Pentecost Sunday           8^th June 2025

 

Pentecost: An Invitation for Transformation:

In the upper room, the disciples not only received instruction from the Holy Spirit but were also transformed. A rushing wind and tongues of flame—and suddenly their speech, once hesitant, reached across differences and divisions. This vast download of grace is what theologian Romano Guardini describes as the Spirit teaching the entire truth of Christ to the disciples. Guardini also reminds us that we often become absorbed in outward public things: our bodies, our status, and our need to explain ourselves—while neglecting the quiet truth of our inner, hidden spirit. This, he says, is why we cannot reach Christ on our own—the Spirit must come and fetch us. But first, we must let go of our illusions of happiness, “confident that He will catch us up in His love and draw us to Him.” Therefore, recognising our struggles and addictions, God accepts not only our created spirit but also our created flesh, our attachments, our desires, and our longing to be known. He does not wait for us to become more disciplined or even more holy, nor does He ask us to abandon our complicated, embodied selves. Instead, He waits for the ultimate invitation—to enter our inner room and transform the places we hide, forget, or fear, so that we may speak the entire truth of Christ in our communities. Reflection by Teresa McDaid. Bibliography Guardini, R. (1956) The Lord. Translated by Castendyk, E. London: Longmans.  pp. 428-430. Scripture Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15-16, 23-26.

 

 

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 8^th June 12Noon              Jim Healy

Tuesday 10^th June 7.30pm           Liam Kennedy

Wednesday 11^th June 10.00am   Ellen McFaul

Wednesday 11^th June 7.30pm     Paddy McAnee

Thursday 12^th June 10.00am      Gerry McCarron

Thursday 12^th June 7.30pm        Jack McGill

Friday 13^th June 7.30pm            Ann Doherty

                               

Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; John Shiels- Little Diamond

 

 

 

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.

July 2025– 12^th & 19^th August 2025– 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th & 23^rd

 

 

 

LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO         £3203.00

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO     £787.00

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Celebrating the Jubilee Year, 2025

as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’

Sunday – 8th June – Pentecost Sunday

All-Night Vigil of Adoration beginning

after 12 Noon Mass, Sunday 8th until Monday 9th before 7am Mass

 

Monday 9th June- Feast Day of St Columba

7am: Mass at the Hawthorn Tree (beside Fr Lynch’s Grave at the Grotto) concluding All-Night Adoration

10am: Mass with the Children/Families of Long Tower, Nazareth House

& Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir Primary Schools

7.30pm: Solemn Mass of St Columba celebrated by Bishop Philip Boyce, retired Bishop of Raphoe, followed by procession to St Columba’s Well, led by St Colmcille’s Pipe Band. Refreshments and Traditional Music Session in Lower Long Tower Primary School with Parish Draw. Everyone Welcome.

 

 

 

You are invited to attend a Service of Celebration, Sunday 8^th June at 4pm, marking the eve of St Columba’s Feast Day in St Augustine’s Church on the Walls. The meditation will be delivered by Bishop Donal McKeown, and representatives of all the main Churches in the City will participate in this joint ceremony. Here in this parish, we have a long and dedicated history of honouring our Holy Patron, especially by attending Mass and the Blessing of the Holy Well. But we do justice to St Columba- Cholm Cille’s legacy by reaching out to others in a spirit of Christian fellowship. We hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend and represent Long Tower’s love of our founding saint.

 

 

 

 

 

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage 2025 to Knock Shrine, led by Bishop McKeown, will take place on Sunday 15 June, commencing with Rosary at 2.00pm, followed by Anointing of the Sick at 2.30 and concluding with Mass and Eucharistic Procession at 3.00pm.  Confessions available throughout the day. For those for whom it is convenient, bus transport is available from St Eugene’s Cathedral.  For further information on this, please contact Karen on 028 71262 894 or by email on cathedral@derrydiocese.org. In conjunction with the pilgrimage, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, is running a two-night pilgrimage to Knock from 15 -17 June. Cost £280 per person sharing.  For more information and full itinerary, contact Anne Marie on amhickey@derrydiocese.org, telephone 028 71262894 or call into the Cathedral Parish Office.

 

 

 

 

Diocese of Derry 3-Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg; Friday 25^th July to Sunday 27^th July.  For those wishing to avail of transport, a bus will depart after 10am Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, on the Friday; it will travel via Lifford and Ballybofey.  Cost: £95/€110 (including transport). Pre-booking is required. Please contact Tony Brennan on tony.brennan@derrydiocese.org or phone the Diocese Office on (+44) 028 7126 2302 for a booking form.

