About | Retreat & Conference Center of the Immaculate Conception Discover the Heart of Spiritual Renewal The Retreat & Conference Center of the Immaculate Conception is a place of great beauty where we invite people to come away and spend time with the Lord.  It is a house of hospitality where we welcome every guest as Christ.  It is a place set apart for studying scripture and theology.  And, above all it is a place where we strive to be formed in Christ after the example of His best and first disciple, Mary, the Immaculate Conception.  She listened for the voice of the Shepherd and pondered His word in her heart.  With Mary as guide, we seek to dwell secure in the Sacred Heart of her Son and Our Lord. Our Rich Heritage For more than 80 years, what was formerly known as the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception provided theological education and priestly formation to candidates for the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre. In 2012 the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre and the Archdiocese of New York formed the St. Charles Borromeo Inter-Diocesan Partnership in Spiritual and Theological Formation for Clergy, Religious and Laity. Candidates for priesthood from all three dioceses began participating in a single program of formation at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers.  The formation program for candidates for the Permanent Diaconate of the Diocese of Rockville Centre remains in Huntington. More recently, this house of formation in Christ has been transformed, and while we continue to pursue our mission for theological education and formation, we are pleased to welcome retreatants and, academic and pastoral conferences. Our Mission Guided by Faith, Driven by Service At the Retreat & Conference Center of the Immaculate Conception, our mission is to provide a nurturing environment that promotes spiritual growth and community engagement. We are dedicated to offering hospitality that reflects the love and teachings of Christ, ensuring every guest feels valued and inspired. Through our retreats, seminars, and special events, we strive to create opportunities for meaningful connections and personal transformation. Our Journey Through Time Although part of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, the Seminary’s history begins with the Diocese of Brooklyn.  In 1853, the whole of Long Island was established as the Diocese of Brooklyn.  Over the following years, clergy for the new Diocese were trained at various American seminaries and the North American and Lateran Seminaries in Rome. In response to the need to accommodate the growing Diocese and the number of men seeking priesthood, Bishop Thomas E. Molloy, purchased 200 acres in the Village of Lloyd Harbor in 1924 to build a Seminary.  The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated and formally opened on September 28, 1930. It should be noted that funding for the construction was made possible by the support of generous parishioners from the Brooklyn Bridge to Montauk Point. Due to rapid growth on Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties were formed into a new Diocese of Rockville Centre. Located within the boundaries of the newly created Diocese, the Seminary came under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rockville Centre and men from the Diocese of Brooklyn continued to study for the priesthood in Huntington with those from the Diocese of Rockville Centre. In 1974 the Seminary offered Masters degrees and admitted lay students not preparing for ordination . September 2012 marked a singularly significant chapter in the history of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.  The Diocese of Rockville Centre, the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn formed the St. Charles Borromeo Inter-Diocesan Partnership in Spiritual and Theological Formation for Clergy, Religious and Laity.  Candidates for priesthood from all three Dioceses began participation in a single program of priestly formation at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. Since the relocation of the priestly formation program to Yonkers, the Seminary in Huntington continues to offer courses for lay students under the St. Joseph’s Seminary umbrella. 1853 Long Island Diocese Established Diocese of Brooklyn (later Rockville Centre) established 1924 Property Purchased Bishop Thomas E. Molloy purchases 200 acres in Village of Lloyd Harbor to build a Seminary. 1930 Dedication & Opening On September 28, 1930, the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated and formally opened. 1974 Graduate Degrees Offered Seminary began offering graduate level degrees and admitted lay students not preparing for ordination 2012 Retreat Center Established After seminary formation moved to Yonkers for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, The Diocese of Brooklyn, & the Archdiocese of New York, the Lloyd Harbor property shifted gears to become a full-time Retreat & Conference Center. Our Distinctive Features Tranquil Retreat Spaces Our center offers peaceful surroundings ideal for personal reflection and group retreats, fostering a deep connection with nature and spirituality. Explore Spaces Conferences & Events We host events throughout the year for your spiritual growth and cultural appreciation including workshops, seminars, concerts, and tours. We are also happy to host all of your conference & event needs. View Events Private Rooms & Baths Our facility contains 200 private rooms and baths, dining facilities, free Wi-Fi, and other amenities that make your stay relaxing and refreshing. Join Us Our Main Chapel Entering the main chapel from the mezzanine, one’s vision is irresistibly drawn to the basilican sanctuary.  Together with its artful ceiling and richly embellished terrazzo floor, it provides a fitting setting for the altar of God.  Specifically, it is the reredos rising up behind the marble altar that claims all attention.  It is a beautiful work of art in wood carving, burnished with gold leaf and exhibiting the salient features of Christ’s life of beauty and wonder. ​The central them of the reredos is the crucifixion scene superimposed on a medallion recounting the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps nowhere on the reredos is the consummate skill and exquisite workmanship of the artist so clearly manifest as in the ten scenes from the life of Christ flanking the Crucifixion. Lining the two sides of the chapel, hand carved stalls face each other in monastic style to facilitate the recitation of prayer.  The Stations of the Cross are engraved at intervals along a wooden screen behind them.  Above these rise the richly colored stained glass windows and beamed ceiling painted in polychrome finish. Approaching the narthex, we are confronted with a wrought iron choral screen in a combination of Spanish Renaissance and Romanesque design; the splendid craftsmanship of Frederick Bergmueller, a native of Augsburg, Germany.  His work is abundantly displayed throughout the interior and exterior of the Seminary. The Skinner organ made of four individual organs can be played separately or linked together, this beautiful instrument contains 1,800 pipes and was installed in 1930. Explore our Chapels Join Us for a Transformative Experience Discover the peace and renewal that awaits at the Retreat & Conference Center of the Immaculate Conception. Our doors are open for you to participate in enriching events or to plan a personal retreat. Embrace the opportunity to deepen your faith and connect with our community. Book Your Retreat Today