First Sunday of Lent 22nd February 2026
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 22nd February 10.00am Fred & Agnes Box & Sharon Wallace
Sunday 22nd February 12Noon Roisin McGowan
Monday 23rd February 7.30pm Kathleen Murray & Elizabeth Page
Tuesday 24th February 7.30pm Claire McDaid
Wednesday 25th February 7.30pm Kathleen Callaghan
Thursday 26th February 7.30pm Margaret Gallagher
Friday 27th February 7.30pm Rita McGurk
Saturday 28th February 6.00pm Bridget Duffy
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Harry Gallagher- Castleview Park, Eamon Hutton- Coshowen & Marjie McSherry- Foyle Road
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
The next available Baptism dates are 25th April, 2nd, 9th & 30th May
13th & 27th June & 11th & 25th July 2026
To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours or 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 02871262301. For urgent sick calls for those in hospital, please ask duty nurse on the ward to call hospital chaplain. Thank you.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2821.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £730.00
The Parish Office: Please contact the parish office during office hours to arrange all Anniversary and Months Mind Masses, as well as to book Baptisms & Weddings. Please call the parish office by 12Noon on Thursdays with names for weekend Anniversary list. The Parish Office is open Monday- Friday from 9am to 2.30pm, Tel: 028-71262301 or via email at longtower@derrydiocese.org. For urgent sick calls, please use the office telephone number at all times.
Padre Pio Mass for Healing in Mind & Body continues this Monday 23rd February at 7.30pm.
Through the gift of this Mass we will unite in prayer with all who are ill, unwell, feeling isolated and struggling with the pressures of life. We pray to be surrounded by the light and warmth of God’s love to heal us at this time. We hope at the end of each Mass to give a Blessing using a 1st class relic of Padre Pio. The Mass will be streamed via our parish website: www.longtowerchurch.org.Everyone is welcome to attend.
A Night Not To Be Missed-Sr Clare Gospel Night. A Night of Praise. Sunday 1st March in Long Tower Church: 6.30pm to 8pm. Over 20 of Derry’s most talented singers and musicians are all coming together to give us a night of beautiful music. Donations will be taken on the night for the children in Ecuador that Sr Clare loved and taught. Thank you all for your continued support. Everyone Welcome.
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2026
Dear friends, let us ask for the grace of a Lent that leads us to greater attentiveness to God and to the least among us. Let us ask for the strength that comes from the type of fasting that also extends to our use of language, so that hurtful words may diminish and give way to a greater space for the voice of others. Let us strive to make our communities places where the cry of those who suffer finds welcome, and listening opens paths towards liberation, making us ready and eager to contribute to building a civilization of love. I impart my heartfelt blessing upon all of you and your Lenten journey. From the Vatican, 5 February 2026, Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. LEO PP. XIV
There will be a 7.00am Mass in Long Tower Church, Monday, Wednesday & Friday’s during the season of Lent, ending on Wednesday 1st April, Holy Week.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Lent: Wednesday’s 10.30am-7.00pm and Thursday’s (except Holy Thursday) 8.00pm-9.00pm.
Friday Penance during Lent: (i) make a special effort at family prayer (ii) make the Stations of the Cross (iii) do something to help the poor, sick or lonely (iv) make a special effort to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (v) abstain from meat or some other food.
Schedule for Stations of the Cross During Lent: Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Monday & Thursday before Evening Mass at 7.00pm. Confessions on those days will be at 6.30pm.
Lenten Vespers (Evening Prayer) with benediction on Sundays at 5.00pm during the season of Lent.
Lectio Divina You are invited to join our Lectio Divina a 6 week, prayful preparation for Lent. It will take place upstairs, 1st floor, at Aras Cholmcille. There will be 2 sessions, one starting Monday 23rd February after 10am Mass and another on Tuesday 24th February after 7.30pm Mass. Everyone welcome but especially those seeking an introduction to explore scripture in a gentle way.
Family Rosary for Lent: Sign-up sheets will be provided in Long Tower Altar area if anyone would like to commit to reciting the Rosary with the family at home during Lent. Your intentions will be united to every Mass.
Walk with Me – A Journey of Prayer for Lent 2026. A few booklets are still available from Parish office or Jim Dohert, cost £1.50. These booklets are a useful prayer format for the Holy season of Lent.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2026: The key messages and focus areas for Trócaire’s 2026 Lenten campaign revolve around climate justice and urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza and Ukraine. As in previous years we ask you to support Trocaire throughout Lent. Trocaire boxes are available in the Church. Find out more at trocaire.org.
