Gemma Simmonds is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus, founded by Mary Ward (1585-1609).  She is a senior research fellow at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge where she is director of the Religious Life Institute.

An international speaker and lecturer, she is an honorary fellow of Durham University and past president of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain.  She has been a missionary in Brazil and a chaplain in the Universities of Cambridge and London as well as a chaplaincy volunteer in Holloway Prison for 25 years.  She is a regular broadcaster on religious matters on the BBC, Radio Maria and other radio and television networks.

Sister Gemma lectured in Christian Spirituality Ecclesiology and Theology of Religious Life at Heythrop College, University of London from 2005 until its closure in 2018.  She has also lectured worldwide on Catholic education.

Her book, The Way of Ignatius, was published by SPCK for Lent 2018 and was serialised as the Lenten retreat on Pray As You Go https://pray-as-you-go.org  and as Praying with Ignatius on Radio Maria England Praying With Ignatius – Radio Maria England

Her most recent book, Treasuring God’s Word is published by Pauline Books and Media

https://www.paulineuk.org/browse/books/pauline/marian/item/treasuring-gods-word/9781904785750

SPCK will be publishing Dancing at the Still Point: Retreat Practices for a Busy Life in July 2021