National Mass 2026
You are a wonderful reminder to everyone of the importance of the sacrifice of the Mass in our lives and in the life of the whole world. +Moth
The National Mass for Altar Server’s was held at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 3rd October 2026, and was celebrated by Archbishop Richard Moth, his first Altar Servers Mass since being installed as the Archbishop of Westminster earlier this year, and his first as the Superior General of the Archconfraternity.
Tourists and visitors to the Cathedral were likely quite surprised by the appearance of over 500 servers processing up Ambrosden Avenue and into the Cathedral from across 15 dioceses of England and Wales, a record for recent years, accompanied by family, friends, parishioners, tourists and the cathedral regulars, filling the cathedral nave.
On the Sanctuary, 15 priests and 4 deacons assisted the archbishop in the Mass, our own Deacon Paul Briers proclaimed the Gospel.
The archbishop preached on the martyrdom of our patron St Stephen, how the word martyr means ‘witness’ and how all who serve at the altar are visible ‘witnesses’ to faith and the importance of the server in the liturgy. You can read his full homily at the link below.
A wonderful day, and our abundant thanks to all those who helped organise the Mass in advance and on the day and the wonderful choir of Gunnersbury Catholic School. We look forward now to the next National Mass which is back on tour next year travelling to the Diocese of Shrewsbury and their Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians and Saint Peter of Alcantara, we hope you’ll join us there.