Aras Cholmcille Museum and Heritage Centre & Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop: The shop is open after 10am morning Mass throughout the week. We have a new range of stock to include Confirmation & First Holy Communion cards and gifts, along with cards, candles and gifts for St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. For all enquiries, please call -028 71368491. ‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille The café is open Tuesday – Saturday 9am to 3pm and also on Sunday’s from 10am-3pm, with Sunday breakfast being served until 12Noon and Sunday lunches being served from 12Noon-3pm.
Rosary as Gaeilge in Áras: Would you like the opportunity to learn the Rosary in Irish? Classes continue this Wednesday after 10am Mass, top floor of Áras Cholmcille. Mrs Mary Kane will teach this powerful prayer in the language our ancestors would have recited it. Irish speakers are welcome but this class is aimed at absolute beginners. The classes are free & handouts will be provided. This year, on St Columba’s Feast Day 9th June, we hope upwards of 300 people will gather at the Calvary to offer the Rosary in Irish for peace.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: For availability, please ring 02871 260293 and leave a message or email; derrypilgrim@outlook.com. Or alternatively contact JWT Dublin on +353 1 685 2244takes place from Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July.
Radio Maria Ireland is an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station we enjoy commercial free broadcasting – Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies. Here’s how you can listen: Via Digital TV – Saorview Channel 210, Download our FREE App “Radio Maria Ireland”, Streaming on our website – www.radiomaria.ie ,Via our ‘Listen Live Radio’ link on our Facebook Page, Via PHONE – get live radio feed by calling +353 (0) 1 437 3277 (no extra charges apply)
World Day of Prayer 2026: You are warmly invited to gather in First Derry Presbyterian Church, Friday 6th March at 7 pm to join in a great wave of prayer for global peace & justice. WDOP is a women-led movement and this years’ service has been prepared by women from Nigeria. Some 146 countries, from the rising of the sun to its setting, will encircle the globe in prayer on this day and we would love to see a strong representation from this city gather in First Derry in solidarity with those who face injustice, persecution & poverty.
DIVINE invitation to come on St Patrick’s Way Pilgrim Walk in Downpatrick with guides Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly on Saturday 14th March in honour of Ireland’s patron saint and the 25th Anniversary of The Saint Patrick Centre. Includes the fabulous 180° IMAX film of St Patrick, with internal bus transfers, pilgrimage lunch, an authentic Camino passport and a six mile pilgrimage walk finishing at St Patrick’s grave. A special 25% discount price is on offer of £40 (normally £55) To book ring 02844 61900 or www.saintpatrickcentre.com.
Within the Western Trust we have an ongoing critical need for new foster carers. Unfortunately, the rapid growth of children and young people entering foster care means that we are struggling to keep up with current demands. We are appealing to you, your families, or anyone you know who has ever considered fostering to come forward and potentially make a difference in a child’s life. Could you be that person? We urge you not to rule yourself out; you can foster as a single person; whether you work or not; whether you rent or own your home. Why not phone and have a conversation with one of our friendly staff on 0800 0720 137 or contact us via our website, adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net
Time for Dementia is now. The University of Ulster and the Alzheimer’s Society are actively looking for families to take part. Time for Dementia is an innovative award-winning training programme, designed to educate undergraduate healthcare students to improve their knowledge, attitude, and empathy towards people with dementia and their carers. The student nurses will be paired up with a family affected by dementia and will arrange to visit them at home, 3 times a year. This is a unique learning opportunity for the students but also a great chance for a family affected by dementia. To find out more please contact Anouska Noble on 07860331648 or anouska.noble@alzheimers.org.uk.
DEEDS – Supporting the Carer Talk Series- The second talk in our carers information sessions, funded by the WHSCT, will focus on the costs associated with Residential Care. This information session will take place at the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre, Central Drive, Creggan, on Thursday 26th March at 12.00 noon. Light refreshments will be provided. For further info please contact Eilish on 02871 373870 or email eilish@olt.ie.
Alcoholics Anonymous, Public Information Meeting Rosemount Resource Centre, 1A Westway, Derry BT48 9NT, Monday 24th March 3:00 pm. The meeting is open to anyone who may be personally affected, have a family member or friend affected, or simply wish to learn more about recovery, community supports, and how people can access help.
Rachel’s Vineyard: Have you been affected or hurt by abortion? If so, please contact Michelle on 07871765181.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
