Immaculate Conception Center - Douglaston (Queens), New York
Immaculate Conception Center
(Roman Catholic)

7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston (Queens), N.Y. 11362
http://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/ministries/icc/index.html





The Diocese of Brooklyn was established in 1853 and originally included Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Most Rev. John Loughlin was the first Diocesan Bishop and laid the foundation for what became the largest fully urban diocese in the country in 1957, when Nassau and Suffolk counties became the Diocese of Rockville Centre shortly after the death of Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy, the third Bishop of the Diocese. The need to ensure a proper education system for the training of future priests led the second Bishop of Brooklyn, the Most Reverend Charles E. McDonnell, to establish Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in 1914 at a new building located at 555 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. Auxiliary Bishop (later Cardinal) George W. Mundelein was the first rector. Modeled after the traditional European Minor Seminary system, the College included the four years of high school and the first two years of college. In 1963, with an eye to developing a seminary system more in keeping with the United States system of education, he opened a four-year high school at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhurst. This was a full four-year high school seminary and brother school to Brooklyn Cathedral.

In 1967 Archbishop McEntegart established Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston. This full four-year college seminary was to serve the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre as well as the Archdiocese of New York. At its peak in the early 1970’s the college housed more than 370 students and offered baccalaureate degrees in nearly a dozen majors. The decline in the number of those answering the call to the priesthood led to the closing of Brooklyn Cathedral in 1985 and Cathedral College in 1987, with the last degrees granted in 1988.

In 1987, Bishop Francis J. Mugavero, the fifth Bishop of Brooklyn, established the Immaculate Conception Center at the site of the former Cathedral College. A portion of the property was sold to fund the renovation of the building and the Diocese of Brooklyn had its first pastoral center.

In addition to the Bishops Mugavero/Mulrooney Residences for priests and Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception, the Center serves as a retreat and conference center. It is home to the Diocesan Tribunal, Pastoral Institute, Institutional Services, Inc., the Queens office of The Tablet.  It also houses the Offices of Pastoral Planning  Family Life, Hispanic Ministry, Black Ministry, Respect Life and the Office of the Regional Bishop of Queens North as well as other agencies of the Diocese.
               

  Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Center - Douglaston (Queens), New York
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 10292 (1966)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 37 stops, 29 ranks



The M.P. Möller organ in the chapel is installed behind a screen in the Sanctuary with a Gallery division in the rear. A detached three-manual drawknob console with English ivory keys is located near the Sanctuary. Most of the organ is voiced on 3" wind pressure.
               
Sanctuary Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, unenclosed (3" wind pressure)
8
  Principal
61
4
   Octave
61
8
  Bourdon
61
  Mixture II-III ranks
165
 
     
 
     
Sanctuary Swell I Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (3" wind pressure)
16
   Rohrbourdon
73
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Rohrflöte
—
  Grave Mixture II ranks
122
4
   Flute Triangulaire
61
  Tremolo
 
     
 
     
Sanctuary Swell II Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (3" wind pressure)
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Trompette (2½" w.p.)
61
8
  Voix Celeste
61
4
   Octave Basson
—
16
   Basson (3½" w.p.)
85
  Tremolo
     
     
Sanctuary Pedal Organ – 32 notes (3" wind pressure)
16
   Sub Bass [ext. GT Bdn.]
12
4
   Spitzoctav [ext.]
—
16
  Rohrbourdon
SSW
2
   Super Octave [ext.]
—
8
   Spitzprincipal
56
16
   Basson
SSW
8
   Bourdon
GT
   
               
Gallery Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, exposed and unenclosed (3" wind pressure)
16
   Flute Conique
61
2
   Weit Principal
61
8
   Diapason
61
  Fourniture IV ranks
244
8
   Holzflöte
61
8
   Trumpet (3½" w.p.)
61
4
   Octave
61
   
               
Gallery Pedal Organ – 32 notes, exposed (3" wind pressure)
16
   Violone
56
4
   Choralbass [Violone]
—
16
   Flute Conique
GAL
4
   Flute Conique
GAL
8
   Major Principal [Violone]
—
  Mixture III ranks
96
8
   Holzgedeckt
GAL
16
   Contra Trumpet [ext. GAL]
12
8
   Flute Conique
GAL
   
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'       Gallery to Great 8'
  Swell I to Pedal 8'  
  Swell I to Gallery 8', 4'
    Swell II to Pedal 8'       Swell II to Gallery 8', 4'
    Gallery to Pedal 8'       Swell I to Swell I 16', 4'
    Swell I to Great 16', 8', 4'       Swell II to Swell II 16', 4'
    Swell II to Great 16', 8', 4'        
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Sanctuary Great Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Sanctuary Swell I Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Sanctuary Swell II Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 affecting Gallery Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Sanctuary Pedal Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Gallery Pedal Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Full Organ (duplicated by toe studs)
    General Cancel  
               
Reversible Pistons
    Great to Pedal *   Tutti *
    Swell I to Pedal *   All Swells to Swell I Expression Ped.
    Swell II to Pedal *   Gallery Organ "On-Off" Crescendo
    Gallery to Pedal *   * duplicated by toe stud
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell I
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell II
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal

               
Sources:
     Immaculate Conception Center web site: http://dioceseofbrooklyn.org/ministries/icc/index.html
     Scofield, Jeff. Factory Specifications (Dec. 21, 1966) of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 10292 (1966).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications (Jan. 24, 1966) of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 10292 (1966).
     Trupiano, Larry. M.P. Möller Opus List.

Photos:
     Immaculate Conception Center web site: chapel; exterior.