Seventeenth Sunday In Ordinary Time 26th July 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 26th July 10.00am Kathleen Nelis
Monday 27th July 7.30pm Mollie Keane
Tuesday 28th July 10.00am Hugh & Margaret Dalton
Tuesday 28th July 7.30pm Veronica Carlin
Wednesday 29th July 7.30pm Mickey McCartney
Thursday 30th July 7.30pm Deirdre Baxa
Saturday 1st August 6.00pm Kathleen & Denis Williams
Baptisms: We Welcome into the Family of God; Cooper Redden, Cahir Deery & Faith Houston
Confessions: Monday – Friday 7.00-7.25pm, Saturday 11.30am- 12.30pm & 5.15pm-5.50pm
Visitation of the Sick: Due to the Coronavirus visitation of the sick and housebound within our parish is postponed until further notice. 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.
Mass Guidance
We continue to ask that everyone attending Mass wears a face covering (apart from those with certain health conditions). We must all continue to observe social distancing, to use the hand sanitiser on both entering and 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 safe. The virus will be with us for some time to come. We also continue to have stewards and ushers giving direction as you enter and leave the Church. Please follow the guidance given by stewards and ushers, they are acting for the wellbeing of everyone. Entrance and exit doorways must be kept totally free at all times, we do not want to create pinch points.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to gather together in these uncertain times.
Padre Pio Intercede for Us
Weekly Mass for Healing in Mind & Body continues this Monday 27th July at 7.30pm.
We shall share in a spiritual network of prayer, love and support in these difficult times. While we may still be apart in person, we remain heartfully present with everyone and wish to further connect with all who are ill, unwell, feeling isolated and struggling with the pressures of life.
Through the gift of this Mass we will unite in prayer for all. We pray to be surrounded by the light and warmth of God’s love to heal our brokenness at this time of isolation, suffering and loss. We hope at the end of each Mass to give a Spiritual Blessing using a 1st class relic of Padre Pio.
We ask everyone’s assistance to help others connect with this Mass through our webcam – especially the elderly, frail and vulnerable. Please share as best you can knowledge of this Mass with your family & friends. You can access the Mass via our parish website: www.longtowerchurch.org then click on the link for the webcam or alternatively by logging on to www.churchmedia.tv
Iconic Transformation
Following the collapse of communism in Serbia the art of iconography began to rise as people were drawn to the Church in their transformation. As a lecturer at a local Art School explained, “one must take into account the role of the icon. The primary role of the icon is truthfulness, not its artistic value.” Sometimes we find it difficult to discern what our primary role is, not fully understanding what our real purpose is. Like Solomon, we too are asked, ‘what would you like me to give you’ – but inadvertently ask for more worldly things. It seems, our lack of wisdom and shrewdness may cause us to be deceived and misled into other places by the influence of false artistry – losing our identification and shared imagery with the Divine. May we leave our old ways behind, ask for wise judgement and allow His truth to reveal itself in our iconic transformation – rediscovering our primary role and a new life in the hidden treasure of our hearts. ‘Have you understood all this?’ Reference and further reading: 1st Kings 3:5,7-12, St Paul to Romans 8:28-30, Matthew 13:44-52
Wednesday 29th July– Feast Day of St. Martha
Martha’s great glory is her simple and strong statement of faith in Jesus after her brother’s death. “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world’” (John 11:25-27).
“Saint Martha, pray for us that we might serve Jesus better.
Help us to overcome our distractions and worries to listen to his words and be present to him this day”. Amen.
Schedule of Masses (Week Beginning Monday 27th July)
& Other Devotions until Further Notice
Monday-Friday
10am – Mass
3.00pm – Divine Mercy Devotions
7.00pm- Rosary
7.00pm- 7.25pm Confessions
7.30pm- Mass
Saturday
10am – Mass
11.30am – 12.30pm – Confessions
3.00pm – Divine Mercy Devotions
5.15pm- 5.50pm – Confessions
6.00pm- Vigil Mass
Sunday
8.00am- Mass
10.00am – Mass
12Noon- Mass
3.00pm – Divine Mercy Devotions
Adoration
Monday & Friday from 10.30am – 1.00pm & Wednesday 10.30am -7.00pm
New Webcam
Access to Church Services: You can access the webcam via the www.longtowerchurch.org website & clicking on webcam or directly via www.churchmedia.tv and clicking into to St Columba’s Church, Long Tower. https://churchmedia.tv/camera/st-columbas-church-longtower. We would ask that parishioners assist one another where possible to access these resources.
DERRY YOUTH COMMUNITY, a faith-based Gap Year opportunity for young adults aged between 18–25, is now open for applications for the year starting September 2020. DYC offers the opportunity to live in community, to develop and be formed in faith and be involved in youth ministry in parishes. The three main aspects of DYC are: Accompaniment, Community and Encounter. If you are interested in this Gap Year or would like some more information, please email: dyc@derrydiocese.org
Marys Meals Walking across Ireland raising awareness & seeking support for Marys Meals https://sbs4marysmeals.ie/home/walks/malin_derry_to_knock/. For further information contact Helen on 07814441701.
The Net– July-August 2020. With the Covid-19 restrictions still in place, the July-August edition of ‘The Net’ will only be available on the Diocesan website at this stage – https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/the-net-july-august-2020. However, the publication will be available again in parishes when the restrictions are lifted. For inclusion of your faith related news in future editions just email: editorthenet15@gmail.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.
RTÉ will air Mass every weekday at 10.30am from St Eunan’s and St Columba’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, on RTÉ News Now. RTÉ News Now can be accessed on Saorview (channel 21), Sky (521), Virgin Media (200), Eir (517) as well as via the RTÉ Player, the RTÉ News Now app and via RTÉ.ie/news.