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
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.
After Christmas, we sometimes think of January as a lull month, but what a faith-filled month we see!
We have World Day of Peace and Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on January 1. Both offer so much meaning to Mattie and to us.
January 6 gave us the Feast Day of André Bessette. Mattie had a very special connection to St. André, praying to him to “finish my reason for being.” Mattie’s prayers were answered and a dangerous medical crisis came to an end, giving us several more years of Mattie on earth.
Next week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. We look to Mattie who demonstrated that young people can move mountains and do matter.
This week we honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and also witness to the right to life. Below in the next section are some thoughts from Mattie’s Mom, Jeni Stepanek, on Mattie and Martin Luther King, Jr.
In advance of this week’s March for Life, we ask “What is a life worth?” Mattie had quite a life and left his mark. But before he was born, Mattie was in danger, like others diagnosed with a disability in the womb. What the world would have missed if Mattie had never been born.
“Mattie was not an accident. He was not a mistake. He was a spirit meant to be,” said Jeni.
In 2001, when Mattie was 11, he spoke to young teens in Southern Maryland at a prolife rally, explaining that the building blocks of life were hope, peace, courage, forgiveness and kindness. These building blocks, he explained, lead to the understanding that life is a gift, not a choice.
Please join us:
Offer prayers – for Mattie and for all children, for Mattie’s mission of peace and for the Guild as we begin the most active year we have endeavored
Donate to the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild. Your financial gift supports the mission and work of the Guild to advance Mattie’s possible Cause of Canonization in the Catholic Church.
The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
All material in this e-letter is owned and copyrighted by Mattie J.T. Stepanek and/or Jeni Smith Stepanek, Ph.D., and may not be used without written permission.
Celebrating Mattie’s birthday and peace legacy with recreation, information, food, and fun — for people of all ages and abilities and aspirations!
Peace Day proclamations from the Governor of Maryland, the Montgomery County Council, and the City of Rockville
Remarks from Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Cheryl Kagan, and other leaders committed to building community
Entertainment & activities, food & fun — that celebrate Mattie’s “pathways and choices for peace”….
When:
Saturday, July 13
1-5 pm — FREE Street Fair “Peace Tent Stations (elements of Mattie’s peace messages shared through arts & crafts, cake & conversation, entertainment & games, moon bounce & more…)
5-8 pm — Happy Hour Dance Party (free entry) (continuing the celebration inside Botanero Restaurant with music, dancing, conversation, and toasting to life with our neighbors)
1-8 pm — Food & Drink Specials (Botanero Restaurant and Fontina Grille — all day specials, including “Sunrise Sangria & Sunset Cerveza” signature drinks poured by local leadrers, and “Tie Dye Peace Punch” for the kids — with proceeds supporting Mattie’s Foundation.
Where:
King Farm Village Green area (the streets outside of Botanero & Fontina are closed for the day to accommodate the street fair peace tents and activities)
800 Pleasant Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
Who:
EVERYONE!
Youth and adults, leaders and families…
The outdoor street fair is rain or shine, and FREE!
Why:
Celebrate Mattie’s 29th birthday with peace
Mattie is the late teen poet and peace activist who penned 7 NY Times bestsellers on hope and peace and who inspired millions around the world — from children to celebrities.
Mattie was born on July 17, 1990 and died on June 22, 2004 from complications of a rare neuromuscular disease.
The annual Peace Day event is a local celebration of a National Peace Day Campaign that is growing in strength.
“Get to know your neighbors…” — Mattie
with cake and conversation and an afternoon of learning more about
how to begin peace, and
how to teach and share peace with our children and neighbors, and
how to be “okay” with ourselves, our neighbors, and our world, even amid challenges and differences.
