Fourth Sunday of Advent             22^nd December 2024

 

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 22^nd December 10.00am     Mary McLery

Sunday 22^nd December 12Noon      Margaret Mary McLoone

Monday 23^rd December 10.00am    Siobhan McKinney

Monday 23^rd December 7.30pm      Frances Nash

Friday 27^th December 10.00am      Betty Miller

Saturday 28th December 6.00pm   William Healy

 

Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Betty Conway- formerly Templegrove

 

 

Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Éabha Tabb. To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours.

 

Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.

     January 2025- 11^th, 18^th & 25^th

     February 2025- 8^th & 15^th

 

 

 

LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO               £2130.00

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO           £746.00

 

 

 

The Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by phone on 028-71262301 (during office hours) or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org. The Parish Office will be closed from 3.00pm on Monday 23^rd December and will re-open at 9.00am on Monday 6^th January 2025.

 

 

 

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. Thank you.

 

 

Fr. Gerard kindly acknowledges with thanks two donations of £100.00 & £1000.00 respectively to the Long Tower Church.

 

 

 

A Triduum of Masses will be offered for the intentions of all those who received Long Tower Christmas Mass Bouquets at the 6pm, 8pm & 10pm Masses on Christmas Eve.

 

 

 

Diocesan Vocations Intercession: We pray for our seminarians and for those considering a vocation to serve as priests in this diocese that, like Mary and Elizabeth, they will be attentive to the power and movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 

 

 

 

St Columba’s Church-Children’s Liturgy at 12Noon Sunday Mass will finish this Sunday 22^nd December for the Christmas holidays and restart again on Sunday 12^th December. We thank Sophie & Aoife and wish them and all the children a very happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you back with us again in September.

 

 

 

Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, concludes this Sunday 22^nd December with the Annual Carol Service, followed by refreshments and traditional music in the Long Tower Primary School in the grounds of the Church. All welcome. Many thanks to all who contributed to the Novena Collection last weekend which amounted to £1465.00, your generosity is very much appreciated.

 

 

 

Christmas Masses & Confession Times: Tuesday 24^th December – Christmas Eve:  Family Vigil at 6pm, Evening Vigil at 8pm & Candlelight Christmas Mass at 10pm. Wednesday 25^th December- Christmas Day: 8am, 10am & 12 Noon. Christmas Confessions: The last Confessions for Christmas will be Monday 23^rd December from 10.30am to 12Noon and from 4.30pm -7pm. There will be NO Confessions after this date until Monday 6^th January at 7.00pm when Confessions resume as normal.

 

LITURGICAL CEREMONIES

24^th December 2024– 6^th January 2025

MASSES OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON & NEW YEAR

 

Tuesday 24^th December             10.00am

Family Vigil for Christmas          6.00pm (LT Folk Group)

Evening Vigil for Christmas       8.00pm (LT Senior Choir)

Candlelight Christmas Mass     10.00pm (Margaret Keys, Soprano)

Wednesday 25^th December – Christmas Day                  8.00am, 10.00am, & 12Noon

Thursday 26^th December                                                  10.00am

Friday 27^th December                                                       10.00am

Saturday 28^th December                                                  10.00am    6.00pm

Sunday 29^thDecember                                                      8.00am, 10.00am & 12Noon

Monday 30^th December                                                    10.00am     

Tuesday 31^st December                                                    10.00am & 4.30pm

 

On New Year’s Eve, Tuesday 31^st December you are invited to come together to celebrate Mass at 4.30pm in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower. We gather in the last light of the old year to move out again in the Light of Christ into 2025.

Wednesday 1^st January 2025                                       10.00am

Thursday 2^nd January                                                   10.00am    

Friday 3^rd January                                                         10.00am    

Saturday 4^th January                                                    10.00am     6.00pm

Sunday 5^th January                                                       8.00am, 10.00am & 12Noon

Monday 6^th January                                                      10.00am & 7.30pm (Feast of Epiphany) 

 

 

CHURCH CLOSING TIMES

Please note the Church will close at 6.00pm on 25^th, 26^th & 27^th December & also from 29^th December – 3^rd January 2025 (inclusive).

 

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS

The last Confessions for Christmas will be Monday 23^rd December from 10.30am to 12 Noon and from 4.30pm- 7.00pm. There will be no Confessions after this date until the evening of Monday 6^th January at 7.00pm when Confessions will resume as normal.

                                                                     

ADORATION

Adoration will resume as normal on Wednesday 8^th January 2025 after 10.00am Mass.

PADRE PIO MASS

The Padre Pio Mass will resume on Monday 27^th January 2025 at 7.30pm

ADORATION UNTIL MIDNIGHT

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will resume on Thursday 6^th February 2025

after the 7.30pm Mass until 12 Midnight.

