Accord

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ACCORD (formerly known as CMAC) was established in Ireland in 1962 by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. We have fifty-five centres throughout Ireland both North and South, more than 800 members trained to the highest standards who provide clients with a professional and ethical, Educational and Counselling service in a safe and confidential environment, promoting awareness, understanding, healing and helping love to grow.

Marriage and families are today experiencing new and more complex challenges than ever before and yet we know that good marriages and healthy families are not only the bedrock of our society but also provide their constituent members with a stable lifelong environment in which they can experience, Love, Support, Understanding, Tolerance, Caring and Nurturing, Commitment, Respect, Interdependence, Enjoyment and much happiness. These are not experienced just by chance but are the result of couples and their families working together to create a secure and loving environment, which allows them to flourish and grow.

Marriage and family life therefore is a journey not a destination. It is being the right person rather than finding the right person. It is starting to LOVE over and over again. It is a life’s work. It requires active thought and effort. We learn how to share, we practise talking from the heart, we understand feelings as well as words and we give generously and receive generously.

Above all Marriage is a gift, where love is the climate in which we live, where our children are secure in the knowledge that their parents love and respect each other and where the best is yet to come.

Website: http://www.accord.ie/centres/derry

Adoration Chapel - Pump Street

adorationThe Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Pump Street, is open from 9.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Saturday, for anyone who wishes to spend some time in prayer in the midst of the city. All welcome.

Altar Servers

The Altar Servers form a very important part of the church and every parish is enriched through their dedication and service. Altar servers are scheduled for each of the weekend Masses. Each year new servers in primary 5-7 are invited to join and be trained in the rituals associated with serving.  For more information on becoming an altar server please speak with the Youth Minister Emmet Thompson on emmet.thompson@derrydiocese.org

Children's Liturgy

Every Sunday at the 12:00 noon Mass, St. Columba’s, Long Tower offers a special Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Children of the parish are invited into the church to experience the Liturgy of the Word through readings that are interpreted specifically with younger listeners in mind.

Our Youth Minister reads the Gospel and directs the children through a guided discussion around the meaning of God’s word in the readings.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is a great opportunity for your son or daughter to experience the word of God in a way that tends to be more accessible to children. The programme has been very successful with many kids attending on a weekly basis. For further details please contact emmet.thompson@derrydiocese.org

Child Safeguarding

The Long Tower Parish recognises and upholds the dignity and rights of all children and is committed to ensuring their safety and wellbeing. We are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church and recognise that we also have a special responsibility towards all vulnerable people who are members of our faith community.

Our Parish Safe-Guarding Representatives are Mrs Rita Moore and Ms Josephine Brown.  If you wish to contact either please contact the Parish Office on 028-7126 2301.

If you have any concerns with regard to Safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church please contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Tel: NI 075 96500 793 / ROI (0044) 75 96500 793 or at mariegormley@derrydiocese.org.

Additional contact numbers:

Northern Ireland: PSNI  Tel 101 or Social Services Western HSC Trust Tel +442871314090 (Ask for Duty Social Worker)

Republic Of Ireland: Garda Síochána, Buncrana +353749320540 or Letterkenny HQ +353749167100

TUSLA Family & Child Agency, Buncrana+353749320420 or Letterkenny +353749123672

Do This In Memory Programme

Do This In Memory is a parish-based pre-sacramental programme designed to help children, parents/guardians and the wider parish community prepare for First Eucharist.

What is Do This In Memory?

Do This In Memory is a parish based programme of preparation for First Communion centred in the parish celebration of the Sunday Eucharist and in the home.

The programme resources are designed to facilitate parents/guardians, families and the parishes’ active involvement in the preparation for the sacrament. It compliments and supports the work of sacramental preparation in the parish school.

The programme takes place once a month for eight months before First Eucharist and concludes during the parish celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi.

THUMB: That’s His/Her Useful Mass Book

This book provides material which helps parents and children engage with the programme before, during and after Mass. It is available to parents when they attend the Introductory Meeting or is available by contacting Emmet, the Parish Youth Minister.

THUMB contains the following:

An Introduction to Do This in Memory including a Guide for Parents that suggests ways they might use the programme most effectively.

  • WHAT HAPPENS AT MASS?

This exploration of the Mass is led by two cartoon characters, Kath and Qumen, who are also preparing for their First Eucharist. Through questions, observations and comments they help the children and their parents learn more about the Sunday Celebration.

  • THE RITE OF MASS

This section contains all the prayers and responses of the Mass. It will help parents and children to participate more fully in the celebration of the Eucharist.

