Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time 15th February 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 15th February 10.00am Angela Doherty
Sunday 15th February 12Noon Patrick Taggart
Monday 16th February 10.00am Annie Duffy
Monday 16th February 7.30pm Margaret & James McCallion
Tuesday 17th February 10.00am Matthew Morrison
Tuesday 17th February 7.30pm Matilda Gillespie
Thursday 19th February 10.00am Margaret & Annie Healy
Thursday 19th February 7.30pm Margaret Doherty
Friday 20th February 7.30pm Alec Curran
Saturday 21st February 10.00am Mardi Glenn
Saturday 21st February 6.00pm Philomena McQuaide
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Tony Doherty- Danesfort Crescent
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Rowan McKinney & Conlan Doherty. 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 date is 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 £2815.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £847.00
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.
‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of Long Tower Church. The café is open Tuesday – Saturday 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.
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 to include Confirmation & First Holy Communion cards and gifts, along with cards, candles and gifts for St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. For all enquiries, please call -028 71368491.
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2026
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 18th February 2026
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 7am Mass and distributed at the 7am, 10am 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, Wednesday & Friday’s during the season of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday 18th February and ending on Wednesday 1st April, Holy Week.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Lent: Wednesday’s 10.30am-7.00pm and Thursday’s (except Holy Thursday) 8.00pm-9.00pm.
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 & Thursday before Evening Mass at 7.00pm, beginning Thursday 19th February. Confessions on those days will be at 6.30pm.
Lenten Vespers (Evening Prayer) with benediction on Sundays at 5.00pm during the season of Lent, beginning Sunday 22nd February.
Lectio Divina You are invited to join our Lectio Divina a 6 week, prayful preparation for Lent. It will take place upstairs, 1st floor, at Aras Cholmcille (Wee Nuns). There will be 2 sessions, one starting Monday 23rd February after 10am Mass and another on Tuesday 24th February after 7.30pm Mass. Everyone welcome but especially those seeking an introduction to explore scripture in a gentle way.
Family Rosary for Lent: Sign-up sheets will be provided in Long Tower Altar area if anyone would like to commit to reciting the Rosary with the family at home during Lent. Your intentions will be united to every Mass.
Short Term Alcohol Free Promise for Lent: During Lent we always try to engage in extra PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. Last year a number of parishioners promised to stay off alcohol as an act of fasting and we hope that this will happen again in 2026. If you choose to give up alcohol we ask you to sign up to this FAST in the sacristy or in the Parish Office and to wear the badge to signify your 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 2026. Booklets are now available from Parish office or Jim Doherty at Church, Cost £1.50. These booklets are a useful prayer format for the Holy season of Lent.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2026: The key messages and focus areas for Trócaire’s 2026 Lenten campaign revolve around climate justice and urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza and Ukraine. As in previous years we ask you to support Trocaire throughout Lent. Trocaire boxes will be available in the Church. Find out more at trocaire.org.
First Holy Communion dates 2026 – St Columba’s Church, Long Tower
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.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: For availability, please ring 02871 260293 and leave a message or email; derrypilgrim@outlook.com. Or alternatively contact JWT Dublin on +353 1 685 2244takes place from Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July.
Rosary as Gaeilge starting in Áras: Would you like the opportunity to learn the Rosary in Irish? The first of six classes starts this Ash Wednesday after 10am Mass, top floor of Áras Cholmcille (aka Wee Nuns). Mrs Mary Kane will teach this powerful prayer in the language our ancestors would have recited it. Irish speakers are welcome but this class is aimed at absolute beginners. The classes are free and handouts will be provided. After class you are invited to join us in Cloisters and help support our community café. This year, on St Columba’s Feast Day 9th June, we hope upwards of 300 people will gather at the Calvary to offer the Rosary in Irish for peace.
DEEDS – Supporting the Carer Talk Series- The second talk in our carers information sessions, funded by the WHSCT, will focus on the costs associated with Residential Care. This information session will take place at the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre, Central Drive, Creggan, on Thursday 26th March at 12.00 noon. Light refreshments will be provided. For further info please contact Eilish on 02871 373870 or email eilish@olt.ie.
Matt Talbot Urban Mystic – A film about venerable Matt Talbot and his journey to freedom from addiction. Showing at 7.00pm, 23rd February 2026 at Brunswick Movie Bowl. Pre-booking tickets recommended at https://www.brunswickmoviebowl.com
Time for Dementia is now at the University of Ulster and the Alzheimer’s Society are actively looking for families to take part. Time for Dementia is an innovative award-winning training programme, designed to educate undergraduate healthcare students to improve their knowledge, attitude, and empathy towards people with dementia and their carers. The student nurses will be paired up with a family affected by dementia and will arrange to visit them at home, 3 times a year. This is a unique learning opportunity for the students but also a great chance for a family affected by dementia to share their experiences of living with the condition and help nurses of tomorrow learn about Dementia to improve the future of healthcare for people with dementia. To find out more information, please contact Anouska Noble on 07860331648 or anouska.noble@alzheimers.org.uk.
Radio Maria Ireland is an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station we enjoy commercial free broadcasting – Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies. 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)
Road Victim Support Northern Ireland – Donegal Monthly Support Meeting: Road Victim Support NI-Donegal provides support and information to those bereaved through fatal road traffic collisions. Their monthly support meeting for the Northwest area will take place on Tuesday 24 February at 7.00pm in Shantallow Community Centre, Drumleck Drive. All who have lost a loved one on the roads, and those who support them, are warmly welcome. For more information, contact 07522997079 or visit www.rvsnid.com.
Catholic Couples — Date Night: Join us for an unforgettable evening with Mark & Anne O’Leary — inspiring talks, laughter, faith, and a gorgeous 4‑course meal! Sat 18 April • 7pm • Armagh City Hotel • Fun prizes • Great atmosphere • A perfect night out together! For more information of to book contact: info@catholicmothers.ie
Does your child struggle at school? Do they have meltdowns, anxiety or refuse to go to school? Do they struggle with reading and writing? Can they concentrate in lessons? Have they been diagnosed with ADHD, ASD or are you on a waiting list for assessment? My name is Anne-Marie O’Kane and I am a neurodevelopmental therapist trained in the INPP (Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology) Method of Primitive Reflex Integration with a practice here in Derry. For more information, please contact me: www.kinectedmoves.com or 07546814664
The next ‘Rosary on the Coast’ will be this Sunday 15th February 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.
