The Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers
The Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers has as its aims to encourage, positively and practically, the highest standards of serving at the Church’s liturgy and so contribute to the whole community’s participation in a more fruitful worship of God. To provide altar servers with a greater understanding of what they are doing so that they may serve with increasing reverence and prayerfulness and thereby be led to a deepening response to their vocation in life. This ministry is shared at Our Lady Refuge of Sinners and St Catherine of Siena by both adult and child servers.
Following an initial period of at least 6 months new servers are inducted into the Guild of St Stephen in front of the whole Parish during Mass. At their induction they promise to serve at the altar or other liturgical celebrations. This marks the path that the server has set out on and is for life. At this induction they are given their Guild medal with a red cord. Following a further period of at least a year and depending on progress they will exchange a gold cord for the red one. Following five years service they will receive a Certificate of Merit and after eleven years are eligible for the guilds silver medal.
Any person who has made their First Holy Communion is eligible to become a server. Information on becoming a server is available from Fr Howard or Paul Cattigan by email at bow@rcdow.org.uk or telephone at 020 8980 3961
Training is given before each Mass and at certain times throughout the year. All servers and candidates are expected to attend when these days take place.