  • KIDSTUFF

The final section of THUMB contains nine activity sheets to be completed at home after each Sunday of the program.

  • GRAPEVINE NEWSLETTERS

There are eight Grapevine Newsletters which are distributed to the children (and their families) preparing for First Eucharist on the Thursday before the Do This In Memory Mass. This helps the kids in preparation for the weekend mass.

Together with THUMB; the Grapevine helps parents to engage more fully with the programme at home. It includes the text for the Gospel of the next Sunday of the programme, suggestions for family prayer and the creation of a Family Prayer Space.

Derry Youth Community - DYC

Derry Youth Community is a community of people between the ages of 18 and 25 that commit to bring the Gospel to the young people of the Long tower Parish.  They reach out to young people in our schools, parish events and weekend masses to facilitate faith-based activities and youth ministry.

Website: http://www.derryyouthcommunity.com/

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Eucharistic Ministers

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Family Care Society

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Family Care is the largest Specialist Adoption Agency in Northern Ireland, with offices in Belfast and in Derry. We have been working throughout Northern Ireland for over 30 years, placing children across the Province with new families.

We believe that every child has the right to family life: We are committed to helping children to achieve this through adoption, and are there to support adoptive families for as long as we are needed.

Website: http://familycaresociety.co.uk/

John Paul II Award

jpiiWho is the Award for?

It is designed for young people who are aged 16/17. The Award begins in lower sixth and finishes in upper sixth.

Requirements:

– Parish Involvement: 1 activity per week x 20 weeks

– Social Awareness: 1 activity per week x 20 weeks

– Complete a Final Summary/Attend the Living Youth Workshop

The JPII Award aims to support and celebrate the commitment and enthusiasm of young people who are already actively involved in their church and in their local communities and invite them to reflect on their involvement. It also encourages young people, who are not already involved, to become involved and to receive the benefits that come from living out their faith in a real and tangible way. The Award should indeed make them realise how important they are in their community and parish. It should bring hope and renewed life to those members of our faith community who may be feeling fearful about the future of our Church and finally it gives our clergy the opportunity to further develop their work with young people.

Many young people got involved in their parish by:

    • Reading at Mass
    • Joining their parish folk group
    • Becoming an altar server
    • Being part of the prayer service
    • Helping out at their parish’s Children’s Liturgy
    • Young people got further involved in their community by:
    • Raising money for charity e.g. children in crossfire
    • Attending charitable events/functions
    • Attending Lourdes.
    • Getting involved in school/community projects
    • Coaching, peer mentoring, buddying
    • Helping out at homework clubs.

If you are interested in participating in the John Paul II Award please contact Emmet Thompson, Youth Co-ordinator, on 7126 2894 or email emmet.thompson@derrydiocese.org

Knights of the Blessed Sacrament

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Legion Of Mary

legionThe Legion of Mary is a lay organisation within the Catholic Church which was founded in 1921 by a gentleman, Frank Duff.  Frank was originally a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society.  In the course of his work with the Society, among the poor and destitute in the slums of Dublin, he recognised the need for a spiritual organisation.  He saw that man has both a spiritual and physical hunger.  A small group of lay people met on 7th September 1921 and hence the Legion of Mary was born.  The Legion has spread from this small beginning to become a worldwide organisation which seeks to evangelise and uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The main aim of the Legion is the self-sanctification of its members and its spirituality is that of St Louise Marie de Monfort, firmly believing in the teaching ‘To Jesus through Mary’.

There are several branches within the Derry Diocese and we have two branches in the Long Tower Parish.  The works of the Legion are varied depending on the needs of the area and the wishes of the local bishop.

The main works carried out in the Long Tower Parish are as follows:

Home to Home Visitation – by this we endeavour to reach out to every member of the parish and thereby seek to bring Christ into every home.

Pilgrim Statue – this work seeks to encourage prayer for peace and family prayer within the home.  Some families have later shared with us their amazement at how their petitions have been answered.

Visitation of the Sick, Elderly and Lonely at Home and in Hospital – by this we hope to both give witness to and share in the caring love of Christ for each and every one of his children.

Primary Schools – each year we visit the leavers classes in our two Primary Schools and through this we hope to foster a devotion to Mary through the distribution of rosary beads and miraculous medals.

If you would like to join either of the two branches in the Long Tower please contact the Parish Office on 7126 2301.

Long Tower Finance Committee

Under Diocesan Statutes each parish must have a finance council in place. Our Parish Finance Council was first constituted in January 2006.

