Second Sunday In Ordinary Time 18th January 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 18th January 10.00am Jim McLaughlin
Sunday 18th January 12Noon Terence Crawley
Monday 19th January 7.30pm Stella Healy
Tuesday 20th January 7.30pm Tony McDaid
Wednesday 21st January 7.30pm Claire Meehan
Thursday 22nd January 7.30pm Evelyn & Peter Lancaster
Friday 23rd January 7.30pm Christopher Hegarty
Saturday 24th January 6.00pm Rose Conaghan
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Jim McConnell-Portland, USA, Bridget Murphy- Sevenoaks, Charlie Doherty- Iona Court & William Lavery- New York, USA.
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Éireann Wasson, Caoimhe Stevenson, Sienna Redden & Rossá Ward. 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 11th & 25th April 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 £2446.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £725.00
Sincere thanks to all who contributed to Parish Mission overseas collection on Feast of the Epiphany. The total collected amounted to £890.00.
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.
Aras Cholmcille Museum and Heritage Centre & Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop: The shop is open after 10am morning Mass throughout the week. We have a new range of stock including confirmation cards and gifts. Aras Cholmcille Museum and Heritage Centre will re-open on Monday 2nd February 2026 at 10am.
‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of Long Tower Church. The café is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9am to 3pm and also on Sunday’s from 10am-3pm, with Sunday breakfast being served until 12Noon and Sunday lunches being served from 12Noon-3pm.
Confirmation & First Holy Communion dates for 2026
for St Columba’s Church, Long Tower
Confirmation for the P.7 pupils of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir will take place on Thursday 5th February 2026 at 1.30pm.
Confirmation for the P.7 pupils of the Long Tower Primary School, Nazareth House Primary School & Ballougry Primary School will take place on Friday 6th February 2026 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir will take place on Friday 15th May 2026 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Long Tower Primary School & Ballougry Primary School will take place on Thursday 21st May 2026 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Nazareth House Primary School will take place on Friday 22nd May 2026 at 1.30pm
Vocations Retreat Weekend for anyone (18+) interested in the diocesan priesthood, in Drumalis Retreat Centre, Larne, Friday 6th – Sunday 8th March 2026. Please register using the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discernment-retreat-for-the-diocesan-priesthood-tickets-1980332502825?aff=oddtdtcreator. For further information, please contact the Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat O’Hagan, at pgoh2111@gmail.com
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 Representative is Ms Josephine Brown and Ms Jennifer Kearney. 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).
Catholic Schools Week 2026: Sunday 18th January – Saturday 24th January. This year’s theme “Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness,” highlights the call to holiness found in everyday life, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Pope Francis and the witness of Saint Carlo Acutis. During Catholic Schools Week families, parishes and schools are invited to participate in a week of celebration of Catholic schools, reflecting on their contribution to the common good of society.
Long Tower Primary School, Long Tower Street, Derry- Nursery and Primary One Admissions are now open. Closing date is this Wednesday 21st January at 12noon. If you require any help completing the form please contact the school.
As our Advent Appeal draws to a close Children in Crossfire sincerely thank parishioners for their generous support of our Advent Appeal. For anyone still wishing to donate, Advent Boxes may be returned here next weekend.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops: January to June 2026: January 23rd/24th, February 20th/21st, March 27th/28th, 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.
Job Opportunities Derry Diocesan Trust:
Administrative & Financial Officer – permanent post, 8 – 10 hours per week. Working for Swatragh Parish, the job is based in Kilrea Parochial House. Working Days – Wednesday & Friday. For application pack, Tel 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 12noon Monday 26 January 2026.
Housekeeper: For priest in Buncrana area: 15 hours per week – days and times to arranged with priest. For application pack please 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 Friday 30th January 2026. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
The 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place from 18 to 25 January. The theme this year is “One Body, One Spirit”, based on Ephesians 4. To mark Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the City Centre Churches are holding a Walking Service on Monday 19th of January, starting at St Augustine’s Church on the Walls at 7pm. We will visit several areas of the city’s business and residential sectors before finishing at Carlisle Road Methodist Church, approximately an hour later, with light refreshments. Everyone is welcome.
Lepra Appeal: Next Weekend 24 & 25th January a collection will be taken up at all Masses for charity Lepra who have worked for over 100years to reduce the physical, emotional and social harms caused by leprosy. Your donations will change the lives of people who have leprosy, giving them a brighter future full of hope. For info. please see posters in Church porches. You can also donate at donate.lepra.org.uk. Thank you for your support.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2026: Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July (4 nights) ex City of Derry Airport. Cost £895 inclusive of local taxes but exclusive of single supplements and insurance. The Pilgrimage office will open for bookings on Saturday 17 January 2026 at 11am. However, Gift Vouchers to any value are now available (Monday to Thursday) from the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6UJ.
RADIO MARIA IRELAND As an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station we enjoy commercial free broadcasting – Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies – do join our growing faith family! Here’s how you can listen: Via Digital TV – Saorview Channel 210, Download our FREE App “RADIO MARIA IRELAND”, Streaming on our WEBSITE – www.radiomaria.ie ,Via our ‘Listen Live Radio’ link on our Facebook Page, Via PHONE – get live radio feed by calling +353 (0) 1 437 3277 (no extra charges apply) or Via DAB Radio in Leinster area. Why not drop a line to our Spiritual Director, Fr Des Farren by text on 089-4672000, by phone on 01-4123456, or come and pay us a visit at Radio Maria Ireland, St. Anthony’s Business Park, Ballymount Road, Dublin 22. D22 R7W2.
Pilgrimage To Fatima. Flying Direct From Belfast International, 7 nights F/B Avenida Hotel 14th/21st August Spiritual Director Fr Andrew McMahon PP Convenient flight times. £845pps. Deposit secures. For further information contact Joe Catney 07776425631
Direct Payments Information Session: To support carers in gaining a better understanding of using Direct Payments to arrange and pay for your own care, the Centre for Independent Living will deliver an information session at the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre, Central Drive, Creggan, on Thursday 26 February 2026, from 12Noon to 2pm. Light refreshments will be provided. For further information or to register, please contact Eilish on 02871 373870 or email eilish@olt.ie.
It’s Easy To See What Alcohol Is Doing To The Drinker But Can You See What It Is Doing To You? These questions can help you identify if someone else’s drinking is affecting you. If your answer is yes, Al-Anon Family Groups can help. For further information contact the Al Anon confidential helpline on 0800 0086 811 or email helpline@al-anonuk.org.uk . Alternatively, Tel 028 9068 2368.
The next ‘Rosary on the Coast’ will be this Sunday 18th January 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.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
