by Jeni Stepanek | Mar 4, 2021 | Home
We must do more than pray. We must meditate on being faithful.
And we must share our faithfulness with others.”
– Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Reflections for Holy Week
“Ponder, Praise, and Prayer”
Excerpts from the
1999 Lenten meditation
booklet offered by
Mattie J.T. Stepanek
1990 – 2004
What you are about to read are the private reflections of a boy, age 7 and 8, speaking to God as a friend.
Mattie’s life had many challenges – constant health issues, daily struggles with his rare form of muscular dystrophy, financial burdens and more – but his Catholic faith, nurtured by his mother, Jeni, and enriched at Holy Rosary Church in Rosaryville, Maryland, kept him rooted in the Lord.
He accomplished a great deal in his “almost 14 years” on earth. He published six bestselling books of poetry and one bestselling book on peacemaking. During his many television, radio, and print media interviews, Mattie spoke with authority and conviction, championing what he learned as a Catholic.
Through his writings and speeches and his everyday conversations and interactions, Mattie reminded youth and adults, and families and leaders,
that hope is real, peace is possible, life is worthy, and prayer is powerful.
Mattie’s lasting gift to us is his belief that we all have what he called a Heartsong – a special purpose and “reason for being” given to us by God. His life especially inspires children and teens to accept their personal challenges as they uncover their own Heartsong in their daily walk with God.
To download a PDF version
of this introduction — CLICK HERE…
To read excerpts from Mattie’s Lenten
meditations in ENGLISH — CLICK HERE…
To read excerpts from Mattie’s Lenten meditations
in SPANISH / ESPAÑOL — CLICK HERE / AQUÍ…
Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild
www.MattieMatters.org
by Jeni Stepanek | Jun 18, 2020 | Blog, Home, News, Uncategorized
Keep up to date with information and inspiration being shared by Mattie’s Guild…
Join our secure mailing list for monthly updates here…
INFO@MattieMatters.org
Read our recent e-Letters here…
by Jeni Stepanek | Jun 11, 2020 | Blog, Home, News, Uncategorized
Join us in a celebration of Mattie’s
life and legacy of hope and peace,
as we gather (virtually) to commemorate
the 16th anniversary of his passing.
MORNING MASS (virtual)
Monday, June 22, 2020 at 9 am EST
ALL ARE WELCOME
HOW:
Facebook Live — CUA Campus Ministry page
LINK: https://bit.ly/2UkFOfa
CELEBRANT:
Fr. Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv
University Chaplain & Director of Campus Ministry
The Catholic University of America
HOST:
Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild
MattieMatters.org
EVENING CONVERSATION (virtual)
Evening “Toast2Peace”
Monday, June 22 at 7-8 pm EST
ALL ARE WELCOME
EVENING CONVERSATION (virtual)
Evening “Toast2Peace”
Monday, June 22 at 7-8 pm EST
ALL ARE WELCOME
Join members of Mattie’s Guild (spiritual legacy)
& Mattie’s Foundation (peace legacy)
as we “raise a glass or grateful hands
and connect with purpose — for peace!”
and engage in conversation about Mattie’s
message of hope and peace, and specifically,
his “For Our World” poem, penned 9/11/2001 —
highlighting Mattie’s “mosaic of humanity” message
which is rooted in St. Paul’s “many parts, one body.”
Zoom & Facebook Live links to be posted soon.
by Jeni Stepanek | Mar 8, 2020 | Blog, Home, News, Uncategorized
Join members of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild and Dr. Jeni Stepanek (Mattie’s mom) as they gather each month at different churches for a morning of service, prayer, and conversation in the community.
Each month, members of the Guild and Mattie’s mom visit a different church, and following the service, they invite others to engage in conversation about the inspirational life and lessons and legacy of the late teen poet and peace ambassador, Mattie J.T. Stepanek.
From as young as the age of 3 years, Mattie said that God placed messages in his heart — “messages of hope and peace and Heartsongs and purpose, to shape with words and share with the world.”
Mattie died in 2004, just a few weeks before his 14th birthday, but left behind seven NY Times Bestselling books that continue to impact global youth and adults in powerful and prayerful ways today.
Mattie’s Guild is a non-profit organization committed to gathering information about Mattie’s life and spiritual legacy to support his possible Cause of Canonization / sainthood in the Catholic Church.
Dates and locations may change,
so please re-check this page
for the most current schedule.
CURRENT SCHEDULE:
- Friday, March 20, 2020
Mass 7a / conversation follows
St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church
917 Montrose Road
Rockville, MD 20852 - Monday, April 6, 2020
Time TBA (Mass & school visit)
Shrine of the Sacred Heart
3211 Sacred Heart Way
Washington, DC 20010 - Friday, May 1, 2020
Mass 7a / conversation follows
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
11701 Clopper Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 - Monday, June 22, 2020
Mattie’s 16 year anniversary celebration
Mass 9a / conversation follows
St. Francis of Assisi
6701 Muncaster Mill Road
Rockville, MD 20855 - Friday, July 17, 2020
Mattie’s 30th birthday celebration
Mass 7:30a / conversation follows
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
4101 Norbeck Road
Rockville, MD 20853 - August – St. Catherine Laboure
Date & Time TBA - September – date, time, location TBA
- October – date, time, location TBA
- November – date, time, location TBA
- December – date, time, location TBA
If you or your place of worship
would like to host a gathering
with Mattie’s Guild
– prayer, conversation, book/poetry discussion –
please e-mail INFO@MattieMatters.org
Learn more about Mattie’s spiritual legacy:
www.MattieMatters.org
Learn more about Mattie’s peace legacy:
www.MattieOnline.com
by Jeni Stepanek | Mar 6, 2020 | Home, News, Uncategorized
Dr. Jeni Stepanek will be the guest presenter for the Friday, March 13 “Lenten Simple Supper & Speaker Series” at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Rockville, MD. She is the author of the NY Times Bestseller, “Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs.”
Her remarks – titled, “I Am… We Are… A Mosaic of Gifts: Created in God’s Image” – will explore St. Paul’s message of “many parts, one body” and her son, Mattie’s, inspirational message of embracing humanity as a “mosaic of gifts.”
Mattie, who died just before his 14th birthday, began saying at the age of 3 that God was placing messages in his heart that were meant to be “shaped with words and shared with the world.” He penned 7 NY Times bestselling books expressing his purpose as a messenger, each filled with “Heartsongs” and lessons about hope and peace.
Today, the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild is gathering information about Mattie’s life and spiritual legacy for his possible Cause of Canonization.
ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
Learn more about Mattie’s peace legacy: www.MattieOnline.com
Learn more about Mattie’s spiritual legacy: www.MattieMatters.org
