News

Last week, in a quiet and prayerful gathering, Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center marked a significant milestone in its ongoing mission of hospitality, prayer, and spiritual renewal with the Dedication & Blessing of The Upper Room — a new sacred gathering space overlooking the Chattahoochee River.

The intimate event brought together members of the Ignatius House Board of Trustees, representatives of the Society of Jesus, a few close friends of the retreat center, and Bishop Joel Konzen, who offered the formal blessing of the new space. Thoughtfully rooted in prayer and gratitude, the gathering reflected the spirit of the room itself: a place set apart for encounter with God.

As Pentecost approaches, the naming of The Upper Room carries particular resonance.

In scripture, the Upper Room was a place of prayer, fellowship, transformation, and commissioning — where the disciples gathered together and where the Holy Spirit descended in wind and flame, sending them forth in courage and hope. That same imagery shaped the evening’s reflections and the hopes now entrusted to this new space.

In her remarks, Executive Director Maria Cressler reflected on the deep connection between the biblical Upper Room and the mission of Ignatius House. She spoke about the countless retreatants who have come to this sacred place seeking silence, healing, clarity, and a deeper encounter with God. “Something significant happens here,” she shared, describing Ignatius House not simply as a beautiful property, but as a sacred space where lives are transformed through prayer, solitude, and spiritual reflection. 

Cressler also reflected on the role of the Upper Room in the life of the early Church — a place of intimacy with God and of being sent forth in loving service. Drawing on the spirituality of St. Ignatius, she described how authentic encounter with God inevitably overflows into love for others. The hope for this new space, she noted, is that all who enter might experience that same movement of grace: from silence into renewal, from prayer into compassionate action. 

Development Director Megan Denton echoed those themes of gratitude and the movement of the Holy Spirit throughout the evening. Reflecting on the journey that brought The Upper Room to life, she spoke of the many people whose generosity, encouragement, prayer, and belief in the mission of Ignatius House made the project possible. She described the campaign as one continually guided by faith, courage, and unexpected grace. 

“This community is united,” Denton shared, “because people believe that in a world that is increasingly loud, distracted, anxious, and exhausted, there still needs to be sacred space where people can step away and encounter God.” 

That vision now lives within the walls of The Upper Room.

Bathed in natural light and suspended above the river and wooded grounds, the new space was designed to foster prayer, reflection, spiritual conversation, and communal gathering for generations to come. It also marks an important step in the broader renewal and expansion of the Ignatius House campus, helping ensure that the retreat center can continue welcoming seekers from all walks of life for decades ahead.

As the Church prepares to celebrate Pentecost this weekend, the dedication of The Upper Room feels especially fitting. The same Spirit that stirred the hearts of the disciples continues to move quietly through places of prayer, silence, and encounter — calling people into deeper relationship with God and one another.

It is our hope that The Upper Room will become such a place: a room where hearts are opened, lives are renewed, and the Spirit continues to send people forth with peace, courage, and love.

Thanks be to God.