New Cenacle Retreat Center Opens Up

Since 1922, the Cenacle Sisters have had a lovely and serene home on the estate of the acclaimed actress Maude Adams, who donated her home and grounds to the nuns. 

is probably best known for being the first American actress to play  the role of Peter Pan on Broadway. The Sisters provided retreats there that were both reflective and prayerful and their reputation grew as people traveled out from New York City for the placid environs of the Retreat Center.  Today, the Sachem area bustles with almost as much activity as Times Square, but the Retreat Center, located just off Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, still remains a bastion of calm.

For the past few years the Cenacle Sisters considered ways to build a new center that would environmentally friendly while still serving as a home to the Sisters. It would continue to provide space for overnight and multi-day stays on the premises.

The result is a truly impressive facility that stands at the heart of the 45 acre estate.  It was open for the public to explore on the weekend of October 1 and 2 after being blessed and dedicated the previous weekend. The marvelous new circular chapel is really quite beautiful—even without the stained glass windows that will be finished and installed within the year. Beside it, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is also circular in construction and features a Tabernacle that is designed to allow viwing from virtually any side.

There are tastefully decorated conference rooms, exercise equipment, comfortable dining spaces and guest rooms that offer adjustable heating and air conditioning. 

The rooms have private baths that feature European-style showers along with state-of-the art fixtures. The entire complex has carpeting that has been created from 100 percent recycled materials - not that you’d notice it!  Anyone staying in these rooms would have most of the amenities found in first class hotels - without the grandeur of the surrounding vistas.  Incidentally, those vitas can be fully appreciated from the loggias and patios that have been incorporated into the building’s structure.

The four new “Hermitage” buildings that are part of the “new” Cenacle are extraordinarily charming.  Each is what might be termed a “bungalow” and features a small kitchen, an ensuite bath and a working gas fireplace.  These would be a delightful places to enjoy a snowy weekend that seem to have abounded on Long Island in recent winters.  Of course, the chapel and the full dining facilities are a short walk away in the main building.

Ecology has been keenly augmented into the design of the new complex.  Huge windows take advantage of natural day lighting.  The new boilers and heating units are all energy efficient and there’s been a reduction in paved surfaced to allow better water run-off and many of the materials from the old facility have been cleverly “re-purposed” rather than being carted away.  The whole new Cenacle Retreat Center is truly a marvel of engineering embraced the new without losing sight of the old.