Fourth Sunday Of Advent 20th December 2020
Anniversary & Month’s Mind Masses
Mass will be offered for the following people on the occasion of an Anniversary or Month’s Mind. We remember them, their families and loved ones in our prayers.
Sunday 20th December 12Noon Terence Crawley
Monday 21st December 10.00am McSwine Family
Monday 21st December 7.30pm Patrick Logue
Tuesday 22nd December 10.00am McConomy Family
Tuesday 22nd December 7.30pm Helen Toland
Wednesday 23rd December 10.00am Ellen Barr & Barr Family
Wednesday 23rd December 7.30pm Mary McClery
Saturday 26th December 6.00pm Brian & Eileen Starrett
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Eileen McGinley- Southway, Daniel Bonner- Drumcliffe Avenue & Anna Stewart- Drumcliffe Avenue
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Callan Devine, Téodóir McCartney, Amelia- Rose Casey & Alara McDaid
Confessions: Monday – Friday 7.00-7.25pm, Saturday 11.30am- 12.30pm & 5.15pm-5.50pm
Visitation of the Sick: For urgent sick calls please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.
Baptisms: Please contact the Parish Office for dates.
Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by Phone on 028-71262301 or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org
Christmas Mass Bouquets are now available from the Parish Office or the Sacristy
Long Tower Christmas Cards are now available from Parish Office or the Sacristy. Cost is £4.00 for a packet of 12 cards each containing 4 different images of the Long Tower Church.
Mass Guidance
As we resume attendance at Masses and other Church services, we please ask that you adhere to the mandatory guidelines. Everyone attending must continue to wear a face covering at all times, observe social distancing, use the hand sanitiser on entering & leaving the Church and to receive Holy Communion only in the hand. It is up to each of us individually and as a community to keep each other as safe as possible as we continue to live alongside the virus. We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to gather together in these uncertain times.
Christmas Masses
We please ask that all tickets for Christmas Masses be collected from Parish Office by 12 Noon on Wednesday 23rd December 2020. Thank you.
Annual Solemn Novena In Honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, concludes this Sunday 20th December. Pope Francis wrote his latest letter to us all on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on 4th October. In it he asks us, in the spirit of St. Francis, to pray for and work at brotherhood and solidarity with all our sisters and brothers of all faiths and none. We will pray for this spirit of fraternal love through our Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We encourage everybody, including those in particular need of healing in their lives to join with us.
Derry Diocesan Trust Safeguarding Coordinator (2-year fixed term contract). Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry14 hours per week – Monday and Tuesday £27, 905 – £29,636 pro rata per annum Designated Liaison Person Derry Diocesan Office, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry14 hours per week – Monday and Tuesday £27, 905 – £29,636 pro rata per annum. For an application pack for either position please contact: Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP, telephone 02871262302 or email: payroll@derrydiocese.org. Completed applications must be returned to Personnel, Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP or via email to payroll@derrydiocese.org no later than 5.00pm on 06.01.2021. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We welcome applications from all men and women and from members of all communities.
A Family Prayer Booklet – The Twelve Days of Christmas – has been specifically compiled with families and prayer in the home in mind. The Gospel for each day of the twelve days of Christmas is accompanied by a Gospel reflection, prayers and a link to online Christmas hymns. The booklet can be downloaded at this link: https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/family-prayer-service-for-use-at-home-this-christmas
SVP – Christmas Appeal 2020 If you are looking for help we are here to help you in whatever way we can. Please ring us on 028 71265489 or online https://svp.ie/get-help/request-help-online.aspx. Christmas time is the busiest time for the SVP giving out lots of toys and food parcels kindly donated by the public. However this Christmas is going to be different with COVID-19 and government restrictions. The safety of the public and our members is paramount. Therefore we are asking the public that instead of buying a physical toy or items of food that they buy a voucher or make a donation for the amount they were going to spend. The Annual Church Collection will take place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th December 2020. We have also a fundraising page for donations on our SVP website; https://www.svp.ie/get-involved/do-your-own-fundraising/current-fundraisers/fundraisers/derry-city-appeal.aspx
Foyle Foodbank, Springtown, Industrial Estate, is open during the Christmas period from 11am until 4pm Monday to Friday to help those in food crisis. Telephone 71263699.
Greater Shantallow Area Partnership and local Churches have come together, to appeal for new or used ipads/tablets, to be given to older members of our communities. Donations towards the campaign would also be greatly appreciated. All ipads/tablets or donations can be left at the Long Tower Sacristy or at Parish Office.
Children in Crossfire would like to wish you and your families a happy Christmas and New year, we thank you for your ongoing support of our work in this difficult time. Your support this year will help provide clean water and sanitation to 700 schools in Tanzania, invaluable in keeping children safe from disease. Boxes are still available at the back of the chapel and can be returned in January.
Care4Calais, Winter is upon us and this year we need your help more than ever before. In Northern France more than 3,000 refugees are currently sleeping rough. Temperatures are rapidly dropping and police raids and evictions are worse than ever. This winter our goal is to provide each and every one of these refugees with a warm winter coat. To do this we urgently need your help. Visit the Coats4Calais page for more information. Alternatively you can also make a donation and leave it at Parish Office.
This Christmas, Trócaire will deliver life-saving support to thousands of families across the developing world. As well as supporting people living through conflict and natural disasters, Trócaire has launched a special appeal to support families who have not been able to grow food or earn money due to Covid-19. Please consider supporting this vital work this Christmas. You can purchase one of 17 special gifts for families, or else make a general donation to the Trócaire Christmas Appeal. Please visit trocaire.org to make a donation or buy a gift.
Simon Community: A safe place to call home has never been more important. But for many this winter will be their first without a home. Each day approximately another 50 people become homeless here in Northern Ireland, and we only expect this to rise with the economic impact of coronavirus. Each night this December, Simon Community NI will provide 388 warm, safe beds across 21 accommodation sites for those with no home. They will be adults, children and families, all anxious and frightened for their future. We will provide them with vital shelter and support when they need it most, saving and rebuilding lives. We need help to make their Christmas and New Year a little brighter. If you would like to make a donation to help someone without a home, please send a cheque payable to Simon Comunity C/o Mrs Amanda Scott, Simon Community NI, 25-27 Franklin Street, Belfast BT2 8DS or go to https://www.simoncommunity.org and donate or phone 028 9023 2882. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact; amandascott@simoncommunity.org.
Accord Derry Virtual Interactive Marriage Preparation Programme. Course Dates, January 12th and 13th 2021, February 9th and 10th 2021 & March 9th and 10th 2021. Booking now online at www.accordni.com.
Accord’s free and confidential ‘Relationships Support Phone Line’ for marriages, families and relationships offers support to those experiencing extra pressure due to social restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The three numbers are: Accord CLG – 01 531 3331, Accord Dublin – 01 905 9555, Accord NI – 028 9568 0151 or 00353 1 531 3331.
Webcams Around the country, some parish churches and cathedrals have installed webcams for the broadcast of Mass and these can accessed on the following websites; https://www.churchservices.tv/churches/
https://www.mcnmedia.tv/cameras
https://www.parishwebsites.ie/
Radio Maria Ireland is an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station. Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies – Listen via TV on Saorview – Channel 210 and Freeview – Channel 826; Download our FREE APP – “Radio Maria Ireland”, streaming on www.radiomaria.ie or via PHONE – get live radio feed by telephoning +353 (0) 1 437 3277 (no extra charges apply). Please join our growing faith family.