History of Altar Guilds

[DKJ]

Hello

I am wondering if anyone point me to some resources regarding the history of Altar Guilds. I have been asked by our parish priest to form one so any and all information is really appreciated.

Thanks

 

[YoungTradCath]

I’m not sure you’re going to be able to find actual codified histories of altar guilds. They are relatively obscure things, and they possess no formal place in Church documents (as far as I know), so I don’t think anyone has ever sat down to actually write about them.

However, it has been traditional for a long time for the (usually) women of a parish to perhaps have a small group in which they wash altar linens, repair them, iron them, place them on the altar, coordinate the small seasonal decorations, maintain and clean the candlesticks and other implements, and whatever else needs to be done in that realm. Sometimes they also take care of and repair the vestments (at least they did when vestments were actually works of art and not ugly sheets akin to window curtains, ), clean the sanctuary area and the statuary, and also do other small tasks like that.

In some parishes, the guild actually will turn this into an event, like once a month going to someone’s house to have food or something.

 

[jimrob]

The Archconfraternity of St Stephen is an organisation for altar servers. It is based in the Archdiocese of Westminster, but has branches throughout the Commonwealth, including Canada. See guildofststephen.all-catholic.net/stephen/Home.html