Frowin Conrad OSB (baptismal name: ''Plazidus''; 2 November 1833 – 24 March 1923) was a

Priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

and first

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The fem ...

of Conception Abbey.

Biography

Frowin Conrad was born in Auw, Aargau, Switzerland, one of a family of fifteen. His family were farmers, and devoutly religious. He completed his

secondary education Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scale. Level 2 or lower secondary education (less commonly junior secondary education) is considered the second and final pha ...

in Engelberg and became a member of

Engelberg Abbey Engelberg Abbey (german: Kloster Engelberg) is a Benedictine monastery in Engelberg, Canton of Obwalden, Switzerland. It was formerly in the Diocese of Constance, but is now in the Diocese of Chur. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels and ...

in 1852. After he took his

religious vows Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices, and views. In the Buddhism tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of re ...

in 1856, he became a priest like his four brothers. After holding various offices in Engelberg Abbey, he became leader of the Engelberg Parish. He moved to the United States with an associate, P. Adelhelm Odermatt, in April 1873; there he founded Conception Abbey (also called "Neu-Engelburg"). From the simplest beginnings, monastic life and seminars were developed. After his appointment as

prior Prior (or prioress) is an ecclesiastical title for a superior in some religious orders. The word is derived from the Latin for "earlier" or "first". Its earlier generic usage referred to any monastic superior. In abbeys, a prior would be l ...

in 1876, Father Frowin became the first abbot of the abbey in 1881. In the beginning, he focused on supporting children's education and achieved an agricultural sample operation. From later construction work, multiple monasteries, institutes and hospitals were developed. Father Frowin received multiple awards for the effects of his work. He died in Conception, Missouri, aged 89.

Sources

* ''Biographisches Lexikon des Aargaus 1803–1957.'' Sauerländer, Aarau 1958

External links

Interest Presence of the Abbey
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Conrad, Frowin American abbots Benedictine abbots German Benedictines 1833 births 1923 deaths German emigrants to the United States