Second Sunday of Lent 25th February 2024
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 25th February 10.00am Daniel McCafferty
Sunday 25th February 12Noon Lawrence O’Reilly
Monday 26th February 7.30pm Andy Hegarty
Tuesday 27th February 7.30pm Peggy McMonagle
Wednesday 28th February 7.30pm The Healy Family
Thursday 29th February 7.30pm Johnny Meehan
Friday 1st March 10.00am Angela Michael
Saturday 2nd March 10.00am Jeannie McConomy
Saturday 2nd March 6.00pm William McMenamin
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Cathy McKinney- Foyle Road, Fred Box- Capall Court
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Darragh Minsaria, Jax Doherty, Michael O’Kane & Chroí Mulcahy. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2080.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £745.00
HOLY LAND COLLECTION £1425.00
The Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by phone on 028-71262301 (during office hours) or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Fr. Gerard kindly acknowledges with thanks a recent donation to the renovation fund, as well as a very generous bequest to the Long Tower parish.
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.
St Columba’s Gift Shop: We have a large variety of cards and gifts for St Patrick’s Day, Confirmations & First Holy Communions available as well as candles and other mementos. The shop will be open before/after 10.00am Mass Monday-Friday and also before 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday’s. For further information/ enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty (via the Parish Office 028-7126230 or Sacristy 028-71261946) who will be happy to assist you.
Diocesan Vocations: The annual inter-diocesan Vocations Retreat will take place in Drumalis, Larne, from 8th -10th March. Anyone aged 18 or older, interested in attending should contact Fr Pat O’Hagan at pgoh2111@gmail.com or on (028) 79386259.
Padre Pio Intercede for Us
Padre Pio Mass for Healing in Mind & Body continues this Monday 26th February at 7.30pm
Through the gift of this Mass we will unite in prayer with all who are ill, unwell, feeling isolated and struggling with the pressures of life. We pray to be surrounded by the light and warmth of God’s love to heal us at this time.
We hope at the end of each Mass to give a Blessing using a 1st class relic of Padre Pio.
The Mass will be streamed via our parish website: www.longtowerchurch.org then click on the link for the webcam or alternatively by logging on to www.churchmedia.tv. Everyone is welcome to attend.
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2024
Mass at 7.00am in Long Tower Church, Monday- Friday during the season of Lent.
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.
Schedule for Stations of the Cross During Lent: Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Monday & Friday before Evening Mass at 7.00pm. Confessions on those days will be at 6.30pm.
Lenten Healing Service/ Vespers (Evening Prayer): on Sundays at 6.00pm during the season of Lent, continues this Sunday 25th February with Vespers (evening prayer).
Divine Mercy & Rosary: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Rosary will be recited in Long Tower Church, Monday- Friday at 3.00pm during the season of Lent.
Confirmation & First Holy Communion 2024
Confirmation for the P.7 pupils of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir will take place this Friday 1st March 2024 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 Thursday 7th March 2024 at 5pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir & Ballougry Primary School will take place on Saturday 18th May 2024 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Long Tower Primary School will take place on Friday 24th May 2024 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Nazareth House Primary School will take place on Friday 31st May 2024 at 1.30pm.
Launch of Spring Activities Programme at Áras Cholmcille (aka Wee Nuns) in the grounds of Long Tower Church. March begins the rollout of affordable classes for adults in guitar for beginners (tutor Danny McGilloway), art classes in watercolour, oil and acrylics (tutor Phil Kelly), classes in crafting, quilting and embroidery (tutor Louise Kelly) and crafting with willow. See our facebook page ‘The St Columba Heritage Centre’ for schedule and other details. To book a place on any of these courses, please email darinaghboyle15@gmail.com or send a text message/ whatsapp to Dara on 077 898 50793.
Gala Concert In St Columb’s Hall:- The Three Priests and soprano Margaret Keys are performing what promises to be a musical extravaganza on Sunday 24th March at 7.30pm in the magnificent St Columb’s Hall. The concert is a fundraiser for the restoration of the 180-year-old organ in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower and tickets will go on sale next week, priced at £30.00. For Further details/ how you can purchase tickets will follow, keep an eye on Long Tower facebook page or email darinaghboyle15@gmail.com or longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024: Monday 1 to Friday 5 July, ex City of Derry Airport. Led by Bishop Donal McKeown. Full board £799, single room supplement £150. The pilgrimage office at 164 Bishop Street, Derry, will open to the public 11am to 1pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. Telephone number 028 71260293, email derrypilgrim@outlook.com.
Derry Diocesan Trust: Parish of Claudy, Position: Cleaner, Permanent Part Time, 5 Hours per week; St Patrick’s Church, Claudy & St Joseph’s Church, Craigbane. Days and times to be agreed with Parish Priest. 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 4.30pm on Monday 11th March 2024. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We welcome applications from all men and women and from members of all communities.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses April – June 2024: April 19th/20th 2024, May 17th/18th 2024 & June 14th/15th 2024. Venue: Please note that all courses are now in person & NOT Virtual. Courses can be booked online now at www.accordni.com
Accord NI Catholic Marriage Care Service is currently recruiting people to train as marriage preparation programme facilitators. If you have a positive attitude towards marriage in the Catholic Church, if you have the enthusiasm to be part of the Accord team in supporting couples who are preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, Accord wants to hear from you! Successful applicants will receive professional training and will be part of a team delivering marriage preparation programmes locally. Contact Brenda on 02890 233002 or by email to info@accordni.com
Lent: Season of Well-Being Weekend Retreat at Ards Friary, 23rd– 25th February, led by Philip McParland. This weekend will present Lent as a suitable time to practice the things that are good for our physical, mental and spiritual health. To book, contact Ards. Tel: 074 91 38909. Email: info@ardsfriary.ie
Living Disciples – Franciscan Friars of The Renewal, Derry: Healing Nights every First Friday in St Joseph’s Chapel, Galliagh, Derry from 7.00pm – 10.00pm.
Lough Derg Retreat For Young Adults (18 – 30-year olds): The Knights of Columbanus, Omagh, is organising a Retreat in Lough Derg for young adults, to take place on Saturday 27th April 2024, from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Guest Speakers, inspirational talks, reflective time and concluding with Mass. This event is FREE OF CHARGE. For further information email info@knightsofstcolumbansomagh.co.uk.
Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbaca, Derry: Meeting every Sunday at 3.00pm, for adult children of alcoholic and dysfunctional families. This is an anonymous programme for those 18 years and over who grew up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional homes.
