Matthew Shepard 25th Anniversary

From 10 am to 5 pm, those wishing to honor Matthew on this solemn 25th anniversary are invited to visit the Cathedral’s Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea, Matthew’s final resting place, to light a candle and reflect on his life, death, and legacy.

The Cathedral’s Bourden Bell will toll 25 times at 12 pm to mark 25 years since his death.

Matthew died on October 12, 1998, following a vicious anti-gay hate crime that shocked the conscience of the nation and electrified the movement for the LGBTQ rights.

Matthew’s remains were interred at the Cathedral on October 26, 2018. A permanent plaque in St. Joseph’s Chapel honoring Matthew’s memory was dedicated on December 2, 2019.

The Cathedral will hold its annual service commemorating Matthew’s life on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 6 pm.