Annual Golf Tournament (KC) Blood Drive @ 1:00 p.m. World Peace Day CSC Alumni Reunion Diaconate Program
7 8-9 8-9 14-15 15-16 15-18 23 27-30 28-30 31
OCTOBER 8th Annual PFP Dinner & Auction in St. Joseph, MO CSC Family Weekend Library Book Sale CSC Board of Regents CSC Soccer/Volleyball Tournament Retreat: Annual Harvest Days Retreat World Mission Sunday Federation of Seminary Spiritual Directors Oblate Retreat: Beuronese Art & Music Halloween
1 4-6 5-6 6 11-12 13 11-13 12-14 18-20 20 23-27 24 29
NOVEMBER All Saints Day Diaconate Program CSC Inner City Weekend Anniversary of Abbot Gregory’s Election CSC Fall Play @ 8:00 p.m. CSC Fall Play @ 2:30 p.m. Calligraphy Retreat: Lettering The Word Refresher Encounter With God’s Call Weekend Retreat: Praying the Liturgy of the Hours Holy Hour of Mercy (2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.) Solemnity of Christ the King CSC Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Day Giving Tuesday
DECEMBER 2-4 Diaconate Program 7 Retreat: Advent Day of Reflection 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception 9 Anniversary of Abbot Gregory’s Blessing 17-1/5 CSC Christmas Break 30-1/1 New Year Retreat
Summer 2016 | 27
Conception Abbey PO Box 501 Conception MO 64433-0501 Return Service Requested
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SUMMER 2016, VOL. XXX, NO. 2 PUBLISHER Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B. EDITOR Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B. LAYOUT & DESIGN Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B. COVER PHOTO Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B. PHOTOGRAPHERS Br. Etienne Huard, O.S.B. Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B. EDITORIAL BOARD Jenny Huard Daniel Chinn Fr. Benedict Neenan, O.S.B. Fr. Daniel Petsche, O.S.B. Amy Schieber Br. Thomas Sullivan, O.S.B. TowerTopics is published triannually by the Office of Communications Conception Abbey PO Box 501 Conception MO 64433 (660) 944-2823 communications@conception.edu www.conceptionabbey.org copyright © 2016 Conception Abbey
The next issue of Tower Topics will be a special commemorative edition for the 125th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Abbey Basilica. Throughout those 125 years, many memories have been made in the Basilica’s sacred walls: weddings, baptisms, ordinations, First Communions, family gatherings, oblations, and other special events in the lives of those who are close to us. We would like to feature some of these and stories that go along with them in our next Tower Topics. Please send your photos and stories digitally to communications@conception.edu or by mail to Conception Abbey, Development Office, PO Box 501, Conception, MO 64433. Questions? Please call (660) 944-2814.