Welcome, Baba. The Guild prays with you.
Guild members are baptised Catholic men, confirmed, and married in the Church — the fathers of Catholic households — who gather monthly for prayer, formation, and works of mercy. Associate membership is open to men in formation before reception into the Church. Whatever your circumstance, you are welcome to make enquiry.
Three stages of the bhanire.
Every man enters at Stage 1 and is formed under a Formator. The colour and orientation of the scapular he wears at meetings marks where he is.
Green scapular, right-shoulder
Reception by the Chairman after consultation with the local Formator. Period of accompaniment, typically twelve months.
Blue side outside
Under formation by an appointed Formator. Possesses active voice at meetings (may speak and vote on motions) but not passive voice (may not stand for office).
Cream side outside
Vested by the Chairman in the presence of Guild members. Active and passive voice. Eligible for office, including Formator.
Two paths into the Guild.
Baptised, confirmed, married in the Church.
The ordinary path. A man approaches his local chapter's Secretary, is received as an Aspirant, and is formed by a Formator over the customary period before being received as a Candidate.
- Speak to the Secretary of your nearest chapter.
- Receive an Aspirant’s welcome at a monthly meeting.
- Be paired with a Formator.
- Begin the formation programme — prayers, readings, and the Statutes.
For men in formation before reception into the Church.
The Guild also accompanies men who are being received into the Catholic Church through the OCIA / RCIA, or who are completing their marriage in the Church. Associate members pray and study with Guild members until the path to full membership is open.
- Active voice at meetings is encouraged.
- Reception as an Aspirant follows the sacraments.
- The Spiritual Advisor is available throughout.
The first twelve months.
Formation is a quiet thing. It happens at the kitchen table, on the way to Mass, at the monthly meeting, and on the phone with one’s Formator. Below is the rhythm an Aspirant joins; it is the same rhythm every man in the Guild keeps.
Reception & orientation
Reception at a monthly meeting; introduction to the Formator; the Statutes read in common; first prayers committed to memory.
The 33 Days & the Novena
The Consecration to St. Joseph is undertaken with Guild members. Attendance at a feast-day Mass at the chapter parish.
Reading & testimony
A short reflection given at a monthly meeting on a passage the Aspirant has prayed with. Recommendation by the Formator for reception as Candidate.
Register as an Aspirant.
Leave your details below and the Secretary of your nearest chapter will be in touch to receive you at a monthly meeting and pair you with a Formator.
If the form does not load, write to secretary@stjosephna.org.
The Guild’s member portal.
Guild members sign in here for the full library of presentations, the formation handouts, recorded prayers and hymns, the chapter directory, and AGM minutes. Aspirants and Associate members have a quieter view, paced by their Formator.