New Abbot at Conception Abbey
- 22 hours ago
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Press Release
Conception Abbey Communications Department
On Saturday, 11 July 2026, the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey, in Conception, Missouri, elected Fr Paul Sheller OSB, as their new abbot.
He becomes the 11th abbot in Conception Abbey’s 153-year history, succeeding Abbot Benedict Neenan OSB, who has retired after 10 years of abbatial service.
The election of Abbot Paul took place within a private meeting of the monks of Conception Abbey on Saturday, 11 July. Before the election, the monks of Conception Abbey gathered in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit, invoking the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance in the election process. The Right Rev. Justin Brown OSB, president of the Swiss-American Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation, was the principal celebrant for the Mass and oversaw the election.
The new abbot assumes his responsibilities as the spiritual and temporal leader of the community immediately; as is custom, a formal blessing will take place at a later date.
Abbot Paul, 44, was most recently assigned as Director of the Abbey Guest Center in 2024, in addition to his roles as Vocation Director and Master of Ceremonies.
After spending his formative years in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Abbot Paul professed vows as a Benedictine monk on 15 August 2006, and was ordained a priest on 16 May 2013. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Conception Seminary College in 2005 and a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Systematic Theology from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013. He later earned a Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in 2020.
Since joining the monastery, Abbot Paul has served in various roles, including Abbey Subprior; Admissions director, Spiritual Formation director, chaplain, and instructor for Conception Seminary College; Planned Giving director; Tower Topics editor; and most recently Abbey Guest Center director, Vocation director, and Master of Ceremonies.
Founded in 1873 from a monastery in Engelberg, Switzerland, Conception Abbey strives to continue its mission of prayer and service to the Church. The 51 monks of Conception Abbey operate Conception Seminary College, which educates future priests and permanent deacons, the Abbey Guest Center, and Altar + Home, a retail ministry for the domestic church.
