Dominican Retreat & Conference Center
Niskayuna, New York
Niskayuna, New York
Solitude on a busy highway.
The Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna, New York offers retreats for women and men, workshops, and presentations to enhance your spiritual life and growth. We offer retreats for persons in 12-step programs on topics of alcoholism, abuse, and eating issues. Be sure to check out the Windmill, a private hermitage, available for private individual retreats. If you need a place to hold a retreat or conference, we have just the spot for you!
Our Mission
The Dominican Retreat and Conference Center, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, is open to each person who desires to grow personally and spiritually in a sacred, peaceful, and safe environment. Opportunities are offered for individuals and groups to come for enrichment, reflection, and rest.
About us
For over sixty years the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center has provided a contemplative, healing space for thousands of men and women.
The Center is staffed by Dominican Sisters and other religious and lay people. All who serve here are dedicated to keeping alive the vision of Lucy Eaton Smith, the American pioneer who saw the spiritual need and brought this retreat ministry here from Europe to America in the later 1800s.
It is located on ten beautiful landscaped acres. Spacious grounds and open courtyard border forty-five private rooms. A large dining room, library, and meeting room are complemented by one of the most beautiful chapels in the area. The entire house is wheelchair accessible.
The Center is owned and operated by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Columbus, Ohio.
We are aware that some of the people who attend our programs and some of our staff are very sensitive to scents. This sensitivity can cause an allergic reaction and difficulty breathing.
In light of this awareness there have been some changes at The Dominican Retreat and Conference Center. Our housekeeping staff has been using scent free products for cleaning. They have also begun to purchase scent-free soaps for the bedrooms and bathrooms. We are in the process of improving the ventilation system in the bathrooms to lessen the need for sprays.
We ask that you join us in this effort. It would be helpful, if before you come for a program, you refrain from using products that are scented. We are especially concerned with perfume and aftershave.
Our scent-free environment would assure that all people who come for a program could be comfortable and be able to enjoy our facility.
Facilities & Windmill
Dominican Retreat and Conference Center
Conference Center Services
Our facilities and professional conference staff offer complete flexibility to meet your specific needs. Choose from a variety of options, all at extremely affordable prices. Each meeting, seminar, and conference held at the Dominican Retreat & Conference Center is unique, with custom arrangements designed just for your group. Your time at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center is personally and individually planned to meet your specific needs. We can accommodate both conference style and informal meeting settings for:
Meetings, Conference and Educational Workshops
- Retreats (church, school, private or corporate)
- Training and Staff Development Programs
- Team Building, Strategy Meetings
- Spiritual Growth and Faith Development
The Facilities
- Available year-round for weekday, weekend evening and/or overnight use
- Conveniently located on 10 beautifully landscaped acres just off Route 7 in Niskayuna
- Ample parking; handicap accessible
- Flexible floor plan with large conference room, meeting rooms, dining area, private open-air courtyard
- Daytime/evening meetings for up to 100
- Overnight accommodations in comfortable, pleasant, private rooms for up to 45
- Bright, airy dining room
- Creative meals by our professional chef
- Audio Visual equipment
- One of the area’s most beautiful chapels
The Windmill
A very special place for individual private or directed retreats.
In a world that is constantly in motion, it is difficult to be still. In a world where we are surrounded with noise, it is difficult to be quiet. In a world where so many demands are made of us, it is difficult to receive. Yet we all need a quiet place where we can simply be, can collect our thoughts, and listen to the voice of God speaking within us.
Do you feel called to come to the quiet for a day or two, even for a week, on a private or directed retreat?
Are you seeking growth, deepening or nurturing in your spiritual life?
Perhaps a private or directed retreat (in the Windmill) or on-going spiritual direction would be for you.
Private Retreat
On a private retreat you can design your own format. A private retreat is an excellent opportunity to rest and pray according to your own rhythms and needs, in a peaceful silent environment. Celebration of Eucharist or Communion Service is available at one of our neighboring parishes.
Directed Retreat
A directed retreat is tailored to the individual needs and desires of each retreatant. It is intended to deepen the consciousness of God’s faithful love and presence in one’s life. Daily meetings with an experienced spiritual director are scheduled. The retreatant is free to structure the remainder of the day.
