People

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.

Rev. James J. Fleming, SJ is from the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus and has been a Jesuit priest for 25 years. He joined Ignatius House on Aug. 3, 2022 as Spiritual Director and Director of Mission Outreach. Previously, he was the executive director of Campion Conference & Renewal Center in Weston, Ma., and president of Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU). Before joining the leadership team at WJU, Fleming taught at Boston College (BC) and worked as director of mission assessment & planning in the Office of Mission and Ministry at BC, where he led a national research project related to the spiritual development of college students. While at BC, he served as spiritual director for student retreat programs and offered retreats and spiritual direction for faculty and administrators. He trained as a spiritual director at St. Bueno’s in Wales, UK, at Cova de Sant Ignasi in Manresa, Spain, and at the Jesuit School of Theology at the Santa Clara University where he earned a Master’s of Divinity with a focus in scripture and spirituality. He holds a Ph.D. in educational policy, organization, measurement, and evaluation from the University of California, Berkeley. He served as lecturer and the Director of the University Academy at the University of San Francisco, and as an instructor of Urban Education at SCU. Fleming is a member of the National Board of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, currently serves on the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and previously served on the Boards of Nativity Prep Boston and Boston College High School.

Julia Hernandez, M.Div. is the Hispanic Ministries Coordinator and Bilingual Retreat Director at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center. She 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.

Born and raised in Santa Ana, California, Julia is a proud SantAnera, where she grew up advocating for, organizing with, and serving her community, including translating and supporting local families (it's an easy place to fall in love with, though she admits she may be a bit biased).

Before joining Ignatius House, Julia spent 12 years as a childcare provider, offering school readiness, after-school care, parent education, and family support programs in central Santa Ana area. During that time, she also served in a variety of roles with community organizations, including Padres Unidos and Child Care Providers United–UDW.

While at Candler, Julia completed ministry placements as a chaplain intern at Campbell-Stone in Buckhead, Spiritual Health and Mental Wellbeing Specialist at La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies, and intern with the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life at Oxford College.

Julia believes that God is present in our encounters with one another, in the wisdom passed down through our ancestors, and in the beauty of the natural world. The Divine awaits us in lo cotidiano, the ordinary moments of daily life, always inviting us into a deeper encounter.

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Julia Hernandez, M.Div., es la coordinadora de ministerios hispanos y directora de retiros bilingüe en la casa de retiros Jesuita Ignatius House. Tiene una licenciatura en Desarrollo Infantil y Adolescente de Union Institute and University y una maestría en Divinidad de Candler School of Theology de la Universidad de Emory.

Como originaria de la ciudad de Santa Ana, California, Julia se identifica como una orgullosa SantAnera. Ya que creció organizando con y sirviendo a su comunidad en áreas como la traducción y apoyo a para familias locales. (Santa Ana es un lugar del cual es fácil enamorarse, aunque en toda honestidad, Julia tiene algunos prejuicios favorables hacia la ciudad.)

Antes de comenzar a trabajar en Ignatius House, Julia ejerció durante 12 años como proveedora de cuidado infantil, brindando preparación escolar, cuidado después de escuela, educación para padres y programas de apoyo familiar en la zona central de Santa Ana. Durante este tiempo, también trabajó con organizaciones comunitarias, como Padres Unidos OC, y Child Care Providers United – UDW.

Durante su tiempo en Candler, Julia completo prácticas ministeriales como pasante de capellanía en Campbell-Stone, especialista en salud espiritual y bienestar mental en La Mesa Academy para estudios teológicos, y como pasante con la Oficina de Vida Espiritual y Religiosa de Oxford College.

Julia cree que Dios está presente en nuestras interacciones con los demás, en la sabiduría heredada de nuestros antepasados y en la belleza de la naturaleza que nos rodea. El Divino nos espera dentro de lo cotidiano, en los momentos más ordinarios de nuestras vidas, invitando nos a tener un encuentro profundo.

Rev. Bill Noe, SJ, the youngest of eight brothers, is a native of Racine, Wis. Before entering the Society of Jesus in 2003, Fr. Bill lived in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area for several years, where he worked as an electrical engineer. Fr. Bill has enjoyed long associations with St. Anselm’s Abbey, a Benedictine monastery, and Bethlehem House, a community formed for people with an intellectual disability – both in Washington D.C. During his formation as a Jesuit priest, Fr. Bill was trained in catechesis, comparative theology, and interreligious dialogue. Fr. Bill began his ministry of spiritual direction at St. Ignatius Retreat House in Manhasset, N.Y., in 2005 and has served as a spiritual director in New York, Chicago, Bolivia, and the United Kingdom. From 2015 to 2019, Fr. Bill served as director of Ignatian Spirituality at Loyola on the Potomac, a Jesuit retreat house in Faulkner, Md. He recently received an MA in Pastoral Mental Health Counseling from Fordham University.

Andy Otto, MA, is the director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Decatur, Ga., a Jesuit parish. He also is a retreat director and spiritual director at Ignatius House. He holds an M.A. in Theology and Ministry from Boston College. Originally from Boston, Andy spent nearly three years as a Jesuit studying for the priesthood, which helped form his love for Ignatian spirituality. During that time, he taught primary school students in Syracuse, NY and Kingston, Jamaica, worked at a palliative care cancer hospital in the Bronx, and was a chaplain at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. He is the creator of GodInAllThings.com, and is the author of God Moments: Unexpected Encounters in the Ordinary. Andy enjoys helping people discover the wisdom of discernment in the Ignatian tradition.

Sarah Otto, M.Div., is a Jesuit-trained retreat director and spiritual director who completed her Master of Divinity at Boston College. She studied theology as both an undergrad and graduate student. Her passion has focused on the intersection of faith and justice, which led her to study in El Salvador. Sarah spent a year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, serving men and women experiencing homelessness in Portland, Ore. Sarah has worked as a hospital and prison chaplain and most recently worked in college campus ministry for five years, both at Providence College and as director of a Newman Catholic Center in Chico, Calif. As a mom, Sarah is particularly passionate about ministering to women and families but continues to enjoy helping people discern how to live a faith that does justice, as well as discovering the unique and creative ways God works in everyone.

Kay Satterfield, MA, has served as a spiritual director and retreat director on the Pastoral Team of Ignatius House since 2017. Currently, one of her primary roles is as Coordinator of Ignatius House’ Tending the Flame Spiritual Direction Formation Program. Kay holds a Masters in Pastoral Care from Fordham University and a Certification in Spiritual Direction from the Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse, NY. An Atlanta native, Kay also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia. Prior to coming to work at Ignatius House, Kay served on the pastoral ministry staff at Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville, NY. Kay has a passion for helping people discover grace in their everyday lived experience or as St. Ignatius of Loyola termed it, “finding God in all things.” She is a mother of four adult children and delights in her role as a grandmother too!