Visiting Spiritual Director
Anna Ryan-Bender trained as a spiritual director through the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago, and is currently completing an advanced practicum in the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius through Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House. She has over ten years of experience working in college campus ministry, and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Boston College, where she focused her research, writing, and ministry practicum on applying Ignatian Spirituality in ministry with first generation college students in multifaith contexts. She currently serves as Executive Director for Mission & Ministry at Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia, PA). An avid musician and enthusiast for the outdoors, Anna enjoys singing as a member of The Ignatian Schola, playing piano and cantoring for liturgies at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, and hiking and running in Wissahickon Valley Park. Her joys are her partner, Matt, and their two young daughters.