Deacon Matthew Hecker

Deacon Matthew Hecker spent more than 30 years in education, from a parish youth director, a high-school teacher and coach, to later earning degrees in counseling and educational administration and serving at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as dean of students. He was the first permanent deacon ordained for the Diocese of Lincoln in 2021.

Dr. Hecker and his wife Dani are members of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln. They have three children and two grandchildren. He is Catholic chaplain for the Lincoln/Lancaster County Chaplaincy Corps, and has worked in Diocese of Lincoln Family Life & Discipleship Office and Office of Communications, as Superintendent of Schools and director of the Permanent Diaconate Program.