The Presentation of The Lord 2nd February 2020
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 family and loved ones in our prayers.
Sunday 2nd February 12.00Noon Joan McGowan
Monday 3rd February 10.00am Angela Doherty
Monday 3rd February 7.30pm Niall Moran
Wednesday 5th February 7.30pm Mary Ann Devenney
Thursday 6th February 7.30pm John McGeehan
Saturday 8th February 6.00pm Mary Quigley
Baptisms: We welcome: Aalayah McSherry, Lennon Hale, Rossa Hale & Cailáh O’Kane.
Latin Mass will be celebrated in the Long Tower this Sunday 2nd February at 2.00pm. Everyone is welcome.
Monday 3rd February – Feast Day of St. Blaise. Fr. Aidan will bless throats after the 10.00am funeral mass on Monday and again after the 7.30pm Path Mass.
PATH MASS (Parish Action Towards Health). The next PATH MASS will be on Monday 3rd February at 7.30pm. At this Mass we give thanks to God for positive mental health, and to pray for those who are struggling with mental health issues, and to pray for those who care for them. During this Mass the Sacrament of the Sick will be celebrated.
Fr. Aidan gratefully acknowledges with thanks the individual donation of £100.00 to the Longtower SOS Project.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £1916.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £646.00
CONFIRMATION
Monsignor Donnelly, will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Primary 7 children of Long Tower and Nazareth House Primary Schools on Tuesday, 4th February 2020 at 5pm. We remember the children who are being confirmed and pray that they, with the help of the Holy Spirit, will be able to respond to the graces they receive on their Confirmation day throughout their lives.
Please note there will be No Evening Mass in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower on Tuesday 4th February 2020.
The Annual Lourdes Hospitalite Collection will take place next weekend 8th & 9th February. We thank you for your generosity in the past and hope that as a Parish you will continue to support this valuable work.
In Memory Programme
The ‘Do This In Memory’ Mass for those children who are celebrating their First Communion this year will take place on Sunday, 23rd February 2020 at 12 noon.
The Homily: We all sit down to listen to what the priest/deacon has to say about the readings we have heard and how we might be able to put this into practice in our everyday lives. We call this the homily. The priest/deacon normally stands at the ambo to give the homily. At the end of the homily the priest may sit down and we can spend a few minutes in quiet prayer. This time let us think about what the priest has said and ask God to help us to live as he would want us to.
Refiner and Purifier
“You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many.”
At this time, our world is in a heightened state of alert following the recent presentation of the Coronavirus in China and other countries. The WHO has asked the global community to unite to find a vaccine to prevent the spread of the contagion and further illness. This clarion call feels familiar – as an echo resounding through our hearts from the presentation of our beloved Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. The blessed Child presents our flawed hearts with a divine cure – to refine and remould it with his love and mercy into its pure self. Let us pray for the presentation of wisdom and knowledge to be given to the medical teams around the world in finding a cure for our suffering people. Reference: Luke 2:22-40, WHO – World Health Organisation
Marian Movement Of Priests – There will a cenacle of The Marian Movement of Priests in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower on Friday 7th February at 8:00 followed by refreshments. Everyone is welcome.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Bishop Donal McKeown, Thursday 2 July to Tuesday 7 July 2020. Cost £679 (deposit £100, non-refundable) including full board and transfers in Lourdes. The Pilgrimage Office in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, will be open for enquiries and bookings each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 11am to 1pm, from Tuesday 14 January. Tel 028 71 260 293/ (00 44 28 71 260 293 from ROI) email: derrypilgrim@outlook.com.
The Joint Presbyterian & Methodist Men’s Club invite men from the Long Tower to our February meeting where the guest speaker will be the Lord Bishop Andrew Forster, the new Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe. The meeting will take place on Thursday 13th February in Clooney Hall at 7.30pm. We would be delighted if you could attend.
Feast Of Our Lady Of Lourdes: Thornhill House, 121 Culmore Road, Derry – Open invitation for Prayer Intercession for the Sick on Tuesday 11 February (10:30am to 8:00pm). Exposition and Rosary as well as led prayers at 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm and 7:30 pm. All welcome.
Sleep Out- Stay Awake for 15-18 year olds:We are inviting young people aged 15-18 to get involved in a Stay Awake/Sleep Out in solidarity with the homeless on Friday 28th February 2020 from 9pm until Saturday 29th February 7am. The event will take place in St. Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry. During the vigil there will be reflections, music, speakers from local charities, activities and time outside. Parental consent forms and sponsorship forms can be found on the Diocesan website. www.derrydiocese.org All proceeds will go to De Paul, Damien House, Methodist City Mission, Clarendon Night Shelter and the Simon Community. Registration for this event is compulsory before Friday 21st February. For more information or to book in please contact lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org 0044 2871264087
Marian Devotions – in the Carmelite Retreat centre Termonbacca on Tuesday 4th February at 7.30 pm. John Pridmore – 2 Day Retreat – in the Carmelite Retreat Centre Termonbacca on Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th February.
Older People Northwest: Every Thursday evening at 6pm come along to Malvern House on Chapel Road to sing yourself happy. Discover the joy of group singing, let go of stress and feel what a difference singing together makes on mood. No experience necessary other than breathing! For more information ring Older People North Weston 028 71 347 478 or email development@olderpeoplenorthwest.org
Anam Cara Donegal the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding a Bereavement Information Evening on 13th February at 7:00pm in the Raddison Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This is a free event and open to all bereaved parents. As Anam Cara will need to confirm numbers for teas, coffees, etc, please RSVP to info@anamcara.ie before Wednesday 11th September or call 01 4045378.
Leap into Action for Air Ambulance NI. Join our HEMS paramedic Jason, in abseiling down the Tower Museum in Derry/Londonderry on Sunday 1st March 2020! It only costs £40 to sign up and once registered we will send you a fundraising pack to help you raise vital funds for Air Ambulance NI. Sign up now at: airambulanceni.org/upcoming-events/ or call Michelle on 07718483318.
Lenten Retreat Days in SMA Retreat Centre, Dromantine: Sat 14 March, led by Fr Damian Bresnahan and Sat 28 March, led by Fr John Gallagher. These Days of Reflection offer opportunities to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Holy Week and Easter. 9.30am – 5.00pm. Cost £25, including lunch. To book, email: sma.dromantine@sma.ie or Tel 028 30 821964.
Holy Family Pilgrimages 2020: Medjugorje: 30th May – 6th June Cost £589.00, Deposit £100.00 Lourdes: 3rd-8th July, Cost £699.00 Deposit £200.00. Please contact Margaret on 07732468511 for further details. Savings: Thurs: 8-9pm in Holy Family Parochial House.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops: April 24th/25th 2020, May 15th/16th 2020 & June 19th/20th 2020 Venue: Thornhill Ministeries, Culmore Road, Derry BT48 8JF. Booking now online at www.accord-ni.co.uk.
North West Regional College: NWRC in partnership with Hawthorn Heights, CITB NI and Unite the Union, is offering a NEW SKILLS COURSE, aimed at helping recent school leavers and those seeking a new career find employment locally. It will give 16 people the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Park Construction at NWRC’s Greystone Campus in Limavady. Interested? Why not come along to our Information Day on Wednesday 5th February at 11.00am, Greystone Campus, Limavady.
