Get away to Dominican Spiritual Life Center

Editor's note: The Evangelist continues its year-long series of monthly articles that take a look inside large institutions in the Albany Diocese, places you might have driven by and asked: "What goes on in there?" This week: the Dominican Spiritual Life Center in Niskayuna.

Fifty years ago, the Dominican Retreat House in Niskayuna opened its doors for the first time, welcoming 27 laywomen on a Scripture-based retreat led by a priest.

Today, the Dominican Spiritual Life Center accommodates 4,000 male and female retreatants a year for a variety of retreats and evenings of reflection led by clergy, religious and laity. Retreat topics range from Native American spirituality to recovery from sexual abuse.

The sprawling complex also houses the Dominican Pastoral Counseling Center, where two therapists offer spiritual direction and counseling.

Miracle years

As the Dominican Spiritual Life Center celebrates its golden anniversary this year, it looks back on what its administrators call a half-century of miracles.

The original site was purchased by the Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St. Catherine de Ricci from the estate of Charles Witbeck, a wealthy Niskayuna resident. His manor house was used as the retreat house for 10 years, until a larger facility was built. (Eventually, the complex changed its name to the Dominican Spiritual Life Center.)

The primary purpose of the center was to give laywomen a place for retreats. Back then, a typical retreat ran from Friday night through Sunday afternoon, with Mass all three days and several workshops given by the guest director, who was always a priest. (One such director was Rev. Howard Hubbard, now Bishop of the Albany Diocese.)

Evolution

Retreats were very structured at first, offering the Rosary and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for participants, who were encouraged to attend every activity. The Dominican Sisters were more likely to be found making beds and cooking meals than leading groups.

Through the years, however, the center's retreats have evolved. The Second Vatican Council sparked a surge in leadership by the Dominican Sisters; two of the four workshops held on each weekend are now facilitated by women religious. Sisters and laypeople lead entire retreats for couples, persons with disabilities, Eucharistic or music ministers and many other groups.

Promotion director Sister Nancy Garson, OP, added that today's requirements for retreatants are less stringent than they once were. Rather than attending every event on the retreat agenda, "if they're really tired, what God may be seeking from them is to rest!" she explained. "There's a lot more emphasis on personal need."

Silence, on the other hand, is one retreat hallmark that has remained unchanged. "Silence is hard for people to grab hold of today," said Sister Nancy. "You need the silence. Today, there's more opportunity to come into the quiet and be with God."

Variety of events

Although the majority of retreatants are still women, the Dominican Center has been used in the past five decades by Engaged and Marriage Encounter groups, the Cursillo movement, the diocesan diaconate program and charismatic gatherings. In 1978, the center began holding retreats specifically geared toward men.

One notable step in the center's history came in the late '70s, when retreats for men and women concerned with alcoholism were started. Changing with the times, the center now offers evenings of reflection for adult children of alcoholics, abuse survivors and those affected by HIV and AIDS, as well.

Women's issues remain an important focus of the center's work. Mother and Daughter Days of Reflection were inaugurated in 1986; this year's lecture series for women will cover such topics as heroines in history and the feminine side of God.

Returning visitors

Many of those who attend retreats become "hooked," said Sister Nancy, and come back time and time again. Retreatants claim that they find security and comfort within the center's walls.

"It's amazing the number of people who come in and say, `I'm at home now. I'm safe,'" she said.

To mark its anniversary, the center is gathering a group of people from all over the Albany Diocese to examine how to better meet the needs of potential retreatants.

"Society has brought about changes," Sister Nancy remarked. "We used to have a `Refresher Day' program for mothers and children; we offered babysitting services so the mothers could come. But so many people are working today, the program kind of died out."

Instead, the new group will look at the needs of senior citizens and "soccer moms," who can no longer spend a whole weekend on retreat.

Unique place

Such an examination is vital, as more and more retreat centers like the Dominican struggle to keep large retreat houses open for dwindling numbers of overnight visitors. The Dominican Sisters have even hired a consultant to help with development and fundraising work.

"We're living in a society that needs retreat more than ever," Sister Nancy said. "We're finding new ways to hear what people want."

The Dominican Center's situation is also unique, she said: Since the order of women religious that runs it was founded specifically to provide retreat opportunities, "we have to close in the black. We need to be able to contribute to the congregation."

However, administrators point to the dedication of the many volunteers who clean, sing in the choir and donate other services as assurance that Catholics of the Albany Diocese are determined to keep the Dominican Center alive. "It doesn't matter who's on the staff. It's their house, and they know it," said Sister Nancy.

Blessings

Fifty years of ministry have left an indelible mark on both retreatants and employees, Sister Nancy said.

"All the men and women who have come through here blessed these halls with their lives....and [I'm] part of miracles," she noted. "You see them all the time. When you see somebody finally come to believe they're loved by God, it's like turning on a light."

(In honor of its anniversary, the Dominican Spiritual Life Center is planning two major events: a dinner on Feb. 8 and a Mass at St. Helen's parish in Schenectady on Oct. 4, followed by an open house at the retreat center. Smaller activities will occur throughout the year. A banner is being constructed by retreatants that will eventually hang at the center, and administrators hope to assemble a "memory book" of reminiscences from past retreatants. Mugs and sweatshirts marking the anniversary are for sale. For information on programs, call 393-4169. E-mail them at [email protected]. Contact the Dominican Pastoral Counseling Center at 393-5517.)

Prayer is in the wind(mill)

What was once a working windmill on the grounds of the Witbeck estate has been refurbished to serve as a cozy Dominican retreat house for one or two people who want to make a private retreat.

"The Windmill," which opened last October, includes a kitchenette/living room on the first floor, and a bedroom, prayer room and full bath on the second. It is available year-round for weekend, weekday or daily use.

The Windmill fills a gap in the Dominican Spiritual Life Center's retreat offerings. "A lot of people just want to come away and have quiet" and privacy, explained administrator Jeanne Qualters. "The Windmill allows us to say, `yes.'" (KB)

(02-05-98) [[In-content Ad]]