The parish paid tribute to its altar servers when it celebrated the 90th anniversary of its affiliation with the guild of St Stephen at the 9:00 Mass at St Joseph and the English Martyrs Church on 12 March. Fr Antonio led the liturgy. In his opening remarks, he said that it was a truly special day for the parish and expressed his gratitude to and pride of the servers.
The Guild is an international organisation of altar servers, given papal approbation in 1905. It exists to encourage altar servers to attain a high standard in their ministry; provide them greater understanding of what they are doing; and unite them with servers from different parishes for mutual support.
Renewal of Guild Promises and Presentation of Gold Medal
Fourteen of our current altar servers from our three churches attended the Mass. They all served at the sanctuary wearing their albs and Guild medals. After the Liturgy of the Word, the altar servers renewed their Guild promises to pray the Guild prayer every day, do their best to serve regularly and to serve with reverence and care. They also said their solemn promise which was:
“I offer myself to God Almighty, to Blessed Mary, our Mother, and to our Holy Patron, St Stephen. I promise to do my best to serve regularly, with reverence and understanding, for the glory of God, the service of His Church and my own eternal salvation.”
Robert Purcell was then awarded with a Gold Guild Medal to acknowledge more than fifty years of altar serving, both in Bishop’s Stortford and other parts of the world. As Fr Antonio presented him the medal, he said: “Robert, receive this Gold Medal in recognition of your loyal service at the Altar of God. May you, with the help of our Patron, St Stephen, continue to serve for the glory of God, the service of His Church and your own eternal salvation.”
Christopher Deane-Bowers
Fr Antonio also acknowledged another member of the Guild for his many decades of service to the parish: Christopher Deane-Bowers. Christopher was unable to attend the Mass in person but he was very much there in spirt and was watching the procedures through live streaming. Christopher has served at the altar for more than 70 years, mostly in our parish. He has served as Master of Ceremony and had oversight of altar servers for 12 years. He was not just a Sunday server: he served at funerals, Saturday evening novenas and benedictions. He also played a leadership role in the planning and implementing of the Holy Week liturgies.
Fr Antonio thanked Christopher for his tireless dedication to our parish for almost half a century, for being a mentor to a generation of altar servers, and for being a support to the parish priests and assistant parish priests over the years. Fr Antonio also praised him for the many shining examples he showed: his great love of the faith, his great reverence for the Eucharist and his great passion of the liturgy.
Fr Antonio concluded his tribute to Christopher by saying: “Chris, our parish has been enriched and blessed with your service and presence over the years. We thank and salute you. Through the intercession of St Stephen, may our Lord bless and keep you!”
A small celebration in the parish hall followed the Mass, at which there were special donuts just for the servers!
(Photos by John Wright)