The Ascension of The Lord 21st May 2023
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 21st May 10.00am June Kivelehan
Sunday 21st May 12.00Noon Magdalen Neils
Monday 22nd May 10.00am Stephen Coyle
Monday 22nd May 7.30pm Oran McShane
Tuesday 23rd May 10.00am Margaret & Neil Barr
Tuesday 23rd May 7.30pm John Doherty
Wednesday 24th May 10.00am Ruby Mooney
Wednesday 24th May 7.30pm Rosaleen Doherty
Thursday 25th May 7.30pm Hugh & Kathleen Archbold
Friday 26th May 7.30pm Michael McKee
Saturday 27th May 6.00pm Annie Clifford
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Liam Melly- Dunmore Gardens, Jimmy Friel- Westland Avenue & James (Jimbo) Crossan- Woodbrook
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Bonnie Brown & Fionnbharr Mullin. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office for dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2020.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £651.00
Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by Phone on 028-71262301 or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Visitation of the Sick. For urgent sick calls please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.
Feast of Visitation- Wednesday 31st May– Mass at Brandywell Grotto at 7.30pm. Please note there will be no evening Mass in Long Tower that evening.
We congratulate the P.4 Pupils from Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir and Ballougry PS who made their First Holy Communion in Long Tower on Saturday 13th May. What a wonderful celebration! We hope you all had a lovely day!
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Long Tower Primary School will take place on Saturday 27th May 2023 at 12.30pm and for P.4 pupils of Nazareth House Primary School on Saturday 3rd June 2023 at 12.30pm.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 25th June 2023 at 3.00 pm.
St Columba’s Church, Long Tower
Celebrating 240 years
1783 – 2023
Thursday 8th June
All-Night Vigil of Adoration beginning after 7.30pm Mass until 7am
Friday 9th June
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 and planting of Oak Tree
7.30pm: Solemn Mass of St Columba celebrated by Bishop Donal McKeown, 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 Hall with Parish Draw*
Sunday 11th June: Solemnity of Corpus Christi
12 Noon: Mass concludes with Blessed Sacrament Procession around Long Tower grounds concluding with Benediction at the Calvary. All P4 children who made their First Holy Communion are invited to participate at the Mass and lead the procession wearing their First Communion clothes. Ice cream to follow!
Sunday 25th June
Parish Family Fête: Long Tower Primary School Playground: 2pm – 4pm
*St Columba’s Church, Long Tower Celebrating 240 years 1783-2023; Parish draw on Friday 9th June, St Columba’s Feast Day, tickets on sale now at £5.00 per ticket, 1st prize £2400.00, 2nd – £1000.00, 3rd– £500.00, 4th – £300.00 & 5th £200.00. Please contact the parish office (02871262301) to purchase tickets Monday- Friday 9.00am – 2.30pm.*
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).
Music for A Summer’s Evening Concert: Join International Chart topping singers Fr Eugene O’Hagan from the multi-platinum selling classical group “The Priests” and International award winning singer Margaret Keys at Christ Church, Derry on the 17th June at 7.30pm, together with the stunning Scala Strings Orchestra and guest choir for what promises to be a night of uplifting and much loved music. Performing a wide range of music from much loved classical favourites, songs from the shows, Irish favourites and popular ballads this is an evening not to be missed! Tickets are priced at £20. You can book via Eventbrite.ie, Tel-07812588010 or call at Parish office for tickets.
Laudato Si’ Week 2023 will be celebrated globally from 21 – 28 May with the film “‘The Letter’ – A Message for Our Earth”, marking the eighth anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, addressed to all of us, on Care for Creation. This year’s theme, “Hope for the Earth. Hope for Humanity,” focuses on the connectedness of all things and the need for a renewed commitment to environmental justice. The film aims to highlight the power of humanity united in action to stop the ecological crisis and its devastating effects on all creation; it shows Laudato Si’ in action. A showing of “The Letter” will take place on Tuesday 23 May, at 7.00pm, in St Eugene’s Cathedral Hall, Infirmary Road, Derry. Please pre-book by calling the Parish Office on (+4428) 71262894, as spaces are limited. The film is also being shown in St Mary’s Hall, Buncrana, on Tuesday 23 May at 12:30pm, and in The Exchange, Buncrana, on Friday 26 May at 7:45pm, as part of the celebration of Laudato Si week. All are welcome.
