Third Sunday of Advent/ Gaudete Sunday 14th December 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 14th December 10.00am Clare & Charles (Jnr)McDaid
Sunday 14th December 12Noon John Kinsella
Monday 15th December 10.00am Sadie Campbell
Monday 15th December 7.30pm Kathleen Devine
Wednesday 17th December 7.30pm Eamon Cunningham
Thursday 18th December 7.30pm Toal Toland
Friday 19th December 10.00am Terence (Butch) Crawley
Friday 19th December 7.30pm Vincent O’Callaghan
Saturday 20th December 6.00pm Brian & Eileen Starrett
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Margery Scarlett- Lavery Fold, Eamon Melaugh- Alexander House & Helen Lyttle – Thorndale
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Rían Quigley, Lennie Coyle Fiachra McGlinchey & Reuben Currie
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
7th & 21st March 2026
To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours or 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 02871262301. For urgent sick calls for those in hospital, please ask duty nurse on the ward to call hospital chaplain. Thank you.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2349.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £800.00
The Parish Office: Please contact the parish office during office hours to arrange all Anniversary and Months Mind Masses, as well as to book Baptisms & Weddings. Please call the parish office by 12Noon on Thursdays with names for weekend Anniversary list. The Parish Office is open Monday- Friday from 9am to 2.30pm, Tel: 028-71262301 or via email at longtower@derrydiocese.org. For urgent sick calls, please use the office telephone number at all times.
Christmas Toy Appeal: A big thank you to all who have very generously donated to this year’s wish list of families on Christmas list of local charity ‘Free Uniform Scheme’ run by Jemimah Armstrong 07873882301Jemimah198630@hotmail.com. Please note the last date for items to be left at Parochial House, is Wednesday 17th December between 2-4pm. Thank you for all your support.
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: For our seminarians and all those who will be the future priests of our diocese, that they will be prophetic proclaimers of the Good News of God’s liberating love revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, continues in Long Tower Church at 6pm, this Sunday 14th December. The theme of our Novena this Jubilee Year 2025 is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’- Finding Hope and Healing in a Hurting World. Each night will comprise of the Rosary, Novena prayer and petitions with a short talk given by various guest speakers and Eucharistic Healing Ceremony with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. This Sunday, we welcome Michael Kelly, former editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper and currently director of public affairs for the Irish office of the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need, supporting the most marginalised and vulnerable people in the world, including in Gaza and Ukraine. He has written a new book on Pope Leo XIV. Michael will reflect with us on finding hope and healing in the Church. We assure him of a hearty welcome back to Long Tower!
Also, all religious items bought at the Novena Shop will be blessed. Tea/Coffee available in Cloisters Cafe afterwards. We encourage everybody, including those in particular need of healing to join us.
Next Sunday 21st December or Novena will conclude with the Annual Carol Service, followed by refreshments in the Long Tower PS in the grounds of the Church. Everyone is welcome.
Sincere Thanks – Fr. Gerard would like to thank you most sincerely for your very generous contributions to the Novena Collection last week which amounted to £1545.00. Your support is very much appreciated.
Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop in Aras Cholmcille: Still a few Christmas gifts remaining. The shop is open after 10am morning Mass throughout the week and also after the Novena each Sunday evening. Thank you for your support.
Christmas Mass Bouquets are now available to purchase from the Parish Office Sacristy or each Sunday of Novena, cost £2.00. Long Tower Christmas Cards are also available cost is £5.00 for a packet of 12 cards. Long Tower 2026 Calendars are also available cost £3 each or 2 for £5.
Notice of Christmas Masses & Confession Times: Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve: Family Vigil at 6pm with Long Tower Folk Group, Evening Vigil at 8pm with Michelle McDaid & Friends & Candlelight Christmas Mass at 10pm with Margaret Keys Soprano. Thursday 25th December- Christmas Day: 8am, 10am with The Gateway Singers & 12 Noon with Long Tower Senior Choir.
Christmas Confessions: The last Confessions for Christmas will be Tuesday 23rd December from 10.30am to 12Noon and from 5.30pm-7.15pm. There will be NO Confessions after this date until the evening of Monday 5th January at 7.00pm when Confessions will resume as normal. A printed Christmas & New Year Schedule will be available from next weekend.
Happy Christmas from Children in Crossfire: As Christmas fast approaches, Children in Crossfire would like to thank all the parishioners who have already supported our Advent Appeal. If you would like to donate, packs are still available from the back of the church. You can donate directly or return via the chapel in the New Year. The focus of this year’s appeal is on children living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. You will learn more about the work in the pack or see our video here: https://www.childrenincrossfire.org/addis-ababa-25/. Thank you for your support -and Merry Christmas to you all.
‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of Long Tower Church, the café is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9am to 3pm and also on Sunday’s from 10am-3pm, with Sunday lunch being served from 12Noon-3pm.
Trócaire ‘Gifts of Change’ are gifts that transform lives, bringing real hope and opportunities to families and communities living in poverty. There are 24 Gifts to choose from starting at £5 for the ‘Gift of Soap’ for families in war-torn South Sudan. All the gifts are real items, sourced in-country which go to families in need of our support. You can buy a Gift and help change lives this Christmas by going online at www.trocaire.org/gifts, calling 0800 912 1200 or visiting our office at 60 Berry Street, Belfast, BT1 1FJ.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2026: Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July (4 nights) ex City of Derry Airport. Cost £895 inclusive of local taxes but exclusive of single supplements and insurance. The Pilgrimage office will open for bookings on Saturday 17 January 2026 at 11am. However, Gift Vouchers to any value are now available (Monday to Thursday) from the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6UJ.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops: January to June 2026: January 23rd/24th, February 20th/21st, March 27th/28th, April 24th/25th, May 15th/16th & June 19th/20th. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note all courses are in person. Please note that Accord Derry will NOT be facilitating courses during July or August.
Mary’s Meals -Good News: The charity Mary’s Meals is now reaching over 3 million children with daily school meals across 16 countries. We are so grateful for your compassion, prayers and support over the years that have made it possible to reach this milestone. Each little act of love is giving hope to new generations. Mary’s Meals invites you to continue to pray for this work that we can reach the next child waiting and to consider volunteering your time locally to help us raise awareness and funds individually or as part of a group so we can keep the promise of a daily meal to the children we currently feed. Visit our website www.marysmeals.org.uk or contact Caoimhe on 07394564065 to find out more.
Greencastle Parish Pilgrimages 2026: Poland: 16th – 23rd June 2026, £1275 Flights and Half Board- Salt Mines: (Optional) £55. Spiritual Director: Fr. James Devine. Fatima: 23rd – 30th July, £879: Flights, Full Board, Coach to Dublin Airport. Spiritual Director: Fr. James Devine. Medjugorje: 4th -11th September from Belfast: £849: Flights and Half Board, Spiritual Director: Fr. Pat O’Hagan. Please contact Maria at 02881648357 or 07768 395038 for special offer.
Sean Davis- 2 Day Indoor Christmas Fun Soccer Academy, takes place at Templemore Sports Complex from Monday 29th to Tuesday 30th December 2025. For boys and girls aged 5 to 18 years. Times: 10am to 3.00 pm daily. For further details Tel. Sean Davis FAI, IFA, FA European A Licence Coach on 07787791880.
St Cecilia’s College: Open day Thursday 8th January 5pm – 8pm. Principal’s Address: 5pm & 6.15pm.
Rachel’s Vineyard: Have you been affected or hurt by abortion? If so, please contact Michelle on 07871765181.
