Sixth Sunday of Easter 25th May 2025
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 May 10.00am Stephen Coyle
Sunday 25th May 12Noon Betty Deery-Murphy
Monday 26th May 10.00am Mary Pat Murray
Tuesday 27th May 7.30pm Brendan McDaid
Wednesday 28th May 7.30pm Lawrence McLaughlin
Thursday 29th May 7.30pm Susie McLery
Friday 30th May 7.30pm Angela McLaughlin
Saturday 31st May 6.00pm The Murray Family
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Veronica McBride- Caw Hill Park, John Stewart-Lisfannon Park, Eileen Pettersen- Lavery Fold, Frankie Doherty- Glenside Park & John Carlin-Bridge Street.
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Cadie Lanigan & Azarel Dobbins. To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours.
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
July 2025– 12th & 19th
August 2025– 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2502.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £750.00
The Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by phone on 028-71262301 (during office hours) or via email. The Parish office will be closed on Monday 26th May and re-open on Tuesday 27th May at 9am.
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.
Padre Pio Intercede for Us
Padre Pio Mass for Healing in Mind & Body continues this Monday 26th May 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. Everyone is welcome to attend.
We congratulate P.4 pupils from Nazareth House Primary School who celebrated the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in Long Tower on Friday 23rd May. Thanks to all who made the occasion so special. We hope you all had a lovely day!
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.
Going back to her roots in the heart of the Brandywell, we invite you to Sister Clare Mass at the Brandywell Grotto on the Feast of Our Lady’s Visitation to Elizabeth, Saturday 31st May at 12 Noon. For her Cause, our petitions and the people we pray for. Everyone welcome.
St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, Annual Parish Draw: Tickets are ON SALE & SELLING FAST!! Price £5/per ticket. The draw will take place 9th June, St Columba’s Feast Day. 1st prize £2500, 2nd prize £1000, 3rd prize £500, 4th prize £300, 5th prize £200. Promoters prize of £100. Anyone wishing to purchase tickets please call/contact the Parish office on 02871-262301, Monday to Friday 9am – 2.30pm or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
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.
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus prays for His disciples and for those who will come to faith through their words. We pray for the men called to preach the Word of God as priests of the Diocese of Derry and for those among whom they will minister.
Long Tower Parish, together with Children in Crossfire are organising a ‘Columban Camino’ in Derry and Donegal between 5th – 7th June. Participants will walk from Derry to Buncrana, from Rathmullan to Milford and from there on to Gartan, overnight stay’s will be in the Inishowen Gateway and Mulroy Woods. All sponsorship raised will go to Children in Crossfire. For more info., contact aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org or call Aishling on 028 7127 8955.
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 2.30pm & concluding with Mass and Eucharistic Procession at 3.00pm. Confessions available throughout the day. Bus transport available from St Eugene’s Cathedral. For further information, 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 info. contact Anne Marie on amhickey@derrydiocese.org, Tel:028 71262894 or call at Cathedral Parish Office.
Novena To the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will be held on nine consecutive Fridays in different churches across Ireland between Friday, 2 May – Friday, 27 June 2025. The seventh Novena Mass will be celebrated by Bishop McKeown on Friday, 13 June 2025 at 7:00pm 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. A period of Adoration and Benediction will follow Mass, with an opportunity to venerate the relics. All are welcome. The relics will remain in the Church until Thursday, 19 June. Times of Masses, Veneration and Evening Devotions will be published in due course. For more information, visit https://sacredheartcrusade.ie/
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.
All Ireland Rosary Rally | Knock Shrine | Saturday 7th June; Events begin at 9:30am with a Marian Conference and conclude with a Pentecost Vigil and Healing Service from 8–10pm. Holy Mass at 3pm celebrated by Bishop Donal McKeown. Music by Dana. Rosary Rally ends with a Croagh Patrick climb and Mass on Sunday at noon. Full schedule and bus info: www.allirelandrosaryrally.com.
Venerable Matt Talbot, an Irishman whose journey from alcoholism to the heights of holiness, has inspired many who struggle with addiction. In 2025, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of his death. A pilgrimage to his Shrine in Dublin will take place on Sunday 15th June. A bus will leave Lifford (Bus Stop – opposite Hospital entrance) at 10am sharp, going via Strabane and Omagh. Food will be provided in Monaghan on the way to Dublin and on the way back. The overall cost will be €55 per person. Early booking should be appreciated. Please call Brid Toner on 00353 87 1200242 or Caroline Dorrian on 00353 87 6223036.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 22nd June 2025 at 3.00 pm.
