The Ascension of The Lord 12th May 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 12th May 12Noon Sheila McColgan
Monday 13th May 10.00am Mark McConomy
Monday 13th May 7.30pm Hayley Rodgers & Patsy Hegarty
Tuesday 14th May 10.00am Mary McDaid
Tuesday 14th May 7.30pm Edward Breslin
Wednesday 15th May 10.00am May McDaid
Wednesday 15th May 7.30pm Jimmy Friel
Thursday 16th May 7.30pm Liam Melly
Friday 17th May 7.30pm James Smith
Saturday 18th May 6.00pm The Murray Family
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Greta Cooke- Edenballymore Lodge, Mary McGowan- Old City Court, Gerard Radcliffe-Kylemore Park.
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Eoin Gillespie, Reuben Murphy & Caomhan Guille. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2249.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £707.00
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.
St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, Annual Parish Draw; Tickets are available from parish office, price £5/per ticket. The draw will take place on Sunday 9th June, St Columba’s Feast Day. 1st prize £2400.00, 2nd prize £1000.00, 3rd prize £500.00, 4th prize £300.00, 5th prize £200.00. Promoters prize of £100.00. Anyone interested in becoming a promoter or anyone wishing to purchase tickets please contact the parish office on 02871-262301 Monday – Friday 10.00am – 2.00pm or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org. Thank you for your support.
An Audio-Visual tour of the Long Tower Church is available. The guide which is narrated by Bishop Donal McKeown, offers a great insight into the history and sacredness of our beautiful Church. If you’re hosting visitors or you simply want to deepen your own appreciation, why not try the audio guide, priced at just £2.00. For further details, call into Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of The Long Tower Church or email darinaghboyle15@gmail.com
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.
St Columba’s Gift Shop: We have a variety of First Holy Communion cards and gifts available as well as candles and other mementos. For further enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty (via the Parish Office 028-7126230 or Sacristy 028-71261946) who will be happy to help.
Friday 31st May- Feast of The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Healing Mass for the sick through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes- Friday 31st May at 7.00pm at Our Lady’s Grotto, Lecky Road– (Please note there will be NO 7.30pm Evening Mass in Long Tower). Everyone is invited to join the local community at the Mass at Our Lady’s Grotto, Lecky Road.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 30 June 2024 at 3.00 pm.
The Little Way Novena in St Eugene’s Cathedral – 11th May to 19th May: The theme is ‘I choose your will only”. The Novena will begin at the 7.30 pm Mass with the Sacrament of the Sick on Saturday, 11th May. Devotions and talk on Sunday, 12th May at 6.00 pm. Monday to Friday (13th to 17th May) Novena Masses at 6.30 am and 10.00 am each morning and an evening service with a guest speaker at 7.30 pm. Saturday, 18th May 10.00 am Mass for those who have died. The Novena will close on Sunday, 19th May at 3.00 pm. Everyone is welcome to St Eugene’s Cathedral for this time of prayer and petition.
Pilgrimage to Lourdes: Joe Walsh Tours – Group Leader- Maria Bradley accompanied by Spiritual Director Fr. John Forbes- 7 nights direct from Belfast: 10th July- 17th July, cost £879.00 per person. Price includes full board and return coach travel to Belfast International airport with pick up points in Derry, Strabane, Gortin and Greencastle. For further information or to book please contact Maria Bradley on 028-81648357 or WhatsApp – 07768395038.
Silent Retreat: Theme: “If you but knew the gift of God…” Preached by: Fr. Kilian Byrne, Foyer of Charity. Venue: Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry. Date: 3rd – 9th June, cost: £350 full board Contact: Helen: 00353 86 1678027/ hellywilliams@gmail.com www.foyerofcharity.ie. A privileged time to come away from noise and distractions, and listen to the Spirit of God, – Who is Love. Silence, prayer, teachings & liturgy of the Church.
Carmelite Pilgrimage to Lourdes: 22nd August – 8 nights – Cost €979 Euro. For booking forms / further details telephone 028-71 262512.
Carmelite Pilgrimage to The Shrines of France: 16th September-7nights £1449.00 For booking forms / further details telephone 028-71 262512.
Foster Care Fortnight runs from Monday 13th – Sunday 26th May 2024, and highlights how fostering transforms lives. At HSC NI Foster Care, there are lots of ways people can get involved including short-term support, emergency care placement, supported lodgings/STAY, or long-term care. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ foster carer. We welcome enquiries and applications from all backgrounds. Could you foster? For more information, call HSC NI Foster Care on 0800 0720 137 or visit adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net.
Donegal Pro Life lunchtime gathering on Monday 13th May, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, at Letterkenny Town side of the Hospital Roundabout.
Pray for Life Novena: The Pray for Life Novena is an invitation by the Council for Life of the Irish Bishops Conference to join thousands of people across Ireland to pray, from Thursday 23rd May to the Feast of the Visitation, Friday 31st May, for the protection of human life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection & suggested actions to help build a culture of life in Ireland. Visit www.prayforlife.ie for the daily novena prayers and to sign up for daily reminders.
An Evening of Conversation & Music – Celebrating 125 Years of The Sacred Heart Church, Omagh: Wednesday 22nd May, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. St Mary’s Hall. (Entrance at back of Sacred Heart Church at the graveyard). Admission Free – Limited Tickets. We invite you to join us for a special Evening of Conversation and Music celebrating 125 Years of The Sacred Heart Church, Omagh. Joining us on the evening will be local Musicians including Tom Sweeney and The McSorley Sisters and native Priests of Drumragh including Fr Eamon Graham, Fr Joe Gormley, Fr Gerard Mongan and Fr Damian Bresnahan. You can book a ticket for this event through this Link https://bit.ly/sacredheartchurch125 or call the Parish Office on 028 82 242092.
All Ireland Rosary Rally – Knock – June 1st– The All Ireland Rosary Rally is back this year on Saturday, 1st June in Knock. The day begins with a Marian Conference at 9.30 am in St John’s Centre. There will be the Stations of the Cross outside at 2 pm, followed by the Rosary Procession. Bishop Phonsie Cullinan will be the main Celebrant of the 3pm Mass which will include Anointing of the Sick. Confessions are available throughout the day, and there will be rosary and scapular-making workshops in the marquee. For more information please visit www.AllIrelandRosaryRally.com.
Summer Concert with Canticle, the Choir of the Catholic Chaplaincy at Queen’s University. We are thrilled to announce details of our forthcoming Summer Concert, Sunday 2 June at 7pm. The singers and musicians of Canticle Sacred Music Society will provide a rich programme of sacred and traditional music, with contributions from our student string quartet, our Irish traditional ensemble, and celebrated soprano, Eilis Fox. Our good friend, Rev Steve Stockman, will host us in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, with light refreshments afterwards by Mosaic Cafe. All monies raised from tickets, priced at just £10 each, will help support our choir tour to Italy in June. Please follow the link to secure your ticket early for what is sure to be a popular event! https://fixr.co/event/canticle-summer-concert-tickets-82467491.
