Easter Sunday      20^th April 2025

Do not be afraid; He has risen from the dead”

These are the sacred words that the Angel of Light declared to the women at the sepulchre where Jesus had been buried three days before. He had defied death’s power and all human means to hold him in the tomb with the ‘great stone’ sealed with mortar. As Saint Paul remarks, Jesus was beyond human flesh, his former self destroyed and glorified by his Father, never to die again, “his life now with God”. Insightfully, he also reveals how we are connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus through our baptism, which helps reassure and soothe any fears we have of dying. Because in baptism, “we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death” so that we would be given a second chance to live a new life through his resurrection. In other words, a lifetime of wrong thoughts, words and actions will be crucified and wiped out to allow us to rise and unite with His glorified body. Therefore, do not be afraid, for Jesus is waiting to greet us all on our return to ‘Galilee’. Matthew 28:1-10, St Paul to the Romans 6:3-11

 

Fr. Gerard, Fr. Stephen, Fr. John & Fr. Peter would like to wish everyone a very Happy & Holy Easter Season.

 

Sincere thanks to everyone who has helped and to all who have participated in any way with the Easter Ceremonies, it is very much appreciated.

 

 

 

 

EASTER WEEK

 

Mass Times: Morning Mass at 10.00am, Monday 21^st to Friday 25^th April.

 Please note there will be NO Evening Mass from Monday 21^st to Friday 25^th April (inclusive). Normal Masses resume on Saturday 26^th April.

 

Confessions: Confessions will resume on Saturday 26^th April at 5pm.

 

Adoration: There will be NO Adoration on Wednesday 23^rd April.

 

Support Trocaire This Lent: Please return your donations as soon as possible

 

 

 

 

 

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 20^th April 12Noon            Brian Lyttle

Wednesday 23^rd April 10.00am    Paul Smith

Saturday 26^th April 6.00pm          Betty, Matt, Ka & Martin Thornton

Sunday 27^th April 12Noon           Esther Nicholl

Monday 28^th April 7.30pm           Michael McKee

Tuesday 29^th April 7.30pm          John Hegarty

Wednesday 30^th April 7.30pm    Seamus & Kathleen Page & Rose Harkin

Thursday 1^st May 7.30pm          Casey Campbell

Saturday 3^rd May 6.00pm          Barbara Wade

                                                  

Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Michael Young- Abbotts Walk, Margaret Stewart-Dunfield, Angela McLaughlin- Deanery Street & Brendan McDaid- Abbotts Walk.

 

 

Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Faolán Power, Noah Kirkwood & Edith McParland. To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours.

 Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.

June 2025– 14^th & 28^th   

 

 

 

LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO              £3332.00

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO          £835.00

 

 

 

The Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by phone on 028-71262301 (during office hours) or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org.

 

 

 

Visitation of the Sick at Home & in Hospital. For urgent sick calls to those at home please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894. For urgent sick calls for those in hospital, please ask the duty nurse on the ward to call the Hospital Chaplain. Thank you.

 

 

The Parish Office will be closed for Easter week & re-open Monday 28^th April at 9am. Please note there will be no parish bulletin on Sunday 27^th April.

 

 

 

Adoration Chapel in Pump Street will be closed from 12Noon on Holy Thursday.  The Adoration Chapel will re-open on Monday 28^th April at 11.00am.

 

 

 

Fr. Gerard kindly acknowledges with thanks two recent donations, one towards Sr Clare retreat expenses and the other to Long Tower Church renovation fund.

 

 

 

Children’s Liturgy: There will be NO Children’s Liturgy next Sunday 27^th April. The Children’s Liturgy will resume on Sunday 4^th May at 12Noon Mass.

 

 

 

Monthly Mass for Mental Health & Mini Vigil to Midnight – We invite you to our 7.30pm Mass on Thursday 1^st May. At this Mass we give thanks to God for positive mental health, and to pray for those who are struggling with mental health issues, and to pray for those who care for them.  After Mass, Adoration will follow until midnight.

 

 

 

Divine Mercy Novena starts on Good Friday and finishes on Divine Mercy Sunday 27^th April. There will be Divine Mercy Devotions in St Mary’s Church, Creggan, led by Bishop Donal McKeown on Sunday 27^th April at 3pm, preceded by Confessions from 1.30pm – 2.30pm, as part of the Jubilee Year Celebrations. The Priests of the Long Tower will be assisting in Creggan this year for Divine Mercy Sunday.

 

 

 

St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, Annual Parish Draw: Tickets will be available from parish office from Monday 28^th April, price £5/per ticket. The draw will take place 9^th June, St Columba’s Feast Day. 1^st prize £2500, 2^nd prize £1000, 3^rd prize £500, 4^th prize £300, 5^th prize £200. Promoters prize of £100. We would ask that anyone interested in becoming a promoter or wishing to purchase tickets to please contact the parish office on 02871-262301 Monday to Friday 9am – 2.30pm or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org. Thank you for your support.

 

 

 

‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille (Wee Nuns building) in the grounds of Long Tower Church, a cosy place to relax and have a bite to eat or a cuppa and a cake! The café is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Spread the word!

 

 

 

Youth of Acutis Group: On Saturday, 26^th April at 8:15pm, in St Eugene’s Cathedral Hall, Derry, the Youth of Acutis which is under Carlo Acutis’ patronage, are hosting a talk from Dominican Friar Conor McDonough OP on what we can learn from the life and works of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Buns and refreshments shall be provided.  Admission Free. On Sunday, April 27th at 3:30pm, the day of Carlo’s Canonisation, the Adoration room at Carnhill is to be dedicated to Carlo Acutis.

 

 

 

Long Tower Parish are organising a ‘Columban Camino’ in Derry and Donegal between 5th – 7th June. Participants will walk from Derry to Buncrana, from Rathmullan to Milford and from there on to Gartan, overnight stay’s will be in the Inishowen Gateway and Mulroy Woods. All sponsorship raised will go to Children in Crossfire. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org or call Aishling on 028 7127 8955.

 

 

 

 

St Eugene’s Cathedral Scholars: Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Choral Scholars Scheme. The scheme is open to all full time students over the age of 16. The choral scholars sing with the cathedral choir weekly as well as other special events as instructed by the director of music. They will receive instruction in a wide range of choral music and they receive a stipend for their participation. Entrance is by application only. For an application form contact the director of music at maghnusmonaghan@hotmail.com. Deadline for applications is 12^th May.

 

 

 

Sing for Joy!’ – A Reflective Day of Music and Ministry. Saturday 26th April in the prayerful setting of Lough Derg, this day will provide space for the power of music to nourish our spirit and allow us to give praise to God through the beauty of sound, song and silence. The day will conclude with the Celebration of the Eucharist at 3:30pm. This day is open to young people aged 18-35 and is free to attend. Boat departs at 9:30am. Registration is essential via https://bit.ly/SingforJoy or contact info@knightsofstcolumbanusomagh.co.uk, Tel:+447759496677.

 

 

 

The next Rosary on the Coast will be Easter Sunday 20^th April at 3pm on Benone Strand, Magilligan. Everyone welcome.