First Sunday of Lent 26th February 2023
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 26th February 12.00Noon James Lingenfelter
Monday 27th February 10.00am John McLaughlin
Monday 27th February 7.30pm Beau O’Donnell
Tuesday 28th February 7.30pm Bridget Hume
Wednesday 1st March 7.30pm Damien McCafferty
Thursday 2nd March 10.00am Jeannie McConomy
Thursday 2nd March 7.30pm Monica McGowan
Friday 3rd March 10.00am Marty & Patsy McCallion
Friday 3rd March 7.30pm RMA Mass
Saturday 4th March 6.00pm Leo Gallagher
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Jude Malone, Olivia Simpson, & Niamh McKee. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office for dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2260.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £677.00
Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by Phone on 028-71262301 or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Visitation of the Sick. For urgent sick calls please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.
‘GOD CLUB’ – Teenagers exploring their faith…Arás Colmcille (beside Long Tower church), Saturday mornings, 10.30am. All teenagers welcome!
‘Casting a Long Shadow’ is a book charting the People’s History of the Long Tower Church. On sale in Aras Cholmcille or from Long Tower Parish Office. Cost £20.00.
Diocesan Vocations: Anyone interested in serving the Church as a priest of the diocese of Derry should contact the diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat O’Hagan PP Bellaghy and Greenlough, at (028) 7938 6259 or at pgoh2111@gmail.com
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 25th June 2023 at 3.00 pm.
A Day Retreat for Church workers will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre Termonbacca on Thursday 9th March from 10am – 3pm. It is open to all church workers i.e.., Sacristans, Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Church Cleaners Collectors/Counters or any laity who have any type of ministry in Church. If you are interested in attending please contact the Parish Office on 028-71262301 by Friday 3rd March 2023.
Lenten Preparation
In preparation for his mission to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist and later led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. As Jesus fasted, the devil tested him with various challenges to deny He was the Son of God and to worship him. Despite being exhausted and in a vulnerable condition, Jesus drew upon the strength of his Father to stand firm and renounce the devil’s empty promises. In short, Jesus chose the unquestionable word of the one true God that feeds beyond human bodily needs: in other words, the food of love and truth. Indeed, he also chose the protection of the angels who are given orders to “carry you in their hands in case you trip”. While the world has undergone many changes since the time of Jesus, the human condition continues to seek what Jesus sought in the isolation of the barren desert. We remain tempted and challenged when we don’t eat the ‘right food’ and give in to the empty promises of material ‘things’ to feed our desires, denying our true inner joy. As we prepare to readjust our lives and reconcile any past mistakes over Lent, keep remembering that we carry the spiritual mark of baptism, an eternal bond which unites us with our real home in the body of Christ. And see, too, the angels looking after us, as they come in many forms. Matthew 4:1-11.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continues this Thursday 2nd March, in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower from after the 7.30pm Mass until 12 Midnight
According to the Book of Lismore, a medieval manuscript, “Columbkille used, moreover, to go to Heaven every Thursday while he was alive”. Fr Willie Doherty translated this ‘quaint extract’ to mean that on Thursdays, St Columba was ‘more than usually fervent in his visits to the Blessed Sacrament’. During this time, we will gather with St Columba and all our ancestors who knelt and prayed where he knelt and prayed for all our families, particularly the sick, those suffering from mental health and living with addictions, for healing in our city and in reparation. All welcome to come and pray throughout the evening.
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 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).
The Franciscian Friars of the Renewal will hold a Healing Night on Friday night 3rd March, 31st March and 12th May at 7.00pm in St Joesph’s Church, Galliagh, Derry.
Children in Crossfire want to extend their sincere thanks to all of you who supported their recent Advent Appeal. St Columba’s, Longtower Parish together raised an amazing £3,227.96. These funds will be used to help provide safe, clean water for 6 rural communities in Wolisso, Ethiopia. Clean water in a village makes a transformative difference to its residents; children no longer will have to walk long distances to collect dirty water for their families, meaning they will be able to attend school and thrive. This is only made possible with your support, so again thank you.
Diocesan Pioneer Council; Masses will be offered in the following churches in each of the four deaneries, during the Lenten season. They will highlight the virtue of Temperance, focusing on the Pioneer promises of moderation in all things, particularly in the use of alcohol. St. Mary’s Church, Creggan, Tuesday 28th February at 7.30pm, St. John the Baptist Church, Swatragh, Saturday 11th March at 12.00 noon, Church of the Sacred Heart, Carndonagh, Tuesday 14th March at 7.00pm, Church of the Sacred Heart, Omagh, Monday 20th March at 7.30pm. All, especially Pioneers, are invited to attend these Masses.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes; 3rd – 7th July 2023: The Pilgrimage office at 164 Bishop Street, Derry will be open to the public on Saturdays’ only from 11.00am until 1.00pm commencing on Saturday 11th February. Intending pilgrims can also leave a message on 028 7126 0293 with their full postal address and the number of booking forms required, or email this information to derrypilgrim@outlook.com or write to us at the above address. We very much regret that once more we are not in a position to provide medical, nursing and personal care as was customary in the past. It is our earnest hope and prayer that we will be able to restore these services in 2024.