The current members of the comimittee are :
Mr Emmet Thompson (Chairperson), Fr Gerard Mongan, Mr Michael Carlin, Mrs Patricia Doherty, Mr Harry Lynch,  Mrs Oonagh Robinson & Ms Aileen McGinley (Secretary)

The Finance Council shall observe total confidentiality in all matters.

The Finance Council also ensures accountability on behalf of all parishioners.

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Long Tower Senior Folk Group

The Longtower Folk Group was established in 1980 by Richard and Rita Moore when they were just 18 years old.  Since then, the Folk Group has gone from strength to strength with many members being part of the group for 20 or more years.   Today, the group is made up of around 25 singers and musicians who sing at mass every Saturday night.

Over the 35 years, the folk group have recorded 2 albums, toured America twice and performed at a number of high profile events including performances for His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Derry, Bishop Desmond Tu Tu and Pope Francis in Rome.

Some notable musicians that the Folk Group have had the privilege of performing with have been the late Christy Hennesy and Charlie Landsborough.

The Folk Group sing at the Satruday evening Vigil Mass at 6.00pm.  If you would be interested in becoming a member please contact:  Richard Moore on 079 6737 3359.

Long Tower Senior Choir

Long Tower Senior Choir is under the direction of Mr Declan Carlin.  The mixed voice choir sing at the 12 noon Mass every Sunday.

Long Tower Pastoral Council

The Parish Pastoral Council is a faith-filled leadership group through which priests and people work together as co-responsible partners in furthering the mission of Christ in their own parish, through building up a vibrant Christian community, rooted in baptism and marked by its faith, worship and service.

In accordance with the Code of Canon Law (Canon 536), the council shall have a consultative voice.  In the Parish Pastoral Council, Christ’s faithful, together with those who by virtue of their office are engaged in pastoral care in the parish, give their help in fostering pastoral action. Through prayerful reflection and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the pastoral council will maintain an overview of the spiritual needs of the parish, plan strategically, and help to identify, implement and evaluate those pastoral initiatives and policies best suited to spreading and deepening the living of the Gospel in this local parish community.

‘We are pilgrims on a journey.
We are travellers on the road.
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.’   

The current members of the Parish Pastoral Council are:

Mr Emmet Thompson (Chairperson),  Fr Gerard Mongan, Mr Richard Moore, Ms Jennifer McGill, Ms Catherine Bowe, Mrs Kathleen Doherty, Mr Patrick O’Connor, Mr Thomas Brown.

Pioneer Association

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Spred

logoSpecial Religious Development is an organisation which aims to assist people in parish churches to integrate persons with a learning disability into parish life and worship through the process of education in faith.

Parishes offer a place where the SPRED group can meet that is conducive to the process of catechesis with volunteers from the parish taking responsibility for the religious development of its members with disabilities.

Website: http://www.spred.org.uk/

St Vincent De Paul

svp-logoThe Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) was founded in Ireland in 1844. It is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland.  During its history it has helped people in need through a Famine, a Civil War, a War of Independence, two World Wars and several economic recessions.

Our focus is on practical approach to dealing with poverty, alleviating its effects on individuals and families through working primarily in person-to-person contact by a unique system of family visitation and seeking to achieve social justice and equality of opportunity for all citizens.

In addition to providing direct assistance to those in need, caring for the homeless, providing social housing, operating holiday homes and other social support activities, the Society promotes community self-sufficiency, enabling people to help themselves. Any assistance offered by the Society is given in a non-judgemental spirit , based on the needs of the individual or family seeking help.

The Society respects the dignity of those who contact us, offering assistance and advice when sought, maintaining their dignity while assisting them towards long-term self-sufficiency in a relationship of friendship, trust and confidentiality.

Our Mission seeks to eliminate the causes of poverty.

Websites:

http://svp.org.uk/ and http://www.svp.ie/

Local Contact:

Joann Barr, Derry Area Administrator, Society of St. Vincent de Paul,

Ozanam House, 22 Bridge Street, Derry, BT48 6JZ

Email: svpderry@btconnect.com Telephone: (028) 71 265489

Youth Ministry

I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and share information about my role as Parish Youth Minister. My name is Emmet Thompson and I will serve as the Youth Ministry Coordinator for primary and post primary schools within the Parish of Long Tower. My role will consist of creating opportunities for youth to grow in faith, become connected to parish life, participate in service, and learn more about our Catholic Identity.  I will be encouraging many pupils within the schools to get involved in the Parish of Templemore.  If you would like to contact me please ring 7126 2301/7126 2894 or email emmet.thompson@derrydiocese.org.