Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time 11th 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 11th February 12Noon Terence Doherty
Monday 12th February 10.00am Pat O’Donnell
Monday 12th February 7.30pm Stephen Radcliffe
Tuesday 13th February 7.30pm Sharon Wallace
Wednesday 14th February 7.30pm Hugh Gillespie
Thursday 15th February 7.30pm Pam Murphy
Friday 16th February 7.30pm Tony Horner
Saturday 17th February 10.00am Matthew Morrison
Saturday 17th February 6.00pm Johnny & Kevin McGowan
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Raymond Bradley- Glendara & Sally Cutter- Hollymount Park
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Fiadh McConomy. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2316.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £576.00
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.
The Lourdes Hospitalite Collection, which helps those who wish to go to Lourdes and require care & assistance, will be taken up this weekend 10th/11th February. As in previous years, we appeal to your generosity for this worthwhile cause.
Lectio Divina – as we commence Lent, we are invited to journey with the Lord much in the same manner as he did for forty days and nights in the desert. One of the ways in which we can accompany him is through encountering the Word in a prayerful manner. This is given to us by the Church (through the Rule of Benedict that forms the basis for the Benedictine and Cistercian Religious Orders) as a form of praying with the scriptures called lectio divina (divine reading). Fr Stephen will facilitate this downstairs in the Aras Colmcille, every Wednesday after mass from 11am-12pm during Lent, commencing this Ash Wednesday 14th February and concluding on Wednesday 13th March as we focus on the Gospel for each of the Sundays of Lent. All are welcome to attended. Handouts will be provided!
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2024
‘When we entrust ourselves to the Lord,
We can overcome all obstacles that we encounter on the way.’ Pope Francis
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 14th February 2024
Ash Wednesday – a day of fast and abstinence – Catholics are asked to eat a maximum of one main meal and two collations (light meals) and to abstain from meat. Ashes will be blessed at the 7.00am Mass and distributed at the 7.00am, 10.00am and 7.30pm Masses. Please note that ashes will not be distributed at any other times and not from the Parochial House.
The Holy Land Collection will be taken up at all Masses on Ash Wednesday.
There will be a 7.00am Mass in Long Tower Church, Monday- Friday during the season of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday 14th February and ending on Wednesday 27th March, Holy Week.
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, beginning Sunday 18th February with Healing Service and Vespers on alternate Sundays thereafter up to and including Palm Sunday.
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.
Short Term Alcohol Free Promise for Lent: During Lent we always try to engage in extra Prayer, Fasting And Almsgiving. Last year quite a number of parishioners promised to stay off alcohol as an act of Fasting and we hope that this will happen again in 2024. If you choose to give up alcohol we ask you to sign up to this and to wear the special badge we have made to signify our commitment to forego alcohol for the 40 days of LENT. The suggested offering to pay for the badge is £2.00.
Walk with Me – A Journey of Prayer for Lent 2024: Booklets are available from parish office or from Jim Doherty at Church, cost £1.00. These booklets are a useful prayer format for the Holy season of Lent.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2024: our Lenten campaign this year takes inspiration from the prophet Amos who says: “Let justice flow like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24). This Lent, we are called to join the river of justice and peace. We remember the millions of people around the world who are in crisis, affected by conflict and climate change. Trocaire boxes are available at back of the Church, please take one.
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 Representatives are Mrs Rita Moore and Ms Josephine Brown. 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).
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, starting Saturday 10th February. Telephone number 028 71260293, email derrypilgrim@outlook.com
Diocesan Vocations: There will be a Vocations Retreat in Larne on the weekend of 8th -10th March 2024 for men aged 18+ who are interested in the diocesan priesthood. Anyone interested is asked to contact Fr Pat O’Hagan at pgoh2111@gmail.com or at (028) 79386259.
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.
Effatha Revival: We want to build upon the Eucharistic procession in the City of Derry on 3rd February. The Effatha Revival Adoration Campaign is now here. We need your help to cover all 960 hours of the 40 days from 8th February – 19th March Sign up at effatha.live for one hour of adoration, at any time in your local church during the 40 days. Ideally it would be a weekly commitment, but even one hour would make a difference. Pray with others around the world for the seven intentions as we seek His Holy Face. For further details email effatharevival@gmail.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.
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.
