Matt Simmons

Matt and his wife Demetra have four beautiful children and are Catholics in good standing in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. With over twenty years experience personally and spiritually guiding others, Matt have worked with addicts, business leaders, clergy, house wives, and those simply searching for peace and intimacy with Jesus. He feels called to serve those who have suffered abuse and trauma. A former FOCUS missionary, Matt was the director of the Office of Spiritual Formation and the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Lincoln.
Matt offers Spiritual Direction, Inner Healing, Deliverance Ministry, and Ignatian Retreats
Events with Matt Simmons

Flexible Dates
What does it mean that this is for Virtual and Commuter retreatants? Virtual Ignatian Retreats are done from home, retreatants will have a daily individual meeting with a retreat director by video or phone. Commuter Ignatian Retreats can come out to the retreat house to pray and have their daily meetings. You can pick any dates and length of 3-8 days as works for your schedule, although 4-day and 8-day are typical lengths. Your commitment is to: Each day, schedule 4 Ignatian prayer times of about an hour each each day and journal about the movements that occurred there (usually…

Flexible Dates
Online Retreat for Busy Persons Do you struggle to make time for prayer in your daily life? Perhaps you’ve wanted to make a retreat in the past but didn’t have the time to get away. What if you could make a retreat without having to leave your home or take off from work? The Busy Person’s Retreat gives you that opportunity! A daily directed retreat specifically designed for people of all ages with hectic schedules, allowing you to dedicate time to prayer and reflection while still fitting the experience into your busy life. Flexible schedules and shorter daily commitments compared…

August 25 - 29, 2025
We are also offering other 4-day and 8-day retreats. To register for other date options go here: Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa Aug. 29-Sept. 2 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is…

August 25 - September 2, 2025
Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa We are also offering 4-day retreats: Aug. 25-29 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Fr. Coulter/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa Aug. 29-Sept. 2 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat…

August 29 - September 2, 2025
We are offering 4-day and 8-day retreats. You can register for the date option of your choice: Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa Aug. 25-29 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Fr. Coulter/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy…

October 24 - 26, 2025
The Prodigal Retreat for Men Oct 24-27, 2025 with Fr. Christopher Barak, Matt Simmons, and Fr. Ben Holdren (Spiritual Direction Available) Retreat starts Friday with rosary and Mass at 8:00pm, ends Sunday with Mass and Noon lunch. Men’s Retreat Are you like the Prodigal brother, too angry to receive the Father’s love? Or more like the Prodigal son, too ashamed to come home? Or maybe you are like the Prodigal father, hoping and waiting for the conversion of a loved one? Many of us spend a lifetime avoiding or “going around” our most difficult feelings. To grow in our spiritual…

October 30 - November 7, 2025
Oct. 30-Nov. 7 – 8-day (Thurs-Fri) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Oct. 30-Nov. 3 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) Nov. 3-7 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers or devotions outside…

October 30 - November 3, 2025
Oct. 30-Nov. 3 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Oct. 30-Nov. 7 – 8-day (Thurs-Fri) Nov. 3-7 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no…

November 3 - 7, 2025
Nov. 3-7 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Oct. 30-Nov. 7 – 8-day (Thurs-Fri) Oct. 30-Nov. 3 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no…

November 16 - 24, 2025
Nov. 16-24 – 8-day (Sun-Mon) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Nov. 16-20 – 4-day (Sun-Thurs) Nov. 20-24 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers or devotions outside of Mass…

November 16 - 20, 2025
Nov. 16-20 – 4-day (Sun-Thurs) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Nov. 16-24 – 8-day (Sun-Mon) Nov. 20-24 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers…

November 20 - 24, 2025
Nov. 20-24 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Nov. 16-24 – 8-day (Sun-Mon) Nov. 16-20 – 4-day (Sun-Thurs) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers…

December 15 - 22, 2025
Dec. 15-22 – 8-day (Mon-Mon) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Dec. 15-18 – 4-day (Mon-Thu) Dec. 19-22 – 4-day (Fri-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers or devotions outside of Mass…

December 15 - 18, 2025
Dec. 15-18 – 4-day (Mon-Thurs) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Dec. 15-22 – 8-day (Mon-Mon) Dec. 19-22 – 4-day (Fri-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers…

December 19 - 22, 2025
Dec. 19-22 – 4-day (Fri-Mon) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Dec. 15-22 – 8-day (Mon-Mon) Dec. 15-18 – 4-day (Mon-Thurs) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers…