ABBEY CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

Visitors may join for Mass and daily prayer

CONCEPTION, Mo. — Founded by the monks of Engelberg, Switzerland in 1873, Conception Abbey celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

Living in community has been a hallmark of Conception Abbey’s entire history.

The monks pray and work alongside one another, shaping one another’s lives and serving the spiritual needs of the Church and the world.

Similarly, the monks have been a part of the rural northwest Missouri community for 150 years. From serving as missionaries in local Catholic parishes and hospitals to serving as a place of prayer and religious tradition across the region, Conception Abbey is well established as a center for spirituality.

“The ways we have connected with the local community over these last 150 years has varied, but that connection has always remained strong,” said Rt. Rev. Benedict Neenan, abbot of Conception Abbey. “We owe a great deal to the community who welcomed us 150 years ago and continues to nurture what has become a friendship and partnership strengthened by God.”

Just a short drive southeast of Maryville, Conception Abbey’s church, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, is open to the public. The monks completed a sanctuary enhancement project in the spring of 2023, making both structural and artistic updates to the space behind the altar of the basilica. Additionally, historical display cases were renovated to give visitors a glimpse into the lives of the monks and their lives of prayer and work.

Visitors can join the monks for Mass and their daily prayer schedule, or simply stop by to pray and view the beauty and art within the basilica and across campus. While selfguided tour materials are available, Conceptions Abbey’s Guest Center specializes in personalized tours for groups. Retreats, tours and other events bring more than 8,000 guests and visitors to Conception annually.

“The new sanctuary updates in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception provide a great opportunity for local guests to come for a visit, whether they’ve been here before or not,” said Br. Cyprian Langlois, guestmaster and gift shop manager. “We invite local church groups or other local organizations to book a tour to see the work we’ve done.”

Whether that means stopping in for the first time, revisiting or bringing along new friends, tours are a great way to connect with the monks and the Abbey, and to strengthen the relationship between the local community and the monastic community.

To book a tour, day trip, or retreat with the Abbey Guest Center, call 660-944-2809, email guests@conceptionabbey.org, or visit conceptionabbey.org/guests.