Easter Sunday 12th April 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 family and loved ones in our prayers.
Monday 13th April 7.30pm Margaret McKeever
Thursday 16th April 7.30pm Peggy McCallion
Saturday 18th April 6.00pm John Lynch
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of William (LIam) Nelis- Shantallow Avenue & John Brown – Maureen Avenue
Easter Message
Dear friends in our Long Tower Community, we are living in a strange and extraordinary time as we cope with the Covid19 virus. We miss the sense of belonging to our faith community, the local Body of Christ, every day and of course it is hard to imagine celebrating Easter in the isolation of our homes this year. Do your best to share prayer together in your home and, if you can, join us on the Webcam for our Services for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On Easter Day as we celebrate the Resurrection, Mass will be offered for your wellbeing in this challenging time. May the peace of the risen Christ strengthen you and sustain you into the future.
Yours in Christ
Father Aidan
The One Jesus Loved
Down through the centuries people have debated the identity of ‘the one Jesus loved’ – spoken throughout John’s gospel six times, including today. Scholars have written numerous books and articles in their attempts to reveal who they believe this person was, with some suggesting it may even have been John himself – wishing to remain anonymous in his writing. It seems we have conditioned ourselves to believe only what we can see and fail to understand the truth that lies behind the linen coverings of the divine kingdom – our unknown reality. It feels, the unknown is wishing to reveal itself in the darkness of our world today, asking us to identify as the One – who is loved. As we arise, may we come together as one universal family and feel the love that Jesus is sharing with us as He seals the bond of love written on our hearts – we are the One. Reference and further reading: John 20:1-9
In Memory Programme
The ‘Do This In Memory’ Mass for those children who are celebrating their First Communion this year will be postponed until further notice as a result of guidelines issued with regards to the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
The Communion Rite: The Lord’s Prayer The communion rite is when the priest invites us to stand to pray the our father together. This prayer is also called the Lord’s Prayer because Jesus taught it to his friends when they asked him to teach them to pray like he did. Jesus called God “Father”, and so do we because we are God’s children and part of God’s family. The prayer tells us about how great God is, promise us that God will always as look after us as a parent looks after their children and helps us to see how God would like us to be with each other.
Divine Mercy Novena starts on Good Friday and finishes on Divine Mercy Sunday 19th April.
Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by Phone on 028-71262301 or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
There will be NO Weddings or Baptisms until further notice in line with new government regulations. We thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.
Visitation of the Sick: Due to the Coronavirus visitation of the sick and housebound within our parish will be postponed until further notice. For urgent sick calls please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.
Schedule of Masses & Other Devotions
(Week Beginning 13th April)
Monday-Friday
10am – Mass on Webcam (without congregation)
3.00pm – Divine Mercy Devotions on Webcam
5.00pm- Rosary on Webcam
7.30pm- Mass on Webcam (without congregation)
Saturday
10am – Mass on Webcam (without congregation)
11.30am – 12.30pm – Confessions in Sacristy
3.00pm – Divine Mercy Devotions on Webcam
5.00pm- Rosary on Webcam
6.00pm- Vigil Mass on Webcam (without congregation)
Sunday
8.00am- Mass on Webcam (without congregation)
10.00am – Mass on Webcam (without congregation)
12Noon- Mass on Webcam (without congregation)
3.00pm – Divine Mercy Devotions on Webcam
5.00pm- Rosary on Webcam
All our Church Services can be viewed online via www.mcnmedia.tv or by logging on to our church website https://longtowerchurch.org/ and following the link to webcam. We would ask that parishioners assist one another where possible to access these resources.
All live broadcasts of Mass and prayer services from St Eugene’s Cathedral can be viewed directly at either of these two links:
https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st-eugenes-cathedral-derry
https://www.churchservices.tv/derrysteugenes
Holy Week Ceremonies on RTE 1 Television
Palm Sunday – Mass 11.00am
Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper 4.40pm
Good Friday – Solemn Liturgy for Good Friday 3.00pm
Holy Saturday – Easter Vigil Mass 10.00pm
Easter Sunday – Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection 10.00am
URBI ET ORBI – Pope Francis’ Easter Message at 11.00am.
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.
Vatican Television: During these days, Pope Francis has arranged for his celebration of Mass to be televised from the Vatican. The broadcast is simultaneously translated into the English language. For access please link to https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html
The Net. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the April edition of The Net will only be available on the Diocesan website at this stage, but the publication will be available in parishes again after the restrictions are lifted. For inclusion of your faith news in future editions just email: editorthenet15@gmail.com or ring/text 07809292852
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2020: After consultation with the tour operator, and having reviewed the present situation in Lourdes and the continuing closure of the Sanctuary, the Diocesan Pilgrimage administration team has decided that the Derry Pilgrimage scheduled to travel at the start of July will not take place. Please God, it can be rescheduled for summer 2021. Any deposits or payments made already will either be refunded or may be used as deposits in whole or part for 2021 in accordance with the wishes of the individual pilgrims. This may take some time as the pilgrimage office is currently closed in accordance with Diocesan directives. All youth deposits will be refunded, as rescheduling does not appear to be an option for the youth scheduled to travel at the moment. We very much regret the necessity of this very unusual step but believe we have reached a stage where no other course of action is possible. Hoping that all our past and aspiring pilgrims, their families and friends stay safe and well at this difficult time and entrusting you to the care of Our Lady of Lourdes, Charles Glenn, Pilgrimage Director.
