THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS 1ST NOVEMBER 2020
This Sunday 1st November we celebrate the Feast of All Saints
Masses are on Saturday: Vigil 6.00pm, Sunday: 8.00am, 10.00am & 12Noon.
The Apostolic Penitentiary announces modifications to the Plenary Indulgence for the deceased during the month of November 2020, by the special mandate of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Plenary Indulgence for Feast of All Souls’, Monday 2nd November 2020. Regarding the Plenary Indulgence attached to All Souls’ Day, 2 November, this year, it can be obtained not only on the preceding or succeeding Sunday, or on the actual Feast day, but on any other day of the month chosen by each member of the faithful. In this case, the indulgence is obtained by “devoutly visiting a church or an oratory”, along with the recitation of the Our Father and the Creed, and the other requirements associated with a Plenary Indulgence.
Plenary Indulgence during month of November. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the need to avoid large groups from forming where prohibited, the Plenary Indulgence applicable to the deceased by those who visit a cemetery has been extended beyond the normal dates of 1 to 8 November. This year, the indulgence can be obtained by anyone who visits a cemetery, even if only mentally, on any day in November, and devoutly prays for the faithful departed.
The Housebound. For anyone who cannot leave their home for various reasons, including anti-covid restrictions, they too can obtain the Plenary Indulgence by “uniting themselves spiritually to other members of the faithful”. In this case, the condition of being “completely detached from sin” and the intention of completing the other requirements for obtaining a Plenary Indulgence remain. These conditions are Sacramental Confession, reception of Holy Communion and a prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions. The Decree suggests that such prayer take place before an “image of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary”. Among the various prayers that are recommended are “prayers for the deceased, Morning or Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, meditating on various Gospel passages proposed for the liturgy of the Dead, or completing a work of mercy by offering to God the suffering and discomforts of one’s own life”.
Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed Mass will be offered on Monday 2nd November at 7.30pm in commemoration of the departed. During the Mass the names of all those who were buried from the Long Tower during the year (1st Oct’19 -30th Sept’20) will be read out and a candle will be lit and placed in front of the memorial board bearing their names. We invite you to join us, when you can, via the webcam and also to visit the Church during this month of November to offer a prayer for the happy repose of the soul of your own deceased relative or friend.
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 1st November 12Noon Edward & Grace McCallion
Tuesday 3rd November 10.00am George McGowan
Tuesday 3rd November 7.30pm Kathleen Bradley
Wednesday 4th November10.00am Nan Gallagher
Wednesday 4th November 7.30pm Jack Morrison
Thursday 5th November 10.00am Marion Hutchings
Thursday 5th November 7.30pm Thomas McShane
Friday 6th November 10.00am Elizabeth Duddy
Saturday 7th November 6.00pm Kevin Mullan
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Eddie Diggins- Bonds Hill & Aaron Doherty – Rinmore Drive.
Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by Phone on 028-71262301 or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org
Baptisms: Please contact the Parish Office for dates.
Visitation of the Sick. For urgent sick calls please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.
Mass Guidance
Additional regulations for places of Worship implemented on Friday 16th October restricts the number of people attending Funerals to 25 people. Weekday & Saturday Morning Masses will continue as usual at 10am with Funeral Masses at 11am. There will be no Funeral Masses on a Sunday. The restrictions are in place for a period of four weeks when they will be reviewed again.
It is also mandatory that everyone attending Mass & other Church Services wear a face covering at all times. We must all continue to observe social distancing, use the hand sanitiser on entering & leaving the Church and to receive Holy Communion only in the hand. It is up to each of us individually and as a community to keep each other as safe as possible as we continue to live alongside the virus. We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to gather together in these uncertain times.
Padre Pio Intercede for Us
The next Padre Pio Mass for Healing in Mind & Body will be on Monday 9th November at 7.30pm.
You can access the Mass via our parish website: www.longtowerchurch.org then click on the link for the webcam or alternatively by logging on to www.churchmedia.tv
Our Inner Castle
Remembering and praying for the many Saints who remain present with us down through the ages, there is one whose work may help us all in these times – Saint Teresa of Avila. St Teresa entered the Carmelite convent when she was 20 years of age and began having divine visions and guidance following a period of severe illness. These experiences gave her great insight and a deeper awareness of the Divine within her heart, moving her to develop a more mystical approach to finding the love of God within ourselves. Teresa guides us through, what she calls the Interior Castle, a place symbolic of our heart. She shows us a glorious place filled with many rooms, with a grand center – home of the Divine presence. Teresa takes us on a journey through the castle, stopping to reflect at each room to allow us to discover, learn and grow into the fullness of who we truly are and what the purpose of our life really is. She encourages us to be vigilant with our preoccupation with the material life – the outer wall of the castle – and make time to be more present in quiet and still moments. Teresa gives us two things to help us through – prayer and meditation – the ultimate salve for our hearts that nourishes, calms and bonds us together. May we break through our outer walls and enter the beauty of our hearts – feeling the love that Teresa felt in discovering that the Divine Presence lies within us all.
