Cohort 4 Retreat May 16-18, 2025

Lloyd Harbor, NY

The SoF retreat will offer you unhurried time and space to unplug, rest and replenish your soul.

Enjoy the spaciousness of the location. Connect and be present with yourself, God and each other through moments of silence, worship and joy.

We will give you opportunities to examine, listen and respond, individually and together, to the prompting of the Spirit of God in your heart as we celebrate the conclusion of our SoF journey together!

What's the retreat like?

What's the retreat like?

Location

Seminary of the Immaculate Conception

440 West Neck Road, Lloyd Harbor, NY 11743
From the street the main entrance has a long straight driveway to the main building where you’ll enter and look for the SoF check-in table. 

Schedule

Friday May 16, 2025

1:00p – 5:00p – Spiritual Direction (optional)

4:00p – Check in 

6:00p – Dinner (with your mentor group)

7:30p – Session 1

9:45p – Ice Cream Social/Free Time 

Saturday May 17, 2025

7:00a – Centering Prayer (optional)

7:45a – Breakfast 

8:30a – Mentor Groups 

10:00a – Session 2

12:30p – Lunch 

1:30p – Mentor Groups 

3:00p – Session 3

5:00p – Free Time

6:00p – Dinner

8:00p – Session 4

10:00p – Free Time / Fire Pit (weather permitting) 

Sunday May 18, 2025

7:00a – Centering Prayer (optional)
7:45a – Breakfast

8:30a – Session 5 – (done by 10:30am)

12:00p – Mentor/Spiritual Director Appreciation Lunch (Mentors and SDs only)

Travel Planning

The Retreat Center is on a beautiful and historic 200-acre property 45 minutes from New York City. We suggest you arrive to the retreat center sometime on Friday (earlier the better as you will have a chance to unwind from the week and spend some quiet time in the grounds). There will also be Spiritual Direction as an option if you want to sign up for a session from 1-5pm.

We’ll begin check in by 4pm in the foyer of the main building and the retreat officially begins with a welcome dinner at 6pm. The retreat ends on Sunday by 10:30am after our final session that morning. This will be the final session for the program as we’ll include the commissioning during this session (originally this was going to be on zoom the week after).


You can drive in on your own. However, we encourage you to carpool or take public transportation with members of your group and/or mentors so you can enjoy some quality time together on your way to the retreat!

 

Folks have connected via their own mentor groups and the google classroom stream to find travel adventure buddies, specially if you’re coming days early or staying later. NYC is a great place to explore! 

Arriving at the Retreat Center

  • On arrival to the retreat center park in the temporary parking spaces in front of the main building and enter through the main doors to the SoF check in table in the foyer.
  • Beginning at 4pm, you will pick up your check-in materials and be given further instructions for parking, rooms, dinner, etc.
  • If you’ll be arriving earlier to the retreat center there will be a place to put your belongings while you explore the grounds and/or area. 

Carpool with Fellow SoF Participants

  • Coordinate travel with fellow SoF participants to share rides and cost to the Retreat Center.
  • Look for posts in the google classroom stream where anyone looking for carpooling and/or exploring before and after the retreat can connect.

Taxi/Uber

  • TaxiUber/Lyft, etc rides could be well over $100 one way from the airports. However they are cheaper once you get to Huntington, NY (Nearest train station is LIRR – Huntington Station – UBER from LIRR to Retreat Center is apx 15 minutes estimate $20 UBERX(3ppl) or $22 UBERXL (5ppl) –  in case anyone wants to carpool to the train station)

Public Transportation

  • From JFK – AirTrain to Jamaica stop of LIRR to Huntington stop then Uber to Retreat Center
  • From LaGuardia – Q70-SBS Bus to Woodside stop of LIRR to Huntington stop then Uber to Retreat Center
  • From Newark – Newark Airport Express or Uber to Penn Station. LIRR to Huntington stop then Uber to Retreat Center

Rent a Car

  • Rental car facilities are available at the airports.

Airfare From Out of Town

  • LaGuardia or JFK Airports are the closest larger airports to the retreat center. Both are about 35 miles away. On a Friday afternoon with NYC traffic it could be anywhere from 50-90 minutes.
  • McArthur Airport in Islip, NY has select direct flights via Southwest, Frontier and Breeze airlines for select destinations on the east coast. Check out their website to see if they serve where you’re coming from. This option could be easier and cheaper than using the larger NYC airports (if they serve your destination). It’s about a 35 minute drive to the retreat center. 
  • Newark Airport is the furthest away (60 miles) being it is in NJ and you have to cross either a tunnel or  bridge to get to the retreat center. 

