Welcome to St Augustine's Parish, Manchester
32nd Sunday in Ordinary time
Behold the Bridegroom!
As we come to the end of the liturgical year, the readings are increasingly concerned with the end of time and the Second Coming of the Lord.
In the First Reading, Wisdom is personified as an attractive lady, who seeks to comfort and support those who love and seek her. She prepares us for the virgins in the Gospel who are looking out for the bridegroom.
Continuing the theme of watching, the Psalmist’s main ambition is to find God. He will certainly be ready when the Lord comes.
Using apocalyptic language, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that whether dead or alive, the Lord will be with them, so they can comfort one another. (Second Reading)
In the well known parable of the wise and foolish virgins, Matthew reminds his audience that the Lord will eventually come, but that we must not only exercise patience, but also be ready at all times to welcome him. (Gospel)
This week, we might pray particularly for all those who will be unprepared when the Lord comes, whether because they don’t know him, or because they have given up waiting.
(With thanks to St Beuno's Outreach)
ARTWORK
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13
Decani Monastery, Kosovo
Greetings from the Jesuit Community
In September of this year the Jesuit community serving the Chaplaincy at Holy Name were asked by Bishop Arnold to also look after St Augustine's.
In so many ways it is an ideal arrangement - both churches have a long history serving this part of Manchester and it's extensive student population. So we were only too happy to agree.
Over time we plan for the churches to do more together and already we have cooperated to adjust Mass times so each church can have dignified and meaningful liturgies on Sundays and through the week.
The Jesuits might be new here at St Augustine's - and thank you for the very warm welcome! But we are of course no strangers to Manchester, arriving here in 1860 and opening the Holy Name in 1871, with only a brief period of absence between 1992 and 2012.
We look forward to being part of the life and mission of St Augustine's and on this website, which will grow and develop over time, you can read more about the Jesuits, our spirituality and our many diverse ministries in the UK and around the world.
Pope Leo's Prayer Intention for October
For the proper use of wealth
Let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service the common good and solidarity of those who have less.
Visit the website of Pray With the Pope
Visit the website of Pray As You Go for a reflection on this month's video.