Guild of St Stephen

The Archconfraternity of Saint Stephen is the international organisation of Altar Servers of the Catholic Church.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

A pleasure today for members of the Central Council and the National Director to meet with His Grace, Archbishop Richard Moth at Archbishop’s House in Westminster. This was his first meeting with the Guild since he took office as Archbishop of Westminster in February and we discussed the progress the Guild has made over the past few years under the leadership of +Vincent and the his own vision for the future development of the Guild.
Exciting times ahead, please join us and Archbishop Moth for our NATIONAL MASS, this year at Westminster Cathedral, on SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER, 2:30pm to be prepared to process from Cathedral Hall at 2pm.
@RCWestminster @catholicEW @WestminsterCath

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

Today (where last Thursday was not a Holyday of Obligation) is the transferred Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, “Corpus Christi”, one of the two days given over not to any saint, but to the Eucharist itself, the other being Maundy Thursday. Today’s Readings and Gospel rightly focus on this most precious gift, the Source and Summit of the Christian life, that Christ gave us on the night he was betrayed.

It is all too easy for us as Servers to ‘lose’ ourselves in serving the Mass, to concentrate on the necessary practical actions and movements to help the Priest, Deacon and the people participate fully and find ourselves somewhat on autopilot. But perhaps today is a good a day, as the priest raises the host and the bells ring out, to look up and remind ourselves of why we serve.

Today’s liturgy features a Sequence before the Gospel and optionally ends with a Eucharistic procession or period of adoration.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

We’ve returned to Ordinary Time, but the poor Sundays of Ordinary Time are going to have to wait a little longer to get back in on the Sunday action.

Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Oft depicted using “Triquetra” symbol, illustrating the strong, loving relationship between father and son and armed with gifts of the Holy Spirit as we heard last week at Pentecost.

Glory be to God the Father;
Glory be to God the Son;
Glory be to God the Spirit;
Glory to the Three in One.

Happy feast day.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

Last month the Central Council gathered for a small Mass of Thanksgiving for our outgoing National Director Fr Dennis Touw, at the parish of the new National Director, Fr Keith Stoakes, St Mary and St Michael, @RCWestminster.

Deacon Wayne O’Reilly preached a wonderful homily (linked below), on the Gospel we hear on our namesake feast day and many other martyr feasts, Matthew 10:17-22. This Gospel, the Deacon preached, on first reading does not particularly lend itself to celebrating our ministry of service, saying that those who follow Christ will be persecuted, but Jesus is preparing His disciples for the reality that discipleship is not always easy. It requires courage, it requires perseverance, it requires a heart that is willing to stand firm even when the world pushes back. And although we may not face the same dangers the apostles did, the heart of Jesus’ message speaks directly to us as Altar Servers.

St Stephen, the first martyr, served with courage, faith, and love and in his ministry. Fr Dennis has served faithfully, he has endured with faith, served with love and led with humility in his ministry as National Director. Through his ministry, the Holy Spirit has spoken - not only through his words, but through his example.

The Central Council presented him with an honorary award of the Guild Gold Medal in gratitude for his years of service in the promotion of the Guild and the ministry of Altar Service.

Read more and the full homily on our website: https://t.co/SAVByVd8DJ

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

“Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God; therefore, in accordance with his promise, the Lord gave him growth for the good of his people.”
Today is the memorial of St Pope Paul VI, canonised by Pope Francis in 2018 and ordained this day in 1920. Before his election as Pope in 1963 he was Archbishop of Milan. He saw through the Second Vatican Council and the subsequent liturgical reforms and renewal. As Pope in the so called ‘Golden Age’ of aviation, he was known as the ‘Pilgrim Pope’ being the first to travel by airplane, visiting 6 continents, the first visit of a Pope to the Holy Land and the first to address the United Nations.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

The Easter train pulls in today at Pentecost station, its final stop. We hear today of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples like
‘divided tongues as of fire’ and we can look back to Easter’s beginning at the Easter Vigil, and the Paschal Candle, which meets its end today, whose light was divided among the people during the Lucernarium, ‘a fire into many flames divided’ as the Exsultet tell us, just as it was for the disciples.
Easter may have reached its climax but we now go forth like the disciples armed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit into liturgical Ordinary Time.
The Easter Alleluias return one last time at the end of Mass today with a Sequence before the Gospel. HAPPY EASTER! Alleluia! Alleluia!

