News

Sandy Springs, GA, October 17, 2025 - Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center has announced the public phase of its historic capital campaign, Facilitating an Encounter with God: A Campaign to Renew, Expand, and Inspire - a multi-year effort to renew its facilities and expand programs that offer silence, spiritual direction, and retreat experiences to thousands each year.

Thanks to generous lead donors, the Ignatius House Board of Directors, and the Capital Campaign Committee, the organization has already received more than $6 million, allowing construction to begin on a new multi-purpose facility called The Upper Room. Ignatius House now invites the wider community to help complete the campaign and ensure the center’s mission endures for generations to come.

“For nearly 65 years, Ignatius House has been a sacred space of peace and renewal for all who seek rest, healing, and a deeper relationship with God,” said Maria Cressler, Executive Director of Ignatius House. “This campaign will help us welcome more retreatants, strengthen our programs, and ensure that our buildings reflect the beauty and hospitality of the ministry within them.”

Campaign Phases

The campaign will unfold in three phases:

1. Build The Upper Room, a new place for prayer and gathering. Construction is underway and expected to be completed in spring 2026. With this addition, Ignatius House anticipates serving 30% more retreatants in its tranquil setting on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.

2. Create the Center for Spiritual Wellness by transforming the existing Resource Building into a space for spiritual directors’ offices, direction rooms, and an inviting indoor common area for retreatants.

3. Refresh the 1960s Retreat House through a $1.25 million floor-to-ceiling renovation, including guest rooms, the dining room and café, and the small chapel.

As Ignatius House seeks to broaden its reach and deepen its impact within the community, substantial enhancements to its facilities and programming are essential. In the 1960s, when Ignatius House was founded, just over 1,500 people visited annually. By the 2000s, that number had doubled to 3,000. Today, with increasing awareness of retreats and spiritual direction as vital to spiritual well-being, Ignatius House now serves close to 5,000 people each year.