Fourth Sunday of Lent 15th March 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 15th March 10.00am Cubert, Ann & May Cassidy
Sunday 15th March 12Noon Danny Kelpie
Monday 16th March 7.30pm Marie Kelpie
Tuesday 17th March 12Noon Malcolm Adams
Wednesday 18th March 7.30pm Rita Hegarty & Patsy Vescovi
Thursday 19th March 7.30pm Agnes Tully
Friday 20th March 7.30pm Gerry & Aileen Murray
Saturday 21st March 10.00am Eamon Hutton
Saturday 21st March 6.00pm Colm Quigley & Frankie Campbell
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Theresa Hegarty- Foyle View Apartments, Elizabeth Sweeney- Limewood Street, Daryl Curtis- Stoneypath, Brian Deehan- Westland Street & Ann O’Donnell- Kenmare Park.
We Welcome into the family of God: Éabha Gallagher, Rú Doherty, Éabha Payne & Samuel Roddy. To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours or email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm
The next available Baptism dates are 2nd, 9th & 30th May
13th & 27th June & 11th & 25th July 2026
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 £3206.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £845.00
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.
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.
Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life in St Columb’s Church, Chapel Road, Derry, Monday 16th March at 8pm. All are welcome to join us in prayer.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops: April to June 2026: April 24th/25th, May 15th/16th & June 19th/20th. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note all courses are in person. Accord Derry will NOT be facilitating courses during July or August.
SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
Tuesday 17th March is the Feast Day of St. Patrick
Masses: Monday 16th – 7.30pm Vigil
Tuesday 17th – 8.00am, 10.00am & 12 Noon
The collection for Clerical Education will be taken up at all Masses.
Please note there will be NO 7am Morning Mass and NO 7.30pm Evening Mass on St Patrick’s Day.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
St Patrick’s Breastplate
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2026
There will be 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.
Stations of the Cross During Lent, 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 Lent.
Lectio Divina: Our Lectio Divina, prayful preparation for Lent continues upstairs, 1st floor, at Aras Cholmcille. There are 2 sessions weekly, one on Monday’s after 10am Mass and another on Tuesday’s after 7.30pm Mass. Everyone welcome.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2026 revolves around climate justice & urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza and Ukraine. Trocaire boxes are available in the Church.
Aras Cholmcille Heritage Centre, Síopa Cholmcille & Cloisters Café. The shop is open after 10am morning Mass during the week. We have a new range of stock to include Confirmation & First Holy Communion cards and gifts, as well as gifts for St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. For enquiries, please call -028 71368491. The café is open Tuesday – Saturday 9am to 3pm and on Sunday’s from 10am-3pm, with breakfast being served until 12Noon and Sunday lunches being served from 12Noon-3pm.
‘An Lasair Chríost’ Conference (Flame of Christ) Young Adults’ Conference- Sunday 22nd March, St Columb’s College, Buncrana Road, Derry, beginning with Mass at 11.30am in St Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn. Fr Conor McGrath will be the keynote speaker at the conference, with Bishop McKeown celebrating the Mass. It will be a great opportunity to meet other young people in a faith setting. All welcome & no tickets required.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 7 June 2026 at 3.00 pm.
Job Opportunity- Derry Diocesan Trust
Parish Catechist – Three Patrons Parish- 35 Hours per week Permanent – 3 years Fixed Term Contract. Reporting to the Parish Priest, Three Patrons Parish is recruiting a Parish Catechist. 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 Tuesday 24th March 2026. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We welcome applications from all men and women and from members of all communities.
The Legion of Mary will hold their Annual Acies Ceremony with Holy Mass in St. Joseph’s Church, Galliagh on Sunday, 22nd March at 3:00 pm. Auxiliary members are especially invited and warmly encouraged to attend this important annual gathering.
Derry Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage: Mon 29th June to Friday 3rd July: Due to the great demand for places we have secured 50 extra seats ex-Dublin direct to Lourdes and return, with complimentary bus to the Airport. The fare is £895 pps full board. If you wish to book please contact the pilgrimage office at 164 Bishop St. Derry, Tel 02871 260293, email: derrypilgrim@outlook.com as soon as possible.
Derry Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Fatima: We are inviting young people aged 16+ to join us on pilgrimage to Fatima for 5 nights from 3rd – 8th August. 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 £820 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 info/ to book in please contact bethany.doherty@derrydiocese.org 0 2871264087.
Stanton Pregnancy Care NI is hosting a church gate collection in the Derry Diocese on Saturday 21st March and Sunday 22nd March 2026. Your generous support will help us provide compassionate care and practical assistance to women facing unexpected pregnancy challenges. For more information, please call 02890332882.
Foyle Hospice ‘Make A Will Month’: During the month of March local solicitors very kindly agree to waive their usual Will-writing fee in return for a suggested £100 donation to Foyle Hospice. A list of participating solicitors can be found at foylehospice.com/make-a-will/ or by calling Kathleen on 028 71 359888. The purpose of Make a Will Month is to encourage people to write their Wills, whilst also raising much-needed funds for Foyle Hospice. Money raised will ensure Foyle Hospice can continue to deliver high quality specialist palliative & end of life care to those in our community with life-limiting illness.
Accord Facilitators Needed. Accord is inviting volunteers to train as facilitators for its Marriage preparation programmes, supporting couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage. Facilitators work as part of a small local team and help lead up to four programmes each year. Free professional training is provided. To find out more/ apply Tel:015053112.Email:marriagepreparation@accord.ie. Closing date for applications: 29th May 2026.
‘Shepherding Talent’ Online Programme – Aspire to Serve, Inspire to Lead: In partnership with St Mary’s University Twickenham, the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre is offering this programme. ‘Shepherding Talent’ is a pioneering programme from the university, in which teaching professionals with leadership potential are challenged to explore their vocation to lead. Aimed at all teaching professionals in Catholic schools, this programme is delivered in the context of Catholic School education. It will be delivered over five weeks, with each session taking two hours. The total cost is £250. The first session takes place on Wednesday 29 April 2026, 4.30pm – 6.30pm. For further information and registration please email: tferry@derrydiocese.org.
Sean Davis 3 Day Indoor “Easter” 2026 Fun Soccer Academy” at Templemore Sports Complex from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th April for boys and girls aged 5 to 18 years. Times: 10am to 3pm daily. For bookings/details Tel. Sean Davis FAI, IFA, FA European A Licence Coach on 07787791880.
The next ‘Rosary on the Coast’ will be this Sunday 15th March at 3pm on Benone Strand, Magilligan. Everyone welcome.
Rachel’s Vineyard: Have you been affected or hurt by abortion? If so, please contact Michelle on 07871765181.
Alcoholics Anonymous, Public Information Meeting Rosemount Resource Centre, 1A Westway, Derry, Monday 24th March 3pm. 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.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
