I'm back

Miss me? Yeah, I didn't think so.

I spent a blissful two-and-a-half days out at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York -- the historic house of formation for the Dioceses of Rockville Centre and Brooklyn. It was my first visit there. The place sits on over 200 wooded acres that lie along Long Island Sound. We were blessed with a beautiful snowfall Saturday afternoon. It only amounted to a couple inches, but it gave the retreat experience a nice, cloistered feeling. (Okay: at times, I felt like an extra in "The Shining." But it was nice to be snowed in with Jesus.)

Let me show you around. If you want, just click on the pictures for a larger view.

This is the main entrance foyer. Is this a seminary or the Plaza? Really, the place is beautiful and, in every sense, grand. The doors at the top of the stairs lead to the main chapel.

Up on the second floor, let me show you my room. It's somewhat less-than-grand.

The rooms are set along four wings, or "alleys." My room, D-18, had an unspectacular view of the chapel and a roof. A nice perk was a private bathroom, complete with shower (which I imagine was unheard of in seminaries 70 years ago).

Downstairs, you find the refectory.

The food was very good, as retreat house food goes: pancakes and waffles and eggs and cereal in the morning. Soup and sandwiches for lunch. Beef goulash for dinner, with several different deserts.

But the heart of the place is the incredible main chapel.

The place could, at one time, accommodate a couple hundred seminarians. The chapel is designed along the lines of a monastery church. The incredible gold reredos behind the main altar depicts various scenes from the life of Christ.

There's also a small chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

It's open 24/7 for private prayer. It's a wonderful oasis.

Our retreat master was Fr. Joseph Wilson.

He is familiar to regular readers of The Wanderer. Fr. Wilson spoke to us about contemplative prayer and, in particular lectio divina. He was excellent -- smart, wry, irreverent, prayerful, engaging, challenging.

Every day included Morning and Evening Prayer, mass, conferences, and ample time for private reflection (a.k.a. naps.) Saturday night, we had a "social" in our conference room, with cheese and sodas and pretzels.

And then Sunday, after mass and a few final words of inspiration from Fr. Wilson, it was time to go.

I'm still absorbing and reflecting and I'm sure it will take a few days for the weekend to truly sink in. But it is always good to come "to a place apart." I'm grateful that Huntington was that place for me.

I'm sure my wife must have enjoyed the peace and quiet, and not having me underfoot. But I'm really glad to be home.

And -- like the magi -- after my encounter with Christ this weekend, perhaps I can return to my daily life by another way.