Welcome to our 20th Anniversary Remembrance webpage where we will keep you updated on activities and events
A Time for Hope
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
This is a time for hope. Mattie may have died 20 years ago, but he still brings hope, renews hope, leads us to hope. Mattie wrote, “God give me hope that there is something greater than us, something better and bigger than the here and now, that can help us live.”
Mattie was a spirit meant to be – a messenger of faith, hope and peace. He has not left us. He is remembered. The messages he shared and his conception of Heartsongs live on and inspire others to believe in the power of prayer, the truth of hope and the potential of peace.
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.
Upcoming & Ongoing 20th Anniversary Activities & Events
Journey with Mattie
Learn of the sites around the Archdiocese of Washington that were important to Mattie as a faithful Catholic, as a fun-loving boy and for his health.
An online map is being created along with information on each location plus prayers and poetry for people to read about and/or to visit.
Stay Tuned!
Prayer Intentions Basket
We blessed nearly 500 prayers during our 2024 Memorial Mass!
Continue to share your prayer intentions which will be placed in a basket and brought up with the gifts for a blessing during Mattie’s 2025 Memorial Mass.
Click here to share your prayer intentions or you may email your prayer intentions to info@mattiematters.org.
Past 20th Anniversary Activities & Events
Heartsongs Fundraiser – Celebrating the Spiritual Legacy of Mattie
Wow. Thank you for the huge support of our first friendraiser/fundraiser! We were delighted to welcome 120 friends – old and new.
With gratitude, we thank the MaryKnights Auxiliary of Father Rosensteel Council #2169, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and John Kennedy, the Silverwinds Quartet and our event volunteers; and we especially thank our event sponsors listed at right.
Memorial Mass & Reception for Mattie: A Time for Hope
Mattie modeled all of the Christian virtues throughout his short life. As Fr. Chris Seith said in his post-communion reflection, Mattie “exuded the light of Christ.”
Thank you, St. Rose of Lima parish, for welcoming the Guild and those who loved Mattie as we remembered and celebrated Mattie and his virtues. We were honored to have Msgr. John Enzler as Celebrant and Homilist and to be joined by Msgr. Robert Amey, St. Rose of Lima Pastor Agustin Mateo Ayala, Rev. Chris Seith and Deacon Bob Seith.
Please visit St. Rose of Lima parish’s YouTube channel to view the Memorial Mass and the beautiful homily by Msgr. Enzler and reflection by Fr. Seith.
“God gives me hope that there is something greater than us, something better and bigger than the here and now, that can help us live.” ~ Mattie J.T. Stepanek
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“My Heartsongs will become the echo and silhouette of my life, after my spirit moves from my body. Some people call this a eulogy or epitaph. I prefer to think of my lasting essence, and my legacy, in more poetic terms, because the gift God gave me to share with the world is the gift of shaping words into inspirational messages … If my Heartsongs grow big enough, if I can share them powerfully enough, maybe they will spread around the world and become like the seeds of peace. And even if my spirit has moved on from my body, other people around the world can nurture these seeds, and grow my message of hope and peace into a powerful reality.”
