Fourth Sunday Of Advent                 18^th December 2022

 

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 18^th December12.00Noon        Terence Crawley

Monday 19^th December 10.00am          Ellen Barr

Monday 19^th December 7.30pm            Toal Toland

Tuesday 20^th December 10.00am         Faye, Shelia & Terence Coyle

Tuesday 20^th December 7.30pm           Liam Campbell

Wednesday 21^st December 10.00am    Norah, Johnny & Frank Duffy

Wednesday 21^st December 7.30pm      Marshal Arisman

Thursday 22^nd December 10.00am      Maureen, Lena & Shamus Donohoe

Thursday 22^nd December 7.30pm        Frances Nash   

Friday 23^rd December 10.00am           Kenneth Creswell

Friday 23^rd December 7.30pm             The Smyth, Ralley & Hofmeister Families

Saturday 24^th December 10.00am       Leo Casey

 

Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Ciaran Bradley- Lone Moor Road, Mary O’Kane – Abbotts Walk,

 

Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Tilly Rabbitt, Róise McFadden, & Eábha Roberts.

 

Baptisms: Please contact the Parish Office for dates. 

 

 

LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO             £1696.00

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO         £535.00

 

 

Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by Phone on 028-71262301 or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org. The Parish will close on Thursday 22^nd December at 2.30pm and will re-open at 9.00am on Wednesday 4^th January 2023.

 

 

Visitation of the Sick. For urgent sick calls please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.

 

 

Christmas Mass Bouquets are available from the Parish Office or Sacristy, cost £2.00. Long Tower Christmas Cards are also available from Parish Office or Sacristy, cost is £5.00 for a packet of 12 cards.

 

 

Message from Jemimah Armstrong who lead the Christmas Appeal: To Fr. Mongan and all the Long Tower community from all us at the Christmas appeal (free uniform scheme). We want to say a huge heart felt thank you for all your support over the last number of weeks. Your support has been truly appreciated and many, many families have been truly blessed this Christmas. You have brought much relief to families and have eased their stress and have helped them give their children a great Christmas. May God continue to bless you all for all your good work and may you all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New year.

 

 

 

Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

This Sunday 18^th December will conclude the Solemn Novena to our Lady of Perpetual Help with our Annual Carol Service and Nativity Play at 6pm. On the evening you can bring and leave your donations or vouchers for St Vincent De Paul. Refreshments will be available immediately afterwards in the Long Tower Primary School. We look forward to seeing you.

 

 

 

Christmas Masses; Saturday 24^th December/ Christmas Eve– Evening Vigil at 6.00pm & Late Vigil at 8.00pm. Sunday 25^th December/ Christmas Day at 8.00am, 10.00am & 12Noon. A full list of Liturgical Ceremonies for Christmas is available in the Church, please take a copy. It can also be viewed on the parish website www. longtowerchurch.org.

 

 

 

Christmas Confessions: This Sunday 18^th December there will be confessions from 3.00pm to 5.00pm with visiting Priests available. Confessions will be as normal this week; Monday to Friday at 7.00pm and on Saturday/ Christmas Eve from 10.30am to 11.30am, these will be the last Confessions before Christmas. Confessions will resume on Evening of the 5^th January at 7.00pm.

 

 

Adoration Chapel Pump Street: The Adoration Chapel will be open this week Monday 19^th December – Friday 23^rd December from 9am-5pm. The Adoartion Chapel will be closed over the Christmas period and re-open on Monday 9^th January 2023.

 

 

At Christmas we celebrate the gift of Jesus, our hope and peace, Jesus, the light of the world.  You are invited to spend time with scripture, reflection and prayer. A Christmas prayer resource is available to download on the Diocese of Derry website for private prayer at the church or home. The booklet can be downloaded at: https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/12-days-of-christmas-2022

 

 

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023, led by Bishop Donal McKeown, will go direct from City of Derry Airport.  3rd to 7th July, four nights full board in the Hotel Agena: £745 sharing, £35 single supplement.  Travel insurance up to age 79-£39. Age 80 to 94-£78. (Pilgrims may wish to use their own insurance).  Further details and payment arrangements will be available in the new year via the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, derrypilgrim@outlook.com, Tel: 02871 260 293.

 

 

 

Pilgrimage to San Giovanni & Rome: As part of St Eugene’s Cathedral 150^th Anniversary Celebrations, Bishop Donal McKeown will lead a pilgrimage to San Giovanni & Rome from 25th – 30th September 2023. Visiting the birthplace of Padre Pio, Shrine of St Michael Archangel, St Peter’s Basilica and other important sites. Price is £879pps (Single room supplement £150).  For more details, email info@marian.ie or call Belfast on (028) 956 80005 or Dublin on (01) 878 8159.

