Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time 13th July 2025
Contact
In a world consumed by individualism, many of us have lost contact and silently await that knock on the door or ping on our phone. Longing for a visit, a message, or any sign that we matter and are valued, we become reflections of the man left half-dead by the roadside. Today, people, preoccupied and afraid they will have to ‘commit’, often choose to pass us by. Yet sometimes the greatest distance is the one we create ourselves, to protect our aching hearts from the pain of being isolated. Still, Jesus calls us to draw near and care for one another, as the Samaritan did. For the Samaritan did not stop to weigh the circumstances of the man lying on the street; he made contact and cared for him with a heart full of compassion. By Teresa McDaid, Reference: Luke 10:25-37
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 13th July 10.00am Myra Bonner
Sunday 13th July 12Noon Susie Meador
Monday 14th July 10.00am Bobby McConomy
Monday 14th July 7.30pm Jim & Lettie Deehan
Tuesday 15th July 7.30pm Kathleen Gallagher
Wednesday 16th July 7.30pm William Gallagher
Thursday 17th July 7.30pm Ann McAnee
Friday 18th July 7.30pm Alec Curran
Saturday 19th July 6.00pm Peter & Bridie Cavanagh
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Jeremy Cassidy- Formerly Glenowen Park, Patricia Deehan- St John’s Park & Raymond Ryan- William Street
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Orla Doherty, Maddison Meehan, Max Deery & Olivia Deery
To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours or email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
August 2025– 9th, 16th & 23rd
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2196.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £755.00
The Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by phone on 028-71262301 (during office hours) or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org. The Parish office will be closed on Monday 14th July and re-open on Tuesday 15th May at 9am.
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.
Fr. Gerard will visit the sick in his care in the following areas, the week beginning Monday 14th July;
Mountjoy Street, Long Tower Court, Abercorn Road, Bishop Street, Corporation Street, Belview Avenue, Maureen Avenue, Ivy Terrace, Foyle Road, Foyle Park,
Ardfoyle, Lower Bennett St, Jack Allen Court, The Metropole, Bridge Street & Alexander House.
Fr. Stephen will visit the sick in his care in the following areas beginning Wednesday 16th July;
Meenan Drive, Dove Gardens, Lecky Road, Deanery Street, Bluebell Hill Gardens, Kerrigan’s Close, Quarry Street, Drumcliffe Avenue,
Lone Moor Road, Nualamount, Old City Court, Old City Close & Mullenan Road.
Please note – Home visits to the sick will resume again in September. Thank you.
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: We pray for our seminarians and the men who are considering a vocation to the diocesan priesthood, that they will be the Good Samaritans of our time – compassionate, taking pity on the weak, comforting the afflicted, soothing the wounds of those who are hurting and giving without counting the cost.
Trocaire Thanks: Thank you to all the people of St Columba’s Parish, Long Tower, for your kind gift of £9028.98 stg & €190.00 Euros to Trocaire this Lent, to help keep climate injustice from trapping families in poverty. Together against the storm, together for a just world, thank you for the kindness you’ve shown this Lent. This work for a better tomorrow could not happen without you.
Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop in Aras Cholmcille: New stock recently arrived. We stock a variety of gifts & cards, candles, rosary beads, books, occasion cards and many other gifts & mementos. The shop is open after 10am morning Mass. For enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty via (parish office 028-71262301 or Sacristy 028-71261946) who will be happy to help.
‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille 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 9am to 3pm. ‘Meet & Bite’ is housed in Cloisters Café on a Tuesday between 4pm-6pm and is available to those in need at no cost. We aim to provide a listening ear, as well as a warm meal and some goodies to take away where we can. For more info, view Cloisters social media Meet & Bite.
An Audio-Visual tour of the Long Tower Church is available. The guide which is narrated by Bishop Donal McKeown, offers a great insight into the history and sacredness of our beautiful Church. If you’re hosting visitors or you simply want to deepen your own appreciation, why not try the audio guide, priced at just £2.00. For further details, call into Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of The Long Tower Church or email darinaghboyle15@gmail.com.
“From St Columba to Sister Clare”- Evening of Prayer. We invite you to gather with us in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower on 1st Thursday of each month, beginning on Thursday 4th September at 7.30pm for Mass followed by Mini Vigil to Midnight for healing and intercession. At this Mass we will pray for the cause of Sister Clare in the Monastic site where St. Columba knelt and prayed. Everyone welcome.
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 Ms Josephine Brown and Ms Jennifer Kearney. 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: N Ireland PSNI: 101 or Social Services WHSCT Tel +442871314090 (Ask for Duty Social Worker).
Wednesday 16th July- Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; ‘Oh, Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven. Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity, (mention your request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands,’ (3 times). Amen.
Diocese of Derry: 3-Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg; Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July. For those wishing to avail of transport, a bus will depart after 10am Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral, on the Friday; it will travel via Lifford and Ballybofey. Cost: £95/€110 (including transport). Pre-booking is required. Please contact Tony Brennan on tony.brennan@derrydiocese.org or phone the diocesan office on (+44) 028 7126 2302 for a booking form. We look forward to welcoming you.
The annual Pioneer pilgrimage to Knock Shrine will take place on Sunday 20th July. Prayers will be offered at Our Lady’s Shrine for all who work in alcohol and drug treatment centres around Ireland. Contact Fr Robert McCabe via prayer@pioneers.ie for further details.
St Vincent De Paul Notice: The SVP Office will close for summer holidays on Friday 11 July @ 1pm, reopening on Monday 28th July. Please note all volunteers will be on holidays during this time.
Accord Derry-Marriage Preparation Courses: September – November 2025: September 26th/27th , October 17th/18th & November 7th/ 8th. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note all courses are in person and NOT virtual.
Mary’s Meals Walk: ‘Two Bridges Walk’ on Sunday 3 August, over the Foyle Bridge and Peace Bridge. We will meet in Sainsbury’s car park at 11.45am to begin the walk at noon. The distance is approximately 5 miles. The walk is part of a series of walks taking place across Ireland in early August to raise awareness of Mary’s Meals and the work they do. You can register for the walk at https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/step . If you have any questions please contact Helen Quinn, telephone 07814441701.
The next ‘Rosary on the Coast’ will be Sunday 20th July at 3pm on Benone Strand, Magilligan. Everyone welcome
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
