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Free Catholic Charities Lecture 

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“Our Dash in Time: Reflections on Dreams and Being” is the title of a presentation being offered by Jeni Stepanek, Ph.D., on Thursday, April 4 at 7 pm in Hyattsville, Maryland. Sponsored by Catholic Charities, the lecture is part of the Health Ministry-Speaker Series being held at St. Mark’s Catholic Church.

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Stepanek, an award-winning speaker and New York Times Bestselling author, is the mother of four children who died as result of a rare neuromuscular disease. She was diagnosed with the adult-onset form of the disease after the four children were born, and today relies on a wheelchair and ventilator for mobility and breathing. Her youngest child is the late poet and peace activist, Mattie J.T. Stepanek who was a frequent guest on talk shows like Oprah, Larry King, and Good Morning America.

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For more than two decades, Stepanek has been offering inspirational and informational speeches on  topics ranging from healthcare, education, and family/professional collaboration to disability, bereavement, and spirituality. The author of “Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs,” Stepanek’s upcoming speech will explore lessons she has learned from her son, Mattie, and also insights about how she has learned to celebrate life by making deliberate choices to balance burdens and blessings.

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Stepanek currently works as a Research Associate in Special Education at the University of Maryland and serves as the Executive Director of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation. During January, she accepted the 1oth Annual Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award from the We Are Family Foundation, and during March she spent a week mentoring international youth from 18 countries who gathered to learn more about tending to basic human needs as a tool for peace in our world.

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Stepanek’s presentation at St. Mark’s is being sponsored by Catholic Charities. The event is open to the public, and people of all faiths are welcome to attend. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged.

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For more information,

please review the flyer posted with this article

or call 301-422-8300.

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