Name: An Ignatian Retreat for Palm Sunday Weekend
Start: 2027-03-19
End: 2027-03-21
Location: Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center

So much of Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises are spent praying with the life of Jesus in order to grow in love and friendship with him. As we step into Palm Sunday and the threshold of Holy Week, this retreat offers a meaningful way to deepen that friendship by accompanying Jesus in his passion.

Rooted in Ignatian spirituality, we will reflect on the humanity of Jesus - “how the divinity hides itself,” as Ignatius says - and the very human need for companionship in moments of suffering. We will consider those who stayed with Jesus in his final hours, both the ones named in the Gospels as well as those overlooked, and allow their courage and compassion to guide our own prayer. Who are we being called to accompany today? How might our friendship with Jesus shape our friendship with a hurting world?

This is a silent retreat. Guests will be supported in keeping a sacred silence throughout the weekend, including at meals.

About Maria Cressler, MTS, Julia Hernandez M.Div., and Andy Otto, MA

Maria G. Cressler, MTS, is the Executive Director of Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center and has served in this role since September 2009. She received a B.A. in Sociology from Georgia State University and a Master of Theological Studies and Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Spring Hill College. Her heart for Ignatian Spirituality has broadened the ministries of Ignatius House during her tenure to include programs from Spring Hill College, Hispanic retreats, teen and young adult retreats, an expansion of the Ignatian Spirituality Project serving the homeless, and efforts to help people of all lifestyles know they are children of God. Maria believes deeply that none are excluded from God’s love, in the benefit of interfaith dialogue, and in activities that encourage mutual understanding. Prior to Ignatius House, she served in pastoral and parish roles to lead programs such as prison ministry, Emmaus, Cursillo, Rite of Chrisitian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and JustFaith. These experiences continue to shape her deep desire to help others encounter God. Maria and her husband, John, minister together at married-couples retreats as well as at interfaith events.

Julia Hernandez, M.Div., has been a member of the pastoral team at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center since July 2026, serving as Hispanic Ministries Coordinator and Bilingual Retreat Director. A native of Santa Ana, California, Julia holds a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development from Union Institute and University and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She brings extensive experience in community advocacy, family support, and spiritual care, including ministry placements in chaplaincy, spiritual wellness, and campus ministry. Rooted in her belief that God is present in our encounters with one another, the wisdom of our ancestors, and the beauty of nature, Julia invites others to discover the Divine in lo cotidiano—the ordinary moments of daily life.

Andy Otto, M.A., serves as Director of Guest Experience at Ignatius House, where he is also a retreat director and spiritual director. Previously, he served as Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, a Jesuit parish in Decatur, Georgia. Originally from Boston, Andy holds a master’s degree in Theology and Ministry from Boston College. He spent nearly three years in Jesuit formation, an experience that deepened his love for Ignatian spirituality. During that time, he taught elementary school students in Syracuse, New York, and Kingston, Jamaica; worked at a palliative care cancer hospital in the Bronx; and served as a chaplain at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Andy is the creator of GodInAllThings.com and author of God Moments: Unexpected Encounters in the Ordinary. He is passionate about helping others discover the wisdom of discernment through the Ignatian tradition.