Come to the Water: Derry Diocesan Youth Ministry is hosting a four-week programme in June 2023, for parish volunteers, of all ages. The programme is aimed at building inter-generational collaboration and faith community amongst parish volunteers involved in parish ministry in the parishes of the Diocese of Derry. During three online and one in-person session we will come together in prayer, learning and support, sharing best practice. The programme will explore: Different ways to pray; Themed talks: ‘Where have the young people gone?‘; ‘How well do we welcome?’; and practical ideas on what help and programmes are on offer in the diocese, including an in-depth look at best safeguarding practices for both online and in-person gatherings in our parishes. The first three sessions will be via Zoom; for the last session, we will come together in-person for an intergenerational gathering of prayer and food. Come to the Water will begin on Monday 5 June , 7:30pm-9:00pm and continue each Monday over four weeks. It will be delivered via Zoom. The last session will be held in person. To participate, please contact Lizzie Rea at lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org. Closing date for registration – Thursday 25th May.
Novena for Life: The Pray for Life Novena is an invitation to join thousands of people across Ireland to pray for the protection of human life, from Tuesday 23rd May to the Feast of the Visitation on Wednesday 31st May. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life in Ireland. Visit www.prayforlife.ie for the daily novena prayers which will also be posted on facebook.com/PrayforLifeNovena and @ChooseLifeIRL on Twitter. This is an initiative of the Council for Life of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother– Holy Hour Vigil on Saturday 27th May at 7:30pm and a Family Day on Sunday 28th May (Pentecost) from 11am-6pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Parochial Hall, and House, Killygordon. All are welcome. For more information and to register for the Family Day please contact us at: hmactivitiesireland@gmail.com
Graduation Mass – QUB Catholic Chaplaincy: On Thursday 1st June at 5.15pm, the QUB Chaplaincy will host a Graduation Mass for the Class of 2023. Students, their families and friends, as well as staff and alumni are most welcome. This Mass will be the last special celebration before we close our doors and move to temporary accommodation whilst our landmark building on Elmwood Avenue undergoes major redevelopment. If the Chaplaincy holds special memories for you and you would like to experience it as-is for one last time, know that we would love to have you join us. Refreshments will be served afterwards. If you plan to come, it would be helpful if you could let us know by emailing catholicchaplaincy@qub.ac.uk
All Ireland Rosary Rally in Knock: The All Ireland Rosary Rally will take place on Saturday June 3rd from 1pm in Knock. It will include Holy Mass, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross and a talk by Bishop Oliver Doeme. The Main Celebrant for the Holy Mass is Archbishop Eamon Martin. A bus will leave from Antrim/Derry. Please book your seat early to avoid disappointment. Ring Patricia Casey: 075 93041040
Exam Mass at Knock Shrine; 5th June at 7.30pm for all students preparing for exams and their families. Take some time out from your studies for a quiet moment to ask for God’s strength and guidance as you move through your exam period. Bring your pencil case to have it blessed.
Dromantine Family Fun Day: Sunday 11th June, 1.30pm – 5.30pm. Attractions: Grand Draw, Country & Western Music, Vintage Tractors, Bouncy Castles, Obstacle Courses, Stalls, Food, Refreshments and much more! Admission £5 Donation per car. Everyone Welcome.
Carmelite Retreat Centre Termonbacca: Carmelite Pilgrimage to Lourdes- 29th August – 6 nights. €899 Euro per person. For bookings contact the Carmelite Retreat Centre Termonbacca. Tel: 71 262512.
The Rally for Life 2023, the biggest pro-life event of the year, is just months away now – and we need YOU to start helping to make this an even bigger and better pro-life demonstration with a special focus on young people and RETAINING the 3-day wait before abortion. Saturday, JULY 1st, Parnell Square in Dublin city centre. SAVE the DATE!! We are always looking for volunteers to help out with the Rally for Life. Can YOU help with promoting the Rally and/or on the day itself. Please get in contact to help – info@thelifeinstitute.net or 01 8730465.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
