Fourth Sunday Of Advent 24th December 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 24th December10.00am John Cassidy
Sunday 24th December 12Noon Peggy McLoone
Friday 29th December 10.00am Gerard McCloskey
Saturday 30th December 10.00am George Kelpie
Saturday 30th December 6.00pm James Sheils
Sunday 31st December 12 Noon William Healy
Tuesday 2nd January 7.30pm Gavin McCormick
Wednesday 3rd January 7.30pm Tommy & Mary McCourt
Thursday 4th January 7.30pm Eileen McGuigan
Friday 5th January 10.00am Connie Smith
Friday 5th January 7.30pm Eileen Robinson
Saturday 6th January 6.00pm Pat Finucane
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Eamon Cunningham – Ivy Terrace & Ann Hutton- Rossville Street, Michael McCarron- Formerly Alexander House.
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Lucia Thompson, Emmet Óg Coyle- Tyrrell. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
Christmas Message
Isn’t there a huge contrast between the meaning of the Manger and the material mess we get swamped in? If we took away all the Christmas trees and tinsel, the spending and the shallow socials, would anyone even want to celebrate Christmas? Behind the mad traffic and treks for turkey, those little arms are reaching out to us from the manger, begging the world and us to lift him up, take him into our arms and hold him and carry him…to make room for him in our home not just today but every day – in our prayer, in our Sunday Mass, in our care for the precious gift of every human life, born and pre-born. Our search for meaning is in that manger. Perhaps as we gaze into that humble crib scene tonight, we can say with Isaiah that as people who often walk in darkness, who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone and will always shine.
Looking forward to seeing you over the Christmas Season. With every good wish and blessing on you and your families this Christmas. Fr. Gerard, Fr. Stephen, Fr. John, Fr. Peter & Carmelite Fathers.
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH, LONG TOWER,
LITURGICAL CEREMONIES, 24th December 2023 – 6th January 2024,
MASSES OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON & NEW YEAR
Sunday 24th December 8.00am 10.00am & 12 Noon
Family Vigil for Christmas 6.00pm (LT Folk Group)
Evening Vigil for Christmas 8.00pm (Old LT Choir & Friends)
Late Vigil for Christmas 10.00pm (Margaret Keys, Soprano)
Monday 25th December/ Christmas Day
8.00am
10.00am (Emer McCaffrey)
Celebrant Bishop Donal McKeown 12 Noon (LT Choir)
Tuesday 26th December 10.00am
Wednesday 27th December 10.00am
Thursday 28th December 10.00am
Friday 29thDecember 10.00am
Saturday 30th December 10.00am 6.00pm
Sunday 31st December 8.00am 10.00am & 12 Noon
Adoration Beginning at 6pm with Rosary concluding with Special Blessing Ceremony for New Year at 11.45pm
Monday 1st January 2024 10.00am
Tuesday 2nd January 10.00am 7.30pm
Wednesday 3rd January 10.00am 7.30pm
Thursday 4th January 10.00am 7.30pm
Friday 5th January 10.00am 7.30pm (Vigil Epiphany)
Saturday 6th January 10.00am (Epiphany), 6.00pm (Vigil for Sunday)
PRAYER OF SAINT COLUMBA
(Prayer of St. Columba in the Dubh Regles of Derry)
May the fire of God’s love burn brightly and steadfastly in our hearts like the golden light within the sanctuary lamp.
This month of December the Sanctuary lamp beside the Tabernacle in Long Tower Church will be lit for Peace in the World and a resolution to end the conflict in The Holy Lands and for all who are suffering.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2446.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £736.00
The Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by phone on 028-71262301 (during office hours) or via 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 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.
Long Tower Christmas Mass Bouquets; All Masses on Christmas Day, Monday 25th December will be offered for the intentions of all.
There will be No Parish Bulletin next weekend the next Parish Bulletin will be on weekend of the 7/8th January 2024.
Church Closing Times: Please note the Church will close at 6.00pm on 25th, 26th December – 1st January 2024 (Excluding 30th & 31st December/New Years Eve).
Adoration: Adoration will resume as normal on Wednesday 10th January 2024 after 10.00am Mass.
Padre Pio Mass: The Padre Pio Mass will resume on Monday 29th January 2024 at 7.30pm.
Adoration Until Midnight: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will resume on Thursday 1st February 2024 after the 7.30pm Mass until 12 Midnight.
Parish Office: The Parish Office will be closed from 1.00pm on Friday 22nd December and will re-open at 9.00am on Wednesday 3rd January 2024.
Adoration Chapel Pump Street: The Adoration Chapel in Pump Street will be closed from Friday 22nd December and re-open on Monday 8th January 2024.
Ballinascreen Parish Live Crib: Live Crib featuring real animals and people at St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena on Saturday 30th December. Following the 10.00 am Mass, at which Bishop McKeown will be chief celebrant, the Live Crib will be operational all day until candlelit Mass at 6,00 pm. Refreshments served throughout the day. Everyone is welcome to come and discover the true meaning of Christmas.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses January – March 2024: January 19th/20th 2024, February 23rd/24th 2024 & March 22nd/23rd 2024. Venue: Everglades Hotel, Prehen Road, Derry. Please note that these courses are NOT Virtual but are in person. Courses can be booked online now at www.accordni.com.
Pioneers around the world are invited to attend Mass next Wednesday 27 December and to prayerfully mark the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the Association in 1898. Mass and prayers will be live-streamed on that day at 10am (Irish time) around the world via www.pioneerassociation.org.
Foyle Hospice Christmas Tree Recycling Scheme is now open. The scheme helps Foyle Hospice secure much needed funds whilst offering people the opportunity to have their tree disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, for a suggested donation of £10. Shredded trees are then used in our gardens throughout the year. Trees can be registered for collection through the website – foylehospice.com – or by calling Foyle Hospice fundraising office on 02871 359888. Registration closes on 7th January 2024.
St. Cecilia’s College Open Day– Thursday 11th January 2023, 5pm-8pm. Principal’s address, 5pm- 6.15pm. Pupils transferring from primary to post-primary school in September 2024 and their parents are welcome to attend. Prospective year 13 students and their parents are also welcome.
St. Mary’s College Open Day- Prospective pupils and their families are invited to attend Saint Mary’s College Open Day on Saturday 13th January 2024 from 10.00am to 1.00pm, Principal Mr Brendan McGinn will address visitors at 10.00am and 11.00am. All are welcome.
Prayer By Telephone: The Sisters of Mercy “Bethany” 34 Point Road, Dundalk, Welcome any person who may wish to request prayer, especially during these difficult times. All requests are confidential. 9am – 9pm. Telephone: 042 9331602 ROI or 00353 42 931602 NI. One of the Sisters will be happy to LISTEN and PRAY WITH YOU
