Three of our altar servers were enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen at our Masses at St Joseph and the English Martyrs Church this Sunday, 16 January. One was enrolled at the 11:00 am Mass by Fr Carlos while the other two were enrolled at the 6:00 pm Mass by Fr Antonio. The three servers received bronze medals which are awarded to those who have served for a year or more.
When an altar server is enrolled into the Guild, he or she promises to pray the Guild prayer every day, do their best to serve regularly and to serve with care, reverence and understanding. Accordingly, they make this solemn promise as part of the ceremony: “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.”
The Guild of St Stephen is an international organisation of altar servers founded in England in 1904 by Father Hamilton McDonald when he formed a Society of Altar Servers at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in London. In 1905, Pope Pius X gave his approbation to the Canonical establishment of the Guild at Westminster Cathedral. After 25 years of service, members are awarded a silver medal while 50 years of service earn them a gold medal.
We congratulate and thank our three new members of the Guild for their service.
For more information, see our pages on Altar Serving and The Guild of St Stephen.