Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Experience A Silent Retreat And Discover What Matters Most
Our Mission
Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center provides a sacred place of peace and quiet and offers the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola to facilitate an encounter with God that leads to a willing and loving service of the least of our brothers and sisters.
And Built on The Love of God!
Opened in 1960 by the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus, Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center was created to provide retreat and spiritual renewal for those seeking to discover and live out God’s will in their lives. The property was a generous gift from Suzanne Spalding Schroder and her son John, a Jesuit Priest. Since 1 January 2013 the ministry at Ignatius House is sponsored by the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus. Because of the Schroder family’s love of God, and their generous donation, for more than half a century, Ignatius House has offered Silent Weekend Retreats, Days of Reflection, and spiritual direction to individuals and groups of all faiths.
Ignatius House has been hosting retreats for over 50 years welcoming nearly 3,000 retreatants annually. Located on 20 heavily wooded acres overlooking the Chattahoochee River you’ll discover a place where you can withdraw from the demands of daily life, rest and become more fully aware of God’s presence. The grounds and wilderness provide the perfect peaceful setting in every season.
You Will Find
- Walking trails along the river’s edge
- Calming, soothing sounds of cascading waterfalls
- Stunning views
- Decks, gazebos, and benches for resting
- Indigenous trees, plants, and wildlife
- Intimate adoration Chapel
- St. Ignatius Chapel
- The perfect environment for prayer and reflection
Ignatius House Retreats
Retreats at Ignatius House Retreat Center are based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. All Ignatius House retreats are silent, unless otherwise noted. They are directed by a certified spiritual director who provides a series of presentations designed to assist you with your meditation, reflection, and spiritual journey. The retreat offers opportunities for participation in liturgy, group prayer, and spiritual direction. Time in the schedule and physical settings of the retreat center offer one solitude, nature trails, reflection/prayer areas and numerous opportunities to be alone with yourself and God.
Accommodations & Details:
- 47 private rooms and baths; includes all linens and towels
- Check in is between 5 and 6 p.m. on the first day of the designated retreat. A reception is held to welcome you and dinner is served at 7 p.m. Silence begins after dinner. The retreat ends after mass and the noon meal on the last day.
- All meals are included prepared from farm to table. Enjoy fresh, wholesome, delicious meals, prepared by our professional kitchen staff. (While separate vegetarian, vegan or gluten free meals cannot be requested, there is sufficient abundance of fresh salads, vegetables and fruit sides offered for a good nutritional meal. A refrigerator is available for any food you feel you might need to assist you in your dietary needs.)
Days Of Reflection
Come for a day of reflection and renewal from 9 am to 3 pm. Led by spiritual directors, noted authors and faith leaders, the days will also include periods of quiet for meditation, prayer, and self- reflection. A light breakfast and lunch are included.
2 & 3 Day Weekend Retreats
Our weekend retreats provide retreatants the opportunity through a variety of types of prayer (silent, communal, guided, reconciliation service, faith sharing, the Ignatian Examen and liturgy) to quiet down and examine where God is at work in the world and their lives. Retreatants are free to attend whichever exercises are helpful to them and may use their time as they see fit, taking advantage of solitude, nature trails, reflection/prayer areas and numerous opportunities to be alone with God.
All retreats begin at 6:15 p.m. with a reception and dinner and end 2 or 3 days later at 1 p.m. following Mass and lunch. All retreats are silent, unless otherwise noted; after the Friday dinner, silence is maintained between individuals so that each retreatant has time and space to connect deeply with God. Retreats are directed by a certified spiritual director who provides a series of presentations designed to assist you with your meditation, reflection, and spiritual journey. Accommodations include a private bedroom and bath and all meals. All 2-night and 3-night retreats are open to both men and women unless otherwise noted.
Individually Directed Retreats
5 & 8 Day Retreats
These retreats are individually directed and offer an opportunity for extended silence and solitude. Retreatants meet each day with their director to determine the number, nature and length of periods of formal prayer depending upon the ability and needs of the individual. Retreatants are provided suggested scripture passages tailored to their own prayer needs. Ideally, retreatants will have some experience in meditative prayer, the desire to enter into prolonged silence, and sufficient self-awareness to recognize their own inward movements. All retreatants will have the opportunity for daily liturgy and reconciliation.
Also, please note that 5 & 8 day retreat requests must have a completed application delivered to Ignatius House no later than 30 days prior to the beginning event date. If you would like to make a 5 or 8 day retreat at a time other than the pre-scheduled ones, you may complete the application and indicate the dates you would prefer. We will do all we can to accommodate your request.
The Full Spiritual Exercises (30 Day Retreat)
Retreatants have the opportunity to make the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola over the course of a month. Individuals who elect to make the 30 day retreat should possess a great desire to more effectively love and serve God and neighbor. Generally those who make the 30 day retreat will have:
- Prior experience with silent, individually-directed Ignatian retreats (five to eight day)
- A habit of daily contemplative prayer,
- An ongoing and extended experience of spiritual direction demonstrating the ability to articulate one’s experience of prayer and the trust to share it with another.
A completed application is required. 30 day retreat requests require a completed application delivered to Ignatius House no later than 90 days prior to the beginning event date.
Spiritual Enrichment Programs
Classes and book study groups are led by highly skilled and qualified directors affiliated with Ignatius House, and typically last 6-12 weeks depending on the topic or the book being read. The classes will lead you in a great knowledge of Ignatius, the Spiritual Exercises, his life and his worldview. Many of the books that are offered as part of the book studies will assist you in your spiritual walk, build new friendships, and open your heart to the love of God. Unless otherwise stated, the participants should purchase the book prior to the class. Coffee, tea, and light refreshments are served.
Our Spiritual Retreats: Expect the unexpected…encounter God.
Before you arrive, we are beginning your spiritual retreat experience by praying with intention and purposefully preparing the details of your retreat. During the retreat, we are listening, guiding, servicing and facilitating your experience to meet your unique needs on your journey to encounter God. And after the retreat, you will leave with tools and techniques to sustain your experience into everyday life. For greatest impact, the structure of the Jesuit retreat and exercises have been known to be intentionally challenging and at the same time “life-changing.”
