Fourth Sunday of Lent 30th March 2025
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 30th March 10.00am Julian Daly
Sunday 30th March 12Noon Rosaleen Healey
Monday 31st March 10.00am Celine McCafferty
Saturday 5th April 6.00pm Martha Cassidy & Cassidy Family
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Brian Lyttle-Lower Bennett Street, Susan Hutton- Prehen Park, Barbara Wade- Dunmore Gardens, Ann Mellon- Elmwood Terrace & Joseph Gallagher-Elmwood Terrace.
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.
May- 17th
June 2025– 14th, 21st & 28th
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2948.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £779.00
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. Thank you.
Padre Pio Intercede for Us
Please note there will be NO Padre Pio Healing Mass this Monday 31st March.
The next Padre Pio Mas for Healing will be on Monday 28th April at 7.30pm
Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop in Aras Cholmcille: We have a variety of First Holy Communion gifts & cards, candles, rosary beads, books, occasion cards and other gifts & mementos available. The shop is open after 6pm Mass on Saturday’s and after 10am morning Mass during the week. For enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty via (parish office 028-7126230 or Sacristy 028-71261946) who will be happy to help.
‘Cloisters Café’ will open in Aras Cholmcille (Wee Nuns building) in the grounds of Long Tower Church this coming Tuesday 1st April at 10am. Just in time for Sr Clare Retreat – a cosy place to relax and have a bite to eat or a cuppa and a cake! The café will be open each week, Tuesday – Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Spread the word!
Easter Mass Bouquets are now available from the Parish Office & Sacristy, Cost £2. All intentions will be included in the liturgies celebrated during Holy Week in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
The Annual Sister Clare Crockett Retreat begins this Monday 31st March until Sunday 6th April, in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
The theme of this year’s retreat is ‘Reflecting on the Eucharist with Sr Clare’. There will be Mass at 7am & 10am (Monday to Friday). Evening prayer service with Benediction and guest speaker each evening at 7pm (Monday-Friday). A healing service with anointing of the sick will take place on Thursday 3rd April at 7pm. On Saturday 5th April, Service with Benediction led by Archbishop Eamon Martin at 3pm. The retreat will conclude on Sunday 6th April at 3pm with Mass celebrated by Bishop Donal McKeown. Everyone is welcome to attend in person or you can also stream the services online at www.longtowerchurch.org. Parking is available in the grounds of Lumen Christi College on Bishop Street each evening from 5.30pm to 8.30pm with access to Long Tower church via side gate on to Cook Street. Please avoid parking outside homes of residents and on the Flyover to prevent obstruction and congestion of traffic. Thank you for cooperation.
The New Parish Collection Envelopes are now available. We would appreciate if the usual distributors could call and collect the envelopes for distribution in their areas at the Parish Office during office hours 9am-2.30pm Mon- Friday. If you do not receive your envelopes during the next week, please telephone or call at the parish office, during office hours Tel: 028-71262301 to make arrangements for collection. Anyone from outside the parish who received collection envelopes in previous years should call at the Sacristy with Tommy or Patrick. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who contributes in any way to the weekly collection, your ongoing and unwavering support of the Long Tower Parish is very much appreciated.
Gift Aid- We would like to ask you to consider Gift Aiding the donations you make to the Church. This means we reclaim the tax on your donation from the Inland Revenue – Anyone who pays income tax, even those who are retired but who receive a taxable pension are able to take part in the scheme – it doesn’t cost you anything extra but is an invaluable additional source of income for the Parish. Please contact the Parish Office on 02871-262301 or email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Long Tower Parish are organising a ‘Columban Camino’ in Derry and Donegal between 5th and 7th June. Participants will walk from Derry to Buncrana, from Rathmullan to Milford and from there on to Gartan, overnight stay’s will be in the Inishowen Gateway and Mulroy Woods. All sponsorship raised will go to Children in Crossfire. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org or call Aishling on 028 7127 8955.
Derry Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Fatima: We are inviting young people aged 16 + to join us on pilgrimage to Fatima for 4 nights from 14 July to 18th July. This will be a unique experience for young people and an opportunity to engage with their peers from around the world in a faith context. Cost is £700 and there will be a budget plan to help with this. Names and deposit of £100 are required as soon as possible to secure a place. For more information or to book in please contact lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org 00 44 2871264087
Job Opportunity Derry Diocesan Trust
Derry Diocesan Trust- Marriage Tribunal Official- 30 – 35 hours per week
Permanent- Job Role; Reporting to the Director, Derry Diocesan Pastoral Centre is recruiting a Marriage Tribunal Official,
- To oversee the administration and processes related to annulment applications within the Catholic Church
- To assist the Instructing Judge in the general co-ordination and direction of all Marriage Tribunal functions
- To manage the efficient running of the Derry Diocesan Pastoral Centre
The post requires the individual to be self-motivated, confident and competent in written and oral communication and to be an effective organiser with excellent leadership qualities. The postholder will be expected to demonstrate initiative and discretion whilst carrying out duties. For application packs please contact: Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP, telephone 028 7126 2302 or email: recruitment@derrydiocese.org. Completed applications must be returned to Personnel, Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP or via email to recruitment@derrydiocese.org no later than 12 noon on Thursday 10th April 2025. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We welcome applications from all men and women and from members of all communities.
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: In our first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent the Lord chooses David out of all the sons of Jesse. As David is anointed, he is “seized” by the spirit of the Lord who stays with him from that day on. We pray for those chosen by the Lord to be priests of the Diocese of Derry, that they will know and be faithful to the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and ministry among God’s people.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock: The Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday 15th June. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 22nd June 2025 at 3.00pm.
The Padre Pio Prayer Goup, Holy Family Chapel, Ballymagroarty will take place on Tuesday 4 April 2025. Starting with Rosary at 6.45pm before mass, celebration of holy mass at 7.15pm, then the priest will bless everyone with a first class relic of St. Pio, while closing prayers are recited.
Accord Derry – Marriage Preparation Courses: April- June 2025: April 11th/12th, May 30th/31st & June 20th/21st. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note all courses are in person and NOT virtual.
Sean Davis 3 Day Indoor Easter 2025 Fun Soccer Academy: takes place at Templemore Sports Complex from Wednesday 23rd April to Friday25th April 2025 for boys and girls aged 5 to 18 years. Times: 10:00 am to 3.00 pm daily. For bookings and 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.
