About the Jesuits
The Society of Jesus - Jesuits
The Jesuits are members of a religious order of priests and brothers within the Roman Catholic Church.
The Order was founded by the 16th century Basque soldier, Ignatius of Loyola, who had undergone a powerful spiritual experience following a failed military adventure in the service of the Spanish King. The experience provoked a deep conversion and led Ignatius to give up his life and ambitions at court and to devote himself to trying to lead people to the encounter with the living God that he had experienced.
In 1540 the Pope gave Ignatius and his first companions permission to found the Order for that purpose and they found themselves both ministering in a traumatised Europe (which was in the throes of the Reformation) and also being missioned as part of the waves of exploration to encounter the peoples of the newly-discovered lands of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Although initially associated with education, the ministry of the Jesuits was a far wider brief to engage in any work which would seek “The Greater Glory of God”, (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam… occasionally seen as A.M.D.G. in Jesuit books or on buildings) whether that be a ministry to refugees or royalty, to atheists or Christians or people of no faith.
The term ‘Jesuit’ was initially an insult which transformed into a nickname. The formal name for the Order is “The Society of Jesus” which gives the initials ‘S.J.’ after the name of an individual.
The Manchester Jesuit Community
In September 2026 Bishop John Arnold entrusted the care of St Augustine's to the Jesuits, who also minister to the Manchester Universities’ Catholic Chaplaincy at the Holy Name.
Fr Dermot Preston SJ
Fr Dermot hails from Burnley in Lancashire. After completing a Chemistry degree in Manchester University (Owens!) he joined the Jesuits in 1979; and followed the regular formation in prayer, philosophy & theology before being ordained in the Holy Name in 1990. Since then he has been missioned to various jobs in spirituality, faith-formation and pastoral ministry. He spent six years as University Chaplain in Cape Town, South Africa, then five years in Guyana, before being missioned back to the UK.
He comes to Manchester after having spent four years as Parish Priest in St Aloysius (the Jesuit Church in Glasgow) and five years as part of the Jesuit team in central Newcastle. He is now parish priest of St Augustine's and senior chaplain.
Fr Paul Fletcher SJ
Fr Paul joined the Manchester community in 2024. Deaf since birth, Paul lipreads and is a native BSL signer having been to Boston Spa residential school for Deaf. “I use hearing aids as a ‘radar’. Entered SJs in 1988 after brief 5yr career as college librarian. Now resident in Manchester I look forward to meeting parishioners, students and staff - just make sure I’m looking at your face/lips BEFORE you start speaking!”
John Bosco Noronha SJ
John Bosco arrived in Manchester after six years studying philosophy and theology in Paris. In Jesuit vocabulary he is what we call a scholastic, a Jesuit who is on the path to presbyterial ordination.
Before entering the Society of Jesus he was a professional actor for 10 years and is passionate about the Arts. He is excited to discover the wonders of Manchester and being part of the chaplaincy team.
Br Ken Vance SJ
Ken comes from Liverpool and was a member of the original team of Jesuits who returned to the Manchester twelve years ago.
His main role is to co-ordinate the work of the eight Jesuit parishes in England and Scotland and he is also custodian of our Jesuit Villa House in Barmouth, Wales.
Here in Manchester, he'll be keeping an eye on the fabric of the properties.