What To Bring

Check the weather a few days before the trip so you know what clothing to bring (think extra layers as weather can fluctuate this time of year). The retreat center will provide linens and towels. 

 

  • AMENITIES – The retreat center has an indoor basketball court, fitness center and 200 acres to explore outside including views of the water, an outdoor amphitheater, hiking areas, large open fields and a fire pit (which we will make use of on Saturday night weather permitting!).
  • CLOTHING – Bring clothing that you can relax, play and walk around in comfortably (be mindful of the firepit smoke that may get on your clothes as you pack). Consider extra layers as the building can run cold.  
  • ROOMS – The rooms can run cold at night depending on the weather. Each room has an extra blanket in the closet but if you tend to get cold at night, consider bringing extra layers for sleeping. Consider a sound machine if you need to drown out noise in the building.
  • BIBLE – Bring your Bible (we’ll provide you with a journal and pen).
  • WATER BOTTLE – Bring a refillable water bottle (we’ll provide some water bottles in the room as well)
  • TOILETRIES – Bring your own toiletries (linens and towels are provided)

 

We will invite you to turn off your phones and unplug as much as you would like throughout the weekend and truly enjoy time alone in silence, in community and with God away from your day to day life. 

FAQs

What time do I need to arrive and when will the retreat end?

  • We will be offering optional Spiritual Direction sessions from 1-5pm on site (a wonderful way to begin this weekend). Check in begins at 4pm on Friday with a Welcome Dinner starting at 6pm. 
  • The final session will be a worship service and celebration and commissioning ceremony on Sunday morning and will conclude at 10:30am.

How much free time will I get?

  • There will be designated free time throughout the weekend particularly on Friday and Saturday after the night sessions and Saturday before dinner. Our goal is for the weekend to be restful and refreshing for you and even beyond the designated free time we will have intentional time during the weekend to be in silence and rest.
  • Furthermore you will have a few designated times in your mentor groups, but the majority of the weekend you will be free to connect with different people from the whole cohort. 

What’s the earliest I can arrive at the Retreat Center?

  • You can arrive anytime on Friday and hang around the grounds, but you will have to wait until 4pm to check in at the SoF check in table to access your room. 
  • We will have a room where you can leave your belongings if you come in early. 
  • There will be Spiritual Direction available between 1-5pm. Sign up when you submit your pre-retreat survey (link on google classroom).

What will the sleeping arrangements be?

  • You will have your own private room that includes a single sized bed, desk and full bathroom. Linens and towels will be provided. 
  • The rooms are small, basic and can sometimes be cold/hot but you will have your own room and you’ll be spending most of your time in the building and grounds which are very spacious and beautiful! 

What will the food availability look like?

  • We will provide all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) starting with Friday dinner through breakfast on Sunday morning. There will be coffee, tea and a water fountain available and accesible in the dining hall all day. We will have light snacks and bottled water available in the main meeting room. There is also a vending machine with drinks and snacks in the dining hall.
  • The retreat center is limited on the kind of dietary needs it can accommodate. However, you’ll get a chance to let us know via the pre-retreat survey if you have any specific needs and we’ll do our best to accommodate them. 
  • There is a fridge/freezer and microwave available in the dining hall if you would like to bring your own food (they ask you to label your food with your name if you leave it in the fridge/freezer during the weekend).

 

Will there be anything I have to pay for?

  • The SoF fee you paid at the beginning of the program covers your lodging and meals for the 2 night retreat (travel to and from the retreat center is not included). You may choose to go into downtown Huntington (8 minute drive) to check out the shops, food spots, etc on your own, but on the Retreat Center we’ve got you covered! 

Nearby Attractions

Retreat Center Grounds

The 200-Acre facilities and grounds are spacious, beautiful and offer a variety of places to explore, rest and relax. There are various spaces indoors that are great for prayer, silence or hanging out (beautiful chapels, lounges, and the dining hall is open all day for coffee, tea, water). Join us in praying for great weather so you have opportunities to explore, walk, sit, and/or nap on the grounds outdoors!

West Neck Beach (10 minute walk one way)

Beautiful spot with gorgeous views of the Bay. It’s a downhill walk from the Retreat Center and an uphill walk back. But worth the effort if you want to sit and relax by a beach!

Town of Huntington (8 min drive one way)

The downtown area of Huntington around Main Street and Wall Street has a great walking area, various eating spots, grocery stores and small shops.

Other Questions about the Retreat?

Contact Us

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