 

 

 

Children in Crossfire’s Christmas gift cards are now available. They can be purchased via: Our online shop, Veritas stores in Derry/Londonderry, Newry and Letterkenny or you can contact Aishling on 028 71269898 or email aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org. Thank you for your support. Children in Crossfire wish to extend a happy a peaceful Christmas to everyone here in St Columba’s Longtower Parish, thank you so much for your support to the Advent Appeal this year. If you have an advent box at home they can be returned here after Christmas, or you can send your donation directly to the charity. Thank you.

 

 

Mary’s Meals – Our gift cards and life-changing gifts make a real difference to the 2.2 million children who eat our meals every school day. You can place your order online www.marysmeals.org.uk or by calling us on 0800 698 1212.

 

 

Casting a Long Shadow’ is a new book charting the People’s History of the Long Tower Church. It will be on sale in Aras Cholmcille daily from 10.30am to 11.30am. Price £20.00. Also available from Long Tower Parish Office.

 

 

Accord Derry: Marriage Preparation Workshops January – March 2023, January 9^th/10^th 2023, January 30^th/31^st 2023, February 6^th/7^th 2023, February 20^th/21^st 2023, March 6^th/7^th 2023 & March 27^th/28^th 202. Courses can be booked online at www.accordni.com. All of the above courses are VIRTUAL.

 

 

 

Life in the Spirit Seminars: Saturday 7 January and Sunday 8 January 2023, led by the Apostles of Love, in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca.  Finishing with Mass on Sunday celebrated by Bishop McKeown.  Enquiries to Mark on 07895003022 or Jenny on 07761248975.

 

 

Foyle Hospice Christmas Lights of Love Ceremony: Foyle Hospice have announced that a free park-and-ride service will be available for their Christmas Lights of Love ceremony this year.  Thanks to the kindness of Reddins Coach Hire and Thornhill College, anyone attending the interdenominational service at Foyle Hospice can park at Thornhill College and a shuttle bus from Reddin’s Coach Hire will take attendants to the ceremony. The Foyle Hospice Lights of Love service, lighting up the Christmas tree in memory of loved ones who have died, will take place this year on 20th December at 7pm. Foyle Hospice are asking attendants to park at Thornhill College and the Reddin’s shuttle bus will start transporting people from there at 6.30pm to the Hospice grounds. The shuttle bus will return you to your cars after the service and shuttles will end at 8:30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

 

 

The annual GOAL Mile Walk will take place on St Stephen’s Day, Monday 26 December. Meeting at Sainsbury’s car park anytime between 11 am and 1 pm for a walk along the river, over the Peace Bridge to Ebrington Square and back to Sainsbury’s.  Everyone welcome.

 

 

 

 

 ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH, LONG TOWER

LITURGICAL CEREMONIES

24^th December 2022 – 5^th January 2023

MASSES OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON & NEW YEAR

 

Saturday 24^th December                                                     10.00am

                                           Evening Vigil for Christmas     6.00pm

                                                 Late Vigil for Christmas     8.00pm

 

Sunday 25^th December /Christmas Day                               8.00am

                                                                                              10.00am

                                                                                           12.00noon

Monday 26^th December                                                       10.00am

Tuesday 27^th December                                                       10.00am

Wednesday 28^th December                                                  10.00am

Thursday 29^thDecember                                                       10.00am

Friday 30^th December                                                            10.00am

Saturday 31^st December                                                      10.00am, 6.00pm

(Adoration after Vigil Mass until 9.00pm with special blessing ceremony for New Year)

                               Sunday 1^st January 2023                                                     8.00am, 10.00am & 12Noon

Monday 2^nd January                                                           10.00am

Tuesday 3^rd January                                                           10.00am

Wednesday 4^th January                                                      10.00am

                Thursday 5^th January                                                          10.00am & 7.30pm

Please note the Church will close at 6.00pm on 25^th, 26^th December – 4^th January 2023 (Excluding 31^st December/New Years Eve).

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS

On Sunday 18^th December there will be confessions from 3.00pm to 5.00pm with visiting Priests available. The last Confessions for Christmas will be Saturday 24^th December/ Christmas Eve from 10.30am to 11.30am. There will be no Confessions after this date until the evening of the 5^th January at 7.00pm, the Vigil Mass for Eiphany when Confessions will resume as normal.

                                                                     

ADORATION

Adoration will resume as normal on Wednesday 11^th January 2023 after 10.00am Mass.

 

PADRE PIO MASS

The Padre Pio Mass will resume on Monday 6^th February 2023 at 7.30pm

 

ADORATION UNTIL MIDNIGHT

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will resume on Thursday 2^nd February 2023

after the 7.30pm Mass until 12 Midnight.

 

 PARISH OFFICE

The Parish will be closed from 2.30pm on Thursday 22^nd December 2022 and will re-open at 9.00am on Wednesday 4^th January 2023.

 

ADORATION CHAPEL PUMP STREET

The Adoration Chapel in Pump Street will be closed from Friday 23^rd December and re-open on Monday 9^th January 2023.