First Sunday of Advent 28th November 2021
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 28th November 12Noon Patrick McAnee
Monday 29th November 10.00am Ray Martin
Monday 29th November 7.30pm Eamon Moore
Tuesday 30th November 10.00am Kathleen McCormick
Tuesday 30th November 7.30pm Nana & Jim Melly
Wednesday 1st December 10.00am Bridie Venn
Wednesday 1st December 7.30pm Patrick McDaid
Thursday 2nd December 7.30pm Elizabeth Crossan
Saturday 4th December 6.00pm Paddy McCallion
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of: Jean Donaghey- Bishop Street & Arthur Goode- Bishop Street
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Jodie Doherty, Ava O’Kane, Maison O’Kane & Maisie Quigley
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
Visitation of the Sick: Fr. Baker had hoped to visit the sick in his care before Christmas, however due to the current increase in COVID numbers in the area which recently directly affected the Parish Office it has been decided that this will be delayed and will be reviewed again in the New Year. We understand some of you will be disappointed by this, but feel as a Parish community we have to act responsibly and keep each other as safe as possible as we continue to live alongside the virus. Please be assured that urgent sick calls will continue to be attended. We thank you for your continued understanding and support. For urgent sick calls please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894
Christmas Mass Bouquets are now available from the Parish Office or the Sacristy, cost £2.00.
Long Tower Christmas Cards are now available from Parish Office or the Sacristy. Cost is £4.00 for a packet of 12 cards each containing 4 different images of the Long Tower Church.
Mass Guidance
We would like to remind everyone attending Mass & other Church Services that under current guidance there remains a legal requirement to wear a face covering on the way into a place of worship and on the way out. Despite this change in the legal position Bishop Donal McKeown has asked that we strongly continue to recommend & encourage the use of face coverings during all services of worship. We also kindly ask that you continue to observe social distancing & use the hand sanitiser on entering & leaving the Church and that you receive Holy Communion only in the hand. It is up to each of us individually and as a community to keep each other as safe as possible as we continue to live alongside the virus. We thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to gather together as a parish community.
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Nine Sundays before Christmas in Long Tower Church continues this Sunday 28th November at 6.00pm. The theme of our Novena this year is ‘The gifts of hope and joy in a time of darkness’. Each night will comprise of the Rosary, Novena prayer and petitions with a short talk given by various guest speakers and a ceremony of healing with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Our guest speaker this week is Martina Davidson. Martina is from the Tamnaherin. She is currently head of RE in St Cecilia’s College, Derry. We welcome her to the Long Tower as we continue our Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We encourage everybody, including those in particular need of healing in their lives to join us.
Derry Diocesan Trust Job Opportunities:-
Position– Junior Pastoral Ministry Co-ordinator (Youth), 20 hours per week (inc. evenings and weekends) with possibility of extension to 35 hours per week. 1 Year Fixed Term Contract with possibility of extension, Parish of Templemore: St Eugene’s & St Columba’s, Derry, Closing Date-02.12.2021.
Position- Housekeeper, 10 Hours per week, (possible extension to 12 hours per week), Long Tower Parochial House, 6 Victoria Place, Abercorn, Derry, BT48 6TJ, Closing Date- 02.12.2021
For a job description and application form please: Write: Personnel, Derry Diocesan Office, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP, Email: payroll@derrydiocese.org or Telephone: 028 7126 2302.
Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We welcome applications from all men and women and from members of all communities
The Diocese of Derry Privacy Notice: The Diocese of Derry complies with GDPR regulations. A privacy notice is available on the Parish website or by contacting the Parish Office. Live stream and recordings of Mass and Services in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower and are available online. Parishioners should note that the first 4 rows of seats are visible online in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
Safeguarding Notice: If you have any concerns with regard to the Safeguarding of children or adults in need of protection within the Church please contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) at 07596500793/07707311358 or at the Safeguarding Office, Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, BT48 6UJ or PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) 101 or Social Services: Gateway Services, Western HSC Trust, 71314090 and ask for the Duty Social Worker.
“How Fit Is Your Soul?” Programme: The How Fit Is Your Soul Programme is an online programme from St Eugene’s Cathedral taking place during Advent. This is for anyone who is interested in reflecting on and developing their prayer life, whether you would like to start praying, pray more or experience new ways to pray. For more information please email emmett.mullan@btinternet.com or phone St Eugene’s Parish office on 028 71262 894.
SVP – Christmas Appeal 2021: If you are looking for help we are here to help you in whatever way we can. Please ring us on 028 71265489 or online https://svp.ie/get-help/request-help-online.aspx Christmas time is the busiest time for the SVP giving out lots of toys and food parcels kindly donated by the public. However this Christmas is going to be different with COVID-19 and government restrictions. The safety of the public and our members is paramount. Therefore we are asking the public that instead of buying a physical toy or items of food that they buy a voucher or make a donation for the amount they were going to spend. The Annual Church Collection will take place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th December 2021. Derry Area also have a fundraising page for donations on our SVP website; Current fundraisers – St Vincent De Paul (svp.ie)
The Net – November 2021:Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese, the November edition of ‘The Net’ is now available on the Diocesan website – https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/the-net-november-2021 For coverage of faith stories just email editorthenet15@gmail.com.
