Altar Servers & The Guild of St. Stephen
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What is an Altar Server?
Altar Servers are Extraordinary Ministers who fulfill the role of an officially instituted acolyte, who is instituted for service at the altar and to assist the Priest and Deacon. It is his place principally to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if necessary, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful as an extraordinary minister (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 98).
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The Guild of St. Stephen
The Guild of St. Stephen was founded at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in London, England in 1904 by Fr. Hamilton McDonald. He wanted to provide an opportunity for altar servers to not only learn how to serve at the altar, but also to provide religious formation and spiritual benefits for them. Cardinal Bourne, then Archbishop of Westminster, gave his permission.
In 1906, Pope St. Pius X gave his permission for the Canonical establishment of the Guild at Westminster Cathedral and in that same year, the Sacred Congregation for Rites made it an Archconfraternity prima primaria which enabled all parish branches to be connected to it. In 1934, Pope Pius XI gave permission for all guilds of altar servers to be affiliated with the Archconfraternity throughout the British Commonwealth.
Today, the Archconfraternity is a worldwide organization headquartered at Westmister Cathedral with the archbishop serving as the Superior General. To assist him, there is a lay cenral council which assists with the daily business of the guild.
At St. Mary of False River, we are honored to have been granted permission on January 21, 2022 to form a branch of the Guild of St. Stephen by our bishop, The Most Rev. Michael G. Duca. Further, we have received a Diploma of Affiliation from His Emminence, The Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.
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“Altar servers are called in particular to be young friends of Jesus. Be determined to go deeper and to cultivate this friendship with him. You will discover that in Jesus you have found a true friend for life.”
— Pope St. John Paul II
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Posture & Attentiveness
Altar servers should always keep their hands in the prayer position when not holding items or otherwise engaged. Extending the hands outward is an expressly priestly mannerism and should be reserved for the priest celebrant alone. Holding hands during the Our Father is not a requirement of the liturgy and it is more proper for the hands of servers to be in the prayer position.
Altar servers ought to sit with proper posture, neither fidgeting nor seeming bored. The postures the server assume signal to the congregation how they ought to act as well. If the server seems disinterested, the people subconsciously can assume “permission” to disengage from full, active, and conscious participation as well. -
Manner of Dress
At St. Mary's, altar servers are ordinarily vested for service in the sanctuary, but shoes are often visible beneath the cassock and surplice or alb and scapular.
Ideally, the server should have his “Sunday Best” on, even if it isn’t visible. Sneakers, tennis shoes, and flip flops should not be worn under one's vestments.
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TRAINING Documents
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