Melton Parish Guild of St Stephen (Altar Servers)
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 and in 1906, the Sacred Congregation of Rites made the Guild an Archconfraternity prima primaria enabling all the parish branches to be linked with it. The Guild spread, and in 1934, Pope Pius XI enabled all Guilds of Altar Servers throughout the British Commonwealth to be affiliated with the Archconfraternity at Westminster. The objectives of the Guild:
- 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 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.
- To unite servers of different parishes and dioceses for their mutual support and encouragement.
The Guild of St. Stephen in the Archdiocese of Melbourne is administered by the Diocesan Committee of the Australian Guild of St Stephen. The current Diocesan Director of the Guild is Fr. Joel Peart. In the Catholic Parish of Melton, Deacon Chris Creo is currently supervising the parish group of Altar Servers, three of whom are members of the Guild.
As well as goods (such as Guild medals) and affiliation, we provide opportunities for servers to be trained, formed in their faith and celebrate the good work they do in service of God and others.
DOWNLOADS
General
- About the Guild of St Stephen Medal
- Altar Server Mass Roles – Poster
- Altar Server Training Record
- MC Standard Mass Planner
- Sacristy Prayers
- Service Awards
- Simple Mass Planner
Holy Week Planner