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| 27 Oct 2025 | |
| The Goal of an Active Faith |
The Guild of St Stephen is the International Organisation of Altar Servers. It was founded in England in 1905 by Father Hamilton McDonald when he formed a Society of Altar Servers in our chapel here at Sacred Heart. The Jubilee Year of 2025 marks a moment of profound significance in the life of the Guild. It is 120 years since Pope Pius X - now canonised - bestowed his official approval upon the Guild, and 100 years since Cardinal Bourne sanctioned a new constitution, from which the Central Council was formally established.
In honour of this historic occasion, a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was held in our chapel on Friday 24th October 2025. The Mass was celebrated here by Bishop Paul McAleenan, representing the Guild’s Superior General, Cardinal Vincent Nichols. After the Mass, Paul Briers KCHS, Honarary President of the Guild made a short address, followed by Mrs Dijkhuis who explained the history of the convent at Hammersmith and how the Guild came to be started here.
Later that evening the school received confirmation from Father Keith Stokes, newly appointed as the Guild's National Director, that we needed no application, to apply for membership of the Guild as we are the birthplace of the Guild and the plaque in our chapel acts as our membership certificate! Father Keith said that he would be happy to come over to celebrate a Mass of enrolment for any new servers we may have.