References and further reading: The Interior Castle – Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582).
Annual Solemn Novena In Honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Nine Sundays before Christmas in Long Tower Church at 6.00pm, continuing this Sunday 1st November. Pope Francis wrote his latest letter to us all on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on 4th October. In it he asks us, in the spirit of St. Francis, to pray for and work at brotherhood and solidarity with all our sisters and brothers of all faiths and none. We will pray for this spirit of fraternal love through our Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Each night will comprise of the Rosary, Novena prayer and petitions with a short talk given by various guest speakers and a ceremony of healing with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Our speaker this week is Fr Anthony Prendergast CSJ a native of County Mayo. Fr Anthony is a priest of the Community of St John. Having trained in France and the USA, he has ministered in six continents and preaches the Gospel with great zeal. We welcome him to the Long Tower as we continue our Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We encourage everybody, including those in particular need of healing in their lives to join us.
First Light-Windows to the Soul: St Augustine’s, Aras Columcille (Long Tower), First Derry Presbyterian and St Columb’s Cathedral, will give a reverent look into the presentation of their faith, what it means to pray and the people keeping their Church alive. Derry City & Strabane Council are launching the Windows to the Soul piece on Sunday 1st November at 4.30pm. To access please logon to Longtower Church Website & scroll down home page to Events & News and click on the link to First Light- Windows to the Soul.
Diocesan Mass for Deceased Children & Young People: The Annual Mass for deceased children and young people will be celebrated in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, on Sunday 8 November, at 7.00pm. You can join this Mass live on the St Eugene’s Cathedral webcam. If you would like to have a child or young person remembered at this Mass, please email the name to lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org or telephone 028 7126 4087.
November Booklet for Families. A short booklet for families has been created to highlight the month of November as a time to remember and pray for our dearly departed. It marks out the feast days, provides a family prayer service, instructions to prepare a sacred space in the home and some prayers for November & hopefully encourage households to mark this special month of remembrance with some time for prayer together. May it bring comfort, solace and the light of Christ to many people during the coming days and weeks. The booklet can be downloaded at this link: https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/november-prayer-service-for-use-at-home.
Prayer Resources and Activities for Families for November: The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre has created a range of prayer resources for families to use at home during November in memory of loved ones who have died. These include practical ways to pray together at home, prayers you can use and tips on creating a sacred space for prayer. For the mid-term break there is a ‘World Drawing God Day’, which is a great way to engage children for hours in creative drawing. Drawings can be shared online and you can take an online tour of the Drawing God Museum. To view all the available resources, visit www.catecheticalcentre.org
Can You Foster? Could you give a home to a vulnerable child when they need it most? Fostering is about giving them a safe, secure place to live for a few weeks, months or even years. Barnardo’s Fostering NI is looking for foster carers. Foster placements can be: long-term, short-term, emergency, short breaks and parent and child together. You must be over 21 to foster and must have a spare bedroom in your home. Foster carers are offered a fostering fee and allowances; they are given training and support. To learn more please Tel: 028 9065 2288 or visit our website https://www.barnardos.org.uk/foster
Lough Derg November Memorial Service for deceased pilgrims and benefactors. Live via webcam from St. Mary’s Church, Pettigo, Sunday 22nd November at 7pm www.churchservices.tv/pettigo To Enrol a Daparted Loved One, please contact us by email: info@loughderg.org or Tel: 0(0353) 71 9861518 or Write to: Fr La Flynn, Prior, Lough Derg, Pettigo, Co Donegal F94 YC60.
Accord’s free and confidential ‘Relationships Support Phone Line’ for marriages, families and relationships offers support to those experiencing extra pressure due to social restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The three numbers are: Accord CLG – 01 531 3331, Accord Dublin – 01 905 9555, Accord NI – 028 9568 0151 or 00353 1 531 3331.
Webcams Around the country, some parish churches and cathedrals have installed webcams for the broadcast of Mass and these can accessed on the following websites; https://www.churchservices.tv/churches/
https://www.mcnmedia.tv/cameras
https://www.parishwebsites.ie/
Radio Maria Ireland is an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station. Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies – Listen via TV on Saorview – Channel 210 and Freeview – Channel 826; Download our FREE APP – “Radio Maria Ireland”, streaming on www.radiomaria.ie or via PHONE – get live radio feed by telephoning +353 (0) 1 437 3277 (no extra charges apply). Please join our growing faith family.