Children in Crossfire have launched our 2021 Christmas gift cards. This year’s cards focus on our work to both prevent and treat malnutrition in Ethiopia. By purchasing from our range of Christmas gift cards, which feature the pharmacy and well, you make it possible for us to continue this life-saving work. We believe this is a beautiful gift to share with your loved ones this Christmas. It’s so simple to get our beautifully designed A6 gift cards. They can be purchased via: Our online shop, Veritas stores in Derry/Londonderry, Newry and Letterkenny, or Contact Aishling on 028 71269898 (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm) or email aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org.
THE MYSTERY UNFOLDS: Advent Oasis mornings offered by Thornhill Ministries (Saturdays 27 Nov & 11 Dec: 11:00 am – 12:00 noon). Led by Fr Paschal, each gentle hour helps us touch into the mystery of life and God-with-Us. To register and for zoom link contact 07736832458 email thornhillministries@derrydiocese.org
SERVICE OF LIGHT: The ‘North West Bereaved by Suicide’ Support Group is holding its annual Service of Light, on Sunday 5 December, at 5.30 pm, in the Foyle Search & Rescue HQ, Prehen, Derry. All are welcome to attend.
NOVENA TO THE DIVINE CHILD (“and the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us” John 1:4): The Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry, is hosting this Novena, 8 – 16 December. The Novena Mass and prayers will be at 7:30pm each evening. This will be live-streamed via Facebook each evening. Novena prayer leaflets containing the public prayers after Mass and the private prayers to be said at home are available on the Termonbacca Facebook page or by emailing termonbaccaderry@gmail.com or, for those living close, by simply calling up to Termonbacca and collecting them.
9 Day Rosary Novena for Ireland We are inviting you to join in a 9 Day Rosary Novena beginning Tuesday 30th November and ending on Wednesday 8th December. People all over Ireland will pray the Rosary together each evening at 9pm. On the final evening at 9pm on Radio Maria the Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin will lead the final Rosary live. If you are gathering to pray in groups we encourage you to gather safely adhering to local Covid 19 regulations.
PRIORY INSTITUTE Online ‘Theology’ Open Evening: The Priory Institute invites you to attend a short introductory lecture on theology to find out if studying theology with them is right for you. This Open Evening takes place on Thursday 2 December, at 7.00pm. Question and Answer time available. For further information, or to register, visit : https://prioryinstitute.com/events/priory-institute-open-evening / Email: enquiries@prioryinstitute.com / telephone 003531 4048124. The Priory Institute provides online Theology courses to degree level. Attend Saturday lectures from the comfort of your own home.
Lectio Divina reflections on the Advent and Christmas Gospels: The Priory Institute is delighted to offer a Free of Charge online retreat (which is a repeat of the popular Advent Retreat ran in 2018). Visit website prioryinstitute.com or click on this link https://bit.ly/3DWrTkx to register/find out more.
Mary’s Meals- Double the Love Thanks to your support, Mary’s Meals are now bringing joy to over 2 million children with a daily meal in their place of education. Our Double the Love campaign runs until 31st January 2022, all donations up to a total of £1.6 million will be matched by a generous group of private donors. Every little act of love will go that little bit further during this period to help us reach the next child waiting, so please consider supporting this campaign and praying for its success. There are many ways to get involved including choosing one of our Mary’s Meals gift cards or setting a place at our Big Family Christmas table- find out more at www.marysmeals.org.uk
Lough Derg online shop offers unique Christmas Cards, featuring scenes of the Island from across the centuries and bespoke Gifts including a limited edition Lough Derg Christmas Candle. Christmas Mass Bouquet Cards are also available – Fr La, Prior, will offer a triduum of Masses beginning on Christmas Eve for all those who are enrolled. Visit www.loughderg.live/shop Telephone 0(0353) 71 9861518 Delivery nationwide and Click & Collect Service available.
Anam Cara Donegal, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding it’s monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 9th December at 7:20pm in the Raddison Blu, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether their death was recent or not. *Subject to change in accordance with government advise*
MEDJUGORJE IRISH CENTRE PILGRIMAGES APRIL – OCT 2022:7 Nights Apartment B&B and return Airport transfer from Dubrovnik or Split from €315 per person sharing. Guaranteed Airport transfer price for any flight. Contact us for details and book the dates that suit you. Tel. 00353 1443 4510 or email reservations@med-irishcentre.com
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help: call us on 028 7135 1329.
Foyle Foodbank, Springtown, Industrial Estate, is open from 11am until 4pm Monday to Friday to help those in food crisis. Telephone 71263699.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops 2022: January 25th/26th 2022, February 8th/9th 2022, February 22nd/23rd 2022, March 8th/9th 2022, March 22nd/ 23rd 2022, April 5th/6th 2022. All of the above courses are Virtual Interactive Courses. They are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm. Booking online www.accordni.com. Due to demand an extra course is being facilitated on November 23rd/24th 2021.
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.
