Altar Servers

The Guild of St. Stephen was founded in 1905. St. Mary’s Cathedral Guild was the second Guild to be formed in Scotland and was affiliated to the Archconfraternity at Westminster in February 1960. Servers throughout the Diocese continue to be enrolled in the Guild, whose patronal feast is celebrated on 26 December.

1) Serve at the altar with reverence, understanding and regularity, with due attention to cleanliness and tidiness.

2) Say short prayers in preparation for and thanksgiving after serving at Mass.

3) Observe silence in the sacristy and great reverence in the sanctuary.

4) Recite the Guild Prayer every day.

Membership is open to servers who can assist at Mass and sincerely wish to live by the Guild’s rules and standards. A period of training and regular service is recommended before enrolment.

New servers learn alongside experienced members in the sanctuary. Practices are held on Friday evenings from 5.00pm to 5.30pm, as advertised in ChurchSuite.

Servers should ensure that albs, cassocks and surplices are clean and in good condition. A parent, guardian or adult family member should assist younger servers when changing outer clothing. Black or brown shoes are preferred to trainers when serving.

I offer myself to God Almighty, to blessed Mary our mother, and to our Holy Patron, St. Stephen, and 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.