 

 

 

 

Diocesan Vocations Intercession: As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday we ask the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts and minds of the men being called to serve the Church in this diocese as priests, to guide them in their discernment, and help them to choose the path the Lord wishes them to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop in Aras Cholmcille: New stock recently arrived including Jubilee 2025 Rosary Beads. We stock a variety of gifts & cards, candles, rosary beads, books, occasion cards and many other gifts & mementos. The shop is open 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’ in Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of Long Tower Church, a cosy place to relax and have a bite to eat or a cuppa and a cake! The café is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9am to 3pm. Spread the word! ‘Meet & Bite’ is housed in Cloisters Café on a Tuesday between 4pm-6pm and is available to those in need at no cost. We aim to provide a listening ear, as well as a warm meal and some goodies to take away where we can. Have a look at Cloisters social media Meet & Bite for more information.

 

 

 

 

Áras Cholmcille – We are seeking volunteers to staff the reception. For further information please email darinaghboyle15@gmail.com or send a text to 07789850793.

 

 

 

 

Novena to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:  As part of a Novena to the Sacred Heart being held on nine consecutive Fridays, the seventh Novena Mass will be celebrated by Bishop McKeown on Friday13^th June at 7pm in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Derry Road, Strabane.  Additionally, the relics of St Margaret Mary Alacoque & St Claude la Colombiere from Paray-le-Monial, France will be present, and will stay in the Church until Thursday 19^th June.  Times of Celebration of the Eucharist​, Adoration, Veneration of Relics and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (13 – 19 June) are published at https://www.derrydiocese.org/sacred-heart. Everyone is welcome.

 

 

 

 

Parish of Culmore – Parishioners from Culmore Parish are invited to join in a time of prayer to discern our Parish needs and how the Lord invites us to respond.  We will gather to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in Hollybush Primary School on Tuesday 10^th & 17^th June at 7pm.  This gathering in prayer is open to everyone. If you are unsure of how to pray, or how to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, know that you will be gently guided and supported throughout. This is a welcoming space where all are encouraged to come as they are, and grow in faith together.

 

 

 

‘Vulnerable to delight’ – Seamus Heaney: Poet of Childhood. A lecture presented by Dr, Gary Wade (Adjunct Lecturer, University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia) will take place at St. Columb’s College, Wednesday 18 June 2025 at 4:15 p.m. To book places please email: info@stcolumbs.derry.ni.sch.uk or telephone 02871 285000. Light refreshments served afterwards. All Welcome!

 

 

 

Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead takes place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 22^nd June at 3.00 pm.  Please be in position at 2.30 pm.  Families are asked to bring their own holy water to the Cemetery for the blessing of the graves. At the appropriate time Bishop McKeown will ask a representative of each family to sprinkle their family grave (and neighbouring grave if there is no-one present). There will be no holy water in the Cemetery. 130 car parking spaces will be made available for Blue Badge holders within the Cemetery.  The places will be allocated on a first come first served basis to current Blue Badge holders and can be booked at www.derrystrabane.com/cemeterysunday. There will be no vehicle access to the cemetery from 12pm to facilitate preparations for the service. Access will only be given to those who have registered with gates remaining open until 2pm.  Those who have secured a space must be in place by 2pm, as there will be no access for vehicles after this time. Other car parking will be available for blue badge holders at St Mary’s Church, Creggan, St Cecilia’s College and Celtic Park. Booking is not required, and access will only be given to vehicles that display a current Disability Blue Badge Permit on arrival. For visitors parking outside the cemetery, we ask that you please park in appropriate areas and be considerate of people living in the area. Do not block roadways, footpaths, or gateways when parking. This is an important time of prayer for families who are remembering loved ones, and we ask that everyone is respectful and mindful of other visitors during the service. We encourage those attending to arrive in good time, and to adhere to the advice of the stewards.  We would greatly appreciate cooperation with staff to ensure everyone can have safe and easy access to this time of prayer. The Service will also be live streamed and available to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwxjiwtrdi4

 

 

 

Apex Housing Association – Abbey House Luncheon Club: Meals on Wheels price ranges from £3.50 to £5.22, delivered free of charge within three-mile radius contact Patricia on 07902692251 or Abbey House on 02871262392.

 

 

 

Sean Davis “4 Day Outdoor Summer Fun Soccer Academy takes place at Templemore Sports Complex on Monday 7^th to Thursday 10^th July 2025.  Boys and girls aged 5 to 18 years are welcome.  Times: 10am to 3pm.  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.