Accord NI Catholic Marriage Care Service is recruiting Marriage Education Facilitators to provide Sacramental Marriage Preparation for couples in your Diocese. We are seeking individuals who are good communicators and have an enthusiasm for supporting couples as they prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage and future family life. This is an opportunity to formally train within a supportive, nurturing and inspiring community. In 2022, our teams helped 2,140 couples to develop good communication skills, manage conflict and understand the responsibility and significance of the Sacrament of Marriage. For further details please contact Brenda at 028 9023 3002 or email info@accordni.com
Anam Cara Donegal, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 9th March at 7:15pm in the Raddison Blu Hotel, 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. We also offer an online service. For more info call 01 4045378.
Lough Derg are recruiting a range of roles for extra staff during their Pilgrimage and Retreat Season in 2023. The Application Pack is available on www.loughderg.org/jobs or please email: hr@loughderg.org – Phone: +353 (0)7198 61518. Closing Date Friday March 3rd at 3 pm.
Trócaire Earthquake Appeal- Tea Dance in An Grianan Hotel, Burt, Co.Donegal on Sunday 19th March from 8-10pm, Admission €10.00. Everyone Welcome.
Rally for Life – Saturday 11th March 2023 gathering in Custom House Square, Belfast, at 2pm. Buses leaving from various locations. For further information contact Precious Life on 07592280522 /02890278484 or email: info @preciouslife.com.
*Culmore Prish: Developing a Parish Vision: Like very many parishes within the Irish church, Culmore parish is taking time to reflect on how to best move forward as a faith community in a Church and a society that is rapidly changing. The more visible changes recently in Culmore parish are the losses of both a resident priest in the parish, and the chapel at Thornhill. Such changes call for a new visioning around what it means to be a parish community today and discuss ways in which such visioning can become a reality. In light of all of this therefore, all those who live in Culmore parish, or who look to it as their home parish, are invited to a series of four sessions throughout March in order to begin a process of exploring how the parish can journey forward together in a creative and faith-filled way. Where? Hollybush Primary School, When? Four Wednesdays of March – 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, 7:30-9:00pm, What? Input, discussion, and prayerful reflection, Why? Changes in Culmore Parish and Bishop Dónal’s Diocesan plan calls for new visioning and planning in, and by, the parish community.
SMA Dromantine, Newry: Lenten Reflection Day, Saturday 4th March 9.30am – 5.00pm, Kindfulness… A gifted way of living my life. an opportunity for time aside to reflect on the season of Lent and to open our minds and hearts afresh to celebrate Holy Week and Easter, led by Fr. Damian Bresnahan SMA, cost (including lunch) £35/€40. Dance of Life Retreat: Friday 17th March (5.00pm) – Sunday 19th (2.00pm). In this retreat the opportunity to dance may bring a renewed awareness. In your sense of self, connection with others and connection with God, led by Sr. Mary Taylor, Ola and Fr. Damian Bresnahan SMA, cost £220/€250. Tel; 02830821964, Email: Admin@dromantinecomference.com
March sees the beginning of the Foyle Hospice Make a Will Month campaign. During the month local solicitors have very kindly agreed to waive their Will Writing Fee in replace of a donation to Foyle Hospice. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to have their Will written by a professional. Participating solicitors can be found by visiting the Foyle Hospice website or calling Kathleen at the Foyle Hospice on 02871 359888.
Mary’s Meals – Syria Earthquake Appeal:- We invite you to join us in prayer for those affected by the two devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and for the success of emergency response efforts. Mary’s Meals have now launched an emergency appeal to provide urgent support for children and vulnerable adults in and around Aleppo who are in desperate need. To find out more or donate, please visit www.marysmeals.org.uk or call us for free on 0800 6981212.
St Angela’s College, Sligo, is inviting applications for the following programme beginning Autumn 2023- Part-Time Certificate in Religious Education (Primary) with online delivery. The programme is open to: qualified primary school teachers; qualified post-primary school teachers who wish to transfer to primary school teaching. Parents, sacramental preparation teams and parish catechists who have a specific interest in the area of primary religious education may also apply. Closing date is Monday, 12th June 2023. This date may be extended. For further information contact Mary Kearns, Senior Administrator, email mkearns@stangelas.ie or visit Website: www.stangelas.ie
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
