Palm Sunday 13th April 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 13th April 10.00am Nora Creighton & Danny O’Connor
Sunday 13th April 12Noon Billy (Bap) Friel
Monday 14th April 7.30pm John Slevin
Tuesday 15th April 7.30pm Marie Bradley
Wednesday 16th April 10.00am Julia O’Reilly
Wednesday 16th April 7.30pm Ethel Vernon
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; John Crawley- Bishop Street & Kathleen Henry- Slievemore Park
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Eddy Brown. 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.
June 2025– 14th, 21st & 28th
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2826.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £686.00
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.
Sister Clare Crockett Retreat:
What a special week it was. A big thank you to every single person who helped to organise it and all who participated in it – we are deeply grateful. In particular, we thank Fr Stephen Quinn and the Carmelite Fathers, the Sr Clare Retreat Committee, all our Schools and Colleges who participated with their teachers and beautiful choirs, our visiting priests who led the various liturgies, our Guest Speakers, Soloists and Musicians, Long Tower Folk Group, Readers, Collectors, Cleaners, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Stewards, Photographers, Altar Servers and to Louise Payne for the most beautiful floral displays. And most importantly, to you all who came so faithfully each morning and evening or joined us online in such huge numbers. Next year’s Sr Clare Retreat will take place from Monday 13th April to Sunday 19th April, 2026. Save the dates!
Sister Clare – 9th Anniversary. An anniversary Mass will be celebrated in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower on Wednesday 16th April at 6pm. Everyone welcome.
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.
Schedule for Holy Week
Palm Sunday
There will be a procession on Palm Sunday, 13th April from Brandywell Grotto to Long Tower Church beginning at 11.30am lead by Thomas the donkey and a lone piper for Mass at 12Noon. There will be a blessing of Palms at all Masses.
Confessions
On Sunday 13th April, Palm Sunday at 5pm there will be a short Penitential Service with Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for Confessions. Benediction will follow Confession. Confessions will also be available Monday – Wednesday of Holy Week at 7.00pm each evening and on Good Friday for 1 hour after Service of our Lord’s Passion and again after 7.30pm Stations of the Cross. Please note there will be no Confessions on Holy Saturday. Confessions will resume the week after Easter.
Ceremonies
Holy Thursday
10.00am: Mass of Chrism in St Eugene’s Cathedral. Bishop McKeown will celebrate the Mass of Chrism, on Holy Thursday morning (17th April) at 10.00am.
During Mass the Holy Oils for Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and Ordination are blessed. Also, the priests renew their Ordination promises.
7.30pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper- Followed by Adoration at the Altar of Repose until Midnight.
Good Friday (Day of Fast and Abstinence),
10.00am: Morning Prayer,
3.00pm: Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, followed by Confessions for 1hr
7.30pm: Stations of the Cross, followed by Confessions until 9pm.
Holy Saturday
10.00am: Morning Prayer
9.00pm: Easter Vigil (No 6.00pm Vigil Mass)
Easter Sunday Masses
8.00am, 10.00am & 12 noon.
All dates and times of services/Masses throughout Holy Week are detailed on a leaflet, please take a copy as you leave the Church.
Details can also be found on the parish website www.longtowerchurch.org & Facebook page.
Mass Of Chrism: Bishop Donal McKeown will celebrate the annual Mass of Chrism with the priests of the diocese in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, on Holy Thursday morning (17 April) at 10 o’clock. During Mass the holy Oils for Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and Ordination are blessed. Also, the priests renew their Ordination promises. It is the only Mass celebrated in the diocese on Holy Thursday morning. Everyone is welcome to attend the Chrism Mass, or join via the St Eugene’s parish webcam: www.steugenescathedral.com/webcam.html
The New Parish Collection Envelopes have now been issued. If you still have not received your envelopes or would like to receive a box please telephone or call at the parish office during office hours 9.00am -2.30pm Monday-Friday, Tel: 028-71262301. Alternatively, please also check at the sacristy during Mass times, particularly if you live outside the parish. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Divine Mercy Novena starts on Good Friday and finishes on Divine Mercy Sunday 27th April. There will be Divine Mercy Devotions in St Mary’s Church, Creggan, led by Bishop Donal McKeown on Sunday 27th April at 3pm, preceded by Confessions from 1.30pm – 2.30pm, as part of the Jubilee Year Celebrations. The Priests of the Long Tower will be assisting in Creggan this year for Divine Mercy Sunday.
Way of the Cross Walk through Derry on Good Friday, starting at 9:00 PM from St. Columba’s Long Tower Church. The 10km route will take us between the Peace Bridge and Foyle Bridge, returning to the Long Tower Church around midnight. It will be a solemn, prayerful walk in silence, open to all. We ask participants to dress warmly, bring water, and be visible to drivers — a flashlight or reflective gear is recommended. RSVP link: https://forms.gle/rLN396vzCQQRQtsV8
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: For those called to serve as priests of the diocese that they will bring their people to honour the Holy Name of Jesus, the name above all names, and “…acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (St Paul, 2nd reading).
Long Tower Parish are organising a ‘Columban Camino’ in Derry and Donegal between 5th – 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.
Easter Monday Pilgrim Path Walk @ Lough Derg: Join the Team at Lough Derg for a guided walk along the ancient Pilgrim Path around Lough Derg on Monday 21st April at 10.30am (8km & 12km options available). Free event. Booking essential. More information www.loughderg.org
Masters in Catholic School Leadership: The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, working in Partnership with Saint Mary’s University, Twickenham, offers the Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This is a post graduate degree dedicated to the professional development and spiritual formation of Catholic school leaders. It is a great opportunity for those currently in leadership roles and those who aspire to, or have an interest in, leadership roles within the Catholic School system. If you are interested in registering for the Masters in September 2025 or require any further information, please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 004428 71264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org
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 3.00 pm.
