The Ryan Foundation recently committed over $860,000 to Conception Abbey of Conception, Missouri in December 2020.
Conception Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1873 in Northwest Missouri. Their Basilica was designated by Pope Pius XII in 1941, was an official pilgrimage site for the Year of Mercy. The monastery has 59 monks in their community. While 2020 was an exception due to the pandemic, in a normal year, it serves more than 7,000 guests who come to Conception for spiritual renewal and retreats.
In addition to the Basilica, the primary apostolate is Conception Seminary College, founded in 1886. Conception Seminary serves students from more than 20 dioceses, mostly in the Midwest region of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The seminary program focuses on discernment for God’s calling, while strengthening the four pillars of intellectual, spiritual, human, and pastoral formation in each student. Seminarians complete an accredited four-year undergraduate program in philosophy, as a preparation for post-graduate theology classes elsewhere, and eventually, priestly ordination.
Dr. Ryan and Eileen’s commitment to higher education was evident in their gifts to various colleges and universities during their lifetimes. Both benefactors believed strongly in supporting education, especially the education of soon to be priests. Dr. Ryan and The Ryan Foundation donated over $20,000 to Conception Abbey, Inc, from 2001 to 2014.
The Donation is intended to support the Paths of Wisdom seminary program. The Donation will allow the Conception Seminary College to provide improved academic instruction for students, and improve the quality of education, and assist four seminarians with the cost of education over four years. $250,000 is being given to hire a quality philosophy professor who will strengthen the academic offerings of Conception Seminary College, and $610,140 will be used to pay tuition, room, and board for four students, selected from at-need dioceses.
To Learn more about Conception Abbey, and Conception Seminary College, please visit their website