Third Sunday of Lent 12th March 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 12th March 10.00am Evelyn Valley
Sunday 12th March 12.00Noon Colette Sheerin
Monday 13th March 7.30pm Patrick Tierney
Tuesday 14th March 7.30pm Tony Horner
Wednesday 15th March 7.30pm James Tonner
Thursday 16th March 10.00am Agnes Tully
Saturday 18th March 6.00pm Nellie Doherty & Joseph Early
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Sally Hegarty-Cable Street.
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Katie Timoney & Aaron Robb-Parke
To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office for dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2410.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £781.00
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.
Fr Gerard will visit the sick in his care in the following areas, the week beginning Monday 13th March 2023; Abercorn Road, Bishop Street, Corporation Street, Belview Avenue, Ferguson Street, Maureen Avenue, Ivy Terrace, Foyle Road, Foyle Park, Alexander Memorial Cottages, Ardfoyle, Lower Bennett Street, Jack Allen Court & The Metropole.
‘GOD CLUB’ – Teenagers exploring their faith…Arás Colmcille (beside Long Tower church), Saturday mornings, 10.30am. All teenagers welcome!
A Mass in memory of Sr Annette O’Gorman, formerly Nazareth House, Derry will be celebrated in Long Tower church on Tuesday 14th March at 1pm. The children and choir of Nazareth House Primary School will also participate to honour Sr Annette’s years of service to the school and community which she loved so much. Refreshments afterwards in Aras Colmcille. All welcome
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.
SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
Friday 17th March is the Feast Day of St. Patrick
Masses: Thursday 16th March – 7.30pm Vigil
Friday 17th March – 8.00am, 10.00am & 12 Noon
There will NO Evening Mass on Friday 17th March
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
St Patrick’s Breastplate
The Parish Office will be closed on Friday 17th March & re-open Monday 20th
☘️TRAD AT THE TOWER☘️ – An Evening of Irish Music, Song and Dance on St Patrick’s Night (March 17th) in Aras Colmcille at 8pm. Suggested donation: £5 with supper served. All welcome!
Living Water
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty”. The story of Jesus and the Woman of Samaria holds many instructions on how to live more fully in the spirit of God. And each time it is read, it takes you further into the world of God that Jesus is trying to get us to understand. The only place where we can be complete and have peace of mind. However, like the woman, we too endlessly search, not in the mountains of past times, but in the ‘thirsty world’ of modern society, for people and things to satisfy our dreams of happiness. Today, let us move inward and feel the joy of the harvest God sowed in our hearts long ago. It is not a ‘virtual’ world, but the world of our spirit, for “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth”. Most importantly, it is the only world where we will “never be thirsty again”. John 4:1-42.
Space for Lent at Lunchtime – Would you like to spend a little time each Wednesday of Lent preparing for the Sunday Gospel?. ‘Space for Lent at Lunchtime’ will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to gather with others to pray, share and reflect on the Sunday Gospels during Lent leading up to Palm Sunday & Holy Week. Delivered via Zoom and facilitated by Ursula Doherty, Lectio Divina Guide, & Tony Brennan, Pastoral Coordinator, Diocese of Derry. Wednesdays of Lent, 1:00pm – 1:50pm, and will continue until Wednesday, 29th March 2023. Registration and details can be found at: https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/space-for-lent-at-lunchtime
Diocesan Pioneer Council; Masses will be offered in the following churches during the Lenten season. They will highlight the virtue of Temperance, focusing on the Pioneer promises of moderation in all things, particularly in the use of alcohol. St. John the Baptist Church, Swatragh, Saturday 11th March at 12.00 noon, Church of the Sacred Heart, Carndonagh, Tuesday 14th March at 7.00pm, Church of the Sacred Heart, Omagh, Monday 20th March at 7.30pm. All, especially Pioneers, are invited to attend these Masses.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses: April 17th/18th 2023, May 22nd/23rd 2023. Courses can be booked online at www.accordni.com. These courses are virtual. You can also contact Accord N.Ireland Marriage Care Service Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street Derry, Tel: (028) 71362475 (Ext 1), Email:derry@accordni.com.
Faith Renewal – Knock Shrine Lenten Reflections – Weekly talks with guest speakers, taking place online and at St John’s Welcome Centre, Knock Shrine, Time: 8.15pm -9.15pm, March 14th – Jane Mellett, ‘Almsgiving: responding to the cry of the earth and the poor through care for creation.’ March 21st – John Connell, ‘Living more simply in a complex world’. A concert to celebrate Saint Patrick; Celebrate Lá Fhéile Pádraig, at Knock Shrine by joining us for a special concert on Thursday 16th March. Celebrating Irish music, heritage and culture with many well-known Irish favourites performed on the night. The concert will take place in Knock Basilica at 8.30pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.
SMA Dromantine, Newry: Dance of Life Retreat -Friday 17th March (5.00pm) – Sunday 19th (2.00pm). In this retreat the opportunity to dance may bring a renewed awareness in your sense of self, connection with others and connection with God. Led by Sr. Mary Taylor Ola And Fr. Damian Bresnahan SMA, cost £220/€250. Lenten Reflection Day- Saturday 25th March 9.30am – 5.00pm. This day provides time and space to reflect and pray on themes of lent and to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Holy Week and Easter. Led by Fr. Des Corrigan SMA, cost (including lunch) £35/€40. For further details/ to book contact, SMA Dromantine, 96 Glen Road, Newry, Co. Down, BT34 1RH, Tel: 028 30 821 224.
Thornhill Ministries: Thursday 23rd March 7:30pm – 8:30pm – ‘Let’s start at the very beginning’. An introductory workshop for those who sing in Church covering basic techniques re: breathing, posture, vocalisation etc. 15th October 2023 Pilgrimage Retreat to the Holy Land. Direct flights ex Dublin 9 Nights Staying in Bethlehem and Nazareth. To register/for details, please contact thornhillministries@derrydiocese.org / 07736832458 or visit thornhillministries.co.uk website. Today is gift. Life