National Director Retirement

The National Director of the Guild, Fr Dennis Touw at the 2025 National Mass in Lancaster

Cardinal Nichols, the Superior General of the Archconfraternity of St Stephen, has accepted the resignation of Rev. Fr Dennis Touw, the National Director of the Archconfraternity ‘Guild’ of St Stephen.

Fr Dennis has faithfully served the Guild as its National Director for over 20 years, being appointed to the position by Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor on the recommendation of then Honorary President Tony Hawes K.S.G.; and has guided the Guild though a period of substantial change in the national church and society at large. In recent years he has helped guide the Guild in its period of renewal, to ‘Move the Guild Forward’ which is his lasting legacy.

The Central Council of the Guild express their immense gratitude to Fr Dennis for his years of priestly ministry and service to the Guild and his promotion of the ministry of Altar Service.

The position of National Director of the Guild is now ‘awaiting appointment’; the post is appointed by the Superior General of the Guild (Archbishop of Westminster) in consultation with the Honorary Lay President and the wider Central Council.

Owing to the absence of the National Director, and the proximity of the Annual General Meeting this November, the Central Council, on receiving advice from Fr Dennis and Cardinal Nichols, have resolved to suspend the election of a new Honorary Lay President and Lay Vice-President, due at the 2025 AGM, until a new National Director can be appointed and consulted. The Central Council expresses its gratitude to the incumbent President and Vice-President for their agreement to continue in their roles until such time as elections can be held.

Finally, the Central Council is delighted to have unanimously resolved to offer Fr Dennis the new post of ‘Emeritus National Director’, with the rights to attend and participate in the life of the Guild and the Central Council as his health allows, which Fr Dennis has happily accepted.

The National Director looks out at the assembled youth of England and Wales at the Flame Congress, 2025.

ENDS.