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

Our prayers for the repose of the soul of Canon Jason Jones who, in addition to his many other responsibilities was the Diocesan Director of the Guild for the Menevia Diocese that was, called home to the Lord at just 56 years of age. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

[Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia @cardiffmenevia]

✝️ Archbishop Mark has shared the shocking and sad news of the passing of Canon Jason Jones, priest of Sacred Heart Church in Morriston, who died yesterday.
Please keep his mother, brother, and the parish of Sacred Heart in your prayers.
May he rest in peace. 🙏

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

One year ago today we were in Lancaster on a glorious spring day for our National Mass with hundreds of servers and families present, an absolutely wonderful occasion! This year we are returning to Westminster Cathedral for our first National Mass with our new Superior General Archbishop Richard Moth on SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER. We very much hope to see you and your families all there to celebrate with us. #altarseerver #altarservers #catholicchurch #catholic @RCWestminster @WestminsterCath

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

"...and I am coming to you." The Gospel today from John gives us the start of the 'High Priestly Prayer', taken from the end of the Last Supper, immediately before He and the disciples go out to the garden and His betrayal and arrest. Jesus prays for Himself, the disciples and all that follow Him.
His mission on earth nearing its completion, and with the Feast of the Ascension now passed, we approach the coming of the 'other', the 'Advocate', the 'Paraclete', the Holy Spirit next weekend at Pentecost.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

"God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast." Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, a Holy Day of Obligation, 40 days since Easter Sunday.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

Grant, almighty God,
that we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy,
which we keep in honour of the risen Lord,
and that what we relive in remembrance
we may always hold to in what we do.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

1 year on already! We give thanks for the ministry of Pope Leo XIV, successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

The National Director and Members of the Central Council were pleased to join more than 200 servers from the @RC_Southwark today for the 48th Annual Altar Server Mass at Aylesford Priory, Kent.

The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Paul Hendricks, during which over 50 servers were enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen and 7 servers received their Silver Medals.

Our thanks go to Fr Stephen Boyle, Southwark Diocesan Director, and to John Bonnici, Southwark Guild Chairman for their hard work in organising this wonderful event for the servers of the diocese.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

Today is the Feast of the English Martyrs, those Catholic priests and lay people executed for their faith during the English Reformation. Pope Francis commented that there are "more Martyrs in today's world than there were in the 1st century". Whilst we remember today those who gave their lives those centuries ago for the faith, we also remember those who are still persecuted for their Christian faith today.

St Thomas More, Patron of our Guild, English Martyr, Pray for us.

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

SAVE THE DATE!

We invite all server’s and their families from across the United Kingdom and further afield to the National Mass for Altar Servers which will be held this year at Westminster Cathedral, the home of the Guild. The celebrant will be our new Superior General, His Grace, Archbishop Richard Moth.

2:30pm, Saturday, October 3rd, 2026.

https://t.co/QWlGDJm51o

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

“And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”.

It’s still over 7 months until our feast day but our namesake gets an appearance in the 1st reading from Acts today as the disciples pick seven men ‘of good repute’ to join them.

Chief among them is our man Stephen, who is to become the first Deacon of the church and its first martyr. The disciples commission the men through the laying of hands, the same act that continues to this day in the ordination rite, calling down the Holy Spirit upon them.

If we were to continue past the end of this reading we would immediately read the scripture passage for the Feast of St Stephen, but in the Gospel today, the disciples have trouble understanding where Jesus is going, but Stephen understood, through his wisdom and his vision of God in heaven with Jesus at his right hand, he knew the way and the truth.

It’s easy to think that after the great Triduum and a few weeks of Easter that we’re ‘back to normal’ but the Gospel is building us up week by week to the great feast of Pentecost. It’s not over yet! Happy Sunday and a Happy continuing Easter!

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

The 48th annual rally for @RC_Southwark Altar Servers is taking place at The Friars, Aylesford Priory, Kent, next (Bank Holiday) Monday 4th May 2026. The Central Council of the Guild will be represented. The Principal Celebrant will be Bishop Paul Hendricks.

https://t.co/dm2Sy78dZa

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

Today is the 4th Sunday of Easter and ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’, Vocations Sunday. A recent poll of seminarians in the United States by Georgetown University, showed that almost 80% of the men currently in formation for the priesthood had been an Altar Server in their home parish, a verification in the long-held belief that the ministry of Altar Service (and the Guild) fosters vocations, and in a few weeks’ time, our own Honorary President will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate!

It can be hard to listen to Him while we busy ourselves at Mass with our necessary service, but take a moment on this Vocations Sunday in the time of prayer during Communion to seek the intercession of our patron St Stephen and ask ‘what is God asking me to do?'.

Guild prayer for Vocations: “Lord Jesus Christ, grant the grace of a priestly and religious vocation to many. Inspire young people to dedicate, their love, strength and work to you. Bless all those who by their generous prayers and sacrifices help God's future priests and religious. Amen.”

[Guild of St Stephen @GuildStStephen]

A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated this morning at St Joseph the Worker, Hutton, to mark the retirement of John McCormack after many years of dedicated service as Chairman of the Guild of St Stephen in the Diocese of Brentwood.

John has served faithfully as an Altar Server for 75 years and was recently appointed by our National Director, Fr Keith Stoakes, as one of the Central Council’s Honorary Councillors.
@BrentwoodRC