 PARISH OFFICE

The Parish Office will be closed from 3.00pm on Monday 23^rd December and will re-open at 9.00am on Monday 6^th January 2025.

ADORATION CHAPEL PUMP STREET

The Adoration Chapel in Pump Street will be closed from Friday 20^th December and re-open on Monday 6^th January 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

Children in Crossfire would like to thank everyone for supporting their Advent Appeal this year, which will help children in inner-city Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. If you wish to donate, please remember to bring your box/envelope back to the chapel sacristy from the weekend of 4th & 5th January onwards. Any support you can give is greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

Invitation to 33 Days of Family Prayer: Bishop McKeown will lead the diocese in 33 days of Family Prayer towards Consecration to Jesus Christ through Mary, as part of a diocesan programme for the Jubilee Year of 2025, Pilgrims of Hope.   It will be delivered online on the Diocese of Derry Facebook, each evening at 7.00pm, starting on Thursday 9^th January 2025 and concluding on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tuesday 11^th February 2025. Bishop McKeown explains, “It is a journey I set out to make, to entrust myself and my priesthood to Christ through the Mother of God. I extend an invitation to you and your families from the parishes of the diocese to join me”.  Details and times of the prayer programme with a video message from Bishop McKeown can be viewed at derrydiocese.org/consecration.

 

 

 

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025: led by Bishop Donal McKeown, 30^th  June to 4^th July, from City of Derry Airport.  Price £849 plus insurance and single supplement if required.  Gift vouchers are now available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Enquiries via email to derrypilgrim@outlook.com.

 

 

 

 

Accord Derry – Marriage Preparation Courses: January – June 2025; January 24^th/25^th, February 21^st/22^nd, March 28^th/29^th, April 11^th/12^th, May 30^th/31^st & June 20^th/21^st. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note that all of these courses are in person and NOT virtual.

 

 

 

 

The Annual Derry City GOAL Mile Walk will take place Thursday 26^th December, leaving from Sainsbury’s car park at 12Noon. The GOAL Mile is an opportunity for local people to walk in solidarity and show support for those struggling to survive in countries ravaged by war, famine, disease and the effects of climate change. There are no administrative costs associated with the GOAL Mile so every penny raised will go directly to supporting the charity’s work with the poorest of the poor.

 

 

 

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).

 

 

 

 

Pilgrimages To Medjugorje 2025: Bookings are now being taken for two Pilgrimages to Medjugorje. 7^th May from City of Derry Airport, £745 per person sharing. 2^nd July from Belfast International Airport, £765 per person sharing. Cost includes return flights, accommodation and meals. Additional charge for single room occupancy. For both Pilgrimages there is a £50 discount if deposit paid before 31^st January. Pilgrimages are organised through Marian Pilgrimages (Dublin). Early booking strongly recommended. For more details, please contact John Murray on 0780 1105575.

 

 

 

St Cecilia’s College- We would like to cordially invite you to St Cecilia’s Open Day, Thursday 9^th January 5pm-8pm. Principal’s address- 5pm & 6.15pm.

 

 

 

Ards Friary, Ards, Co. Donegal: ‘What is God’s Dream for your Life’ Retreat:  22^nd January and 19^th February 2025, 10am -3.30pm. This day will be welcoming of everyone, wherever they find themselves on life’s journey. It will be particularly useful for individuals and teams who want to take time away from the busyness of life and discover or rediscover a sense of direction and purpose in their lives.  Facilitated by Jim Deeds.  Cost  €65 Euro (includes light refreshments & Lunch). For more details email info@ardsfriary.ie or visit our website www.ardsfriary.ie

 

 

 

 

Trócaire School Volunteers: Are you a retired teacher or someone who has experience presenting to groups of school children? Do you have a passion for making this world a better place, especially for the most vulnerable? Trócaire is looking for volunteers to support our 2025 Lent Appeal in the Derry Diocese. If you think you have the right skills and experience and will be available to help during school hours over Lent, then we would love to hear from you. Full training and ongoing support will be provided. For more information, please call Naomi Purnell on 028 9080 8033 or email naomi.purnell@trocaire.org.

 

 

 

Sean Davis 3 day Indoor Christmas Fun Soccer Academy – takes place at Templemore Sports Complex from Thursday 2^nd to Saturday 4th January 2025. For boys and girls aged 5 to 18 years.  Times: 10am to 3pm daily.  For further details Tel. Sean Davis FAI, IFA, FA European  A Licence Coach on 07787791880.

 

 

 

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS:  Is Gambling affecting your life?  Perhaps we can help.  Tel 028 7135 1329.