Set back on over 400 acres of pines and oaks, the Colombiere Conference Center offers a serene environment for retreats, conferences and other events.
Even though the center has been open since 1959, many people are unaware of the history and full range of activities taking place on Big Lake Road.
Named after famous French Jesuit teacher Claude de la Colombiere, the center originally opened as a Jesuit seminary in January 1959. Initially, the complex housed 116 Jesuits ranging from faculty priests and brothers to seminarians training for priesthood.
Designed to be a self-sufficient entity for the Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus, Colombiere College provided education for future Jesuits from Michigan and parts of Ohio.
After 1960, the number of seminarians declined significantly, so the facility began to accept students experiencing the Tertianship, or third year of Jesuit preparation.
Despite efforts to maintain high numbers, dwindling enrollment caused the seminarians to be transferred from Colombiere to the University of Detroit.
A Jesuit community still exists at the center providing housing and medical care for over 50 retired Jesuit priests and brothers.
Today, in place of the seminary, Colombiere Conference Center provides various services.
The Insight Recovery Center, an independently owned center for substance abusers, also operates out of what once was Colombiere College.
Shepherd’s’s Hollow, the 27-hole public golf course, currently operates on the complex as well.
The Colombiere Conference Center fully accommodates conferences and retreats for day and overnight guests. Up to 150 overnight guests can be housed. Boarding rooms, an auditorium, gymnasium, pool and other amenities are available to guests.
Throughout the year, Colombiere hosts both religious and secular groups ranging from band camps to religious youth groups to family renunions.
According to Peg Desrosier, a Colombiere employee, Colombiere offers a great opportunity for individuals, as well as groups, to get away from distractions. Desrosier said that currently Colombiere receives groups just about every week of the year.
For more information, call 248-620-2534 or visit www.colombiere.com.