From Seminary to Retreat Center and House of Formation
For more than 80 years, the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception provided theological education and priestly formation to candidates for the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre. In recent decades, the Seminary opened its educational programs to laity and religious, providing pastoral leaders in theology and for more than ten years, candidates for the permanent diaconate have received their formation here.
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.
It 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 school where we ready and study 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.
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.
It 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 school where we ready and study 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.
"For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received..."
- 1 C O R 1 5 : 3
Our History
Beginnings
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.
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.
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The Seminary Today
Celebrating ninety years since its opening, the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception continues to be an active, vibrant center of formation and education. The formation program for candidates for the Permanent Diaconate of the Diocese of Rockville Centre is based here. Programs sponsored by the Friends of the Seminary during the year provide additional opportunities for spiritual enrichment.
Situated in Huntington, Long Island, about forty miles from New York City, the Seminary stands on more than 200 acres overlooking Cold Spring Harbor, Lloyd Harbor and Oyster Bay. The unique beauty and tranquility of the Seminary building and grounds offer an ideal setting for retreats, days of recollection, parish staff meetings, workshops, conferences, picnics, etc.
Come away and rest awhile – you are most welcome!
Situated in Huntington, Long Island, about forty miles from New York City, the Seminary stands on more than 200 acres overlooking Cold Spring Harbor, Lloyd Harbor and Oyster Bay. The unique beauty and tranquility of the Seminary building and grounds offer an ideal setting for retreats, days of recollection, parish staff meetings, workshops, conferences, picnics, etc.
Come away and rest awhile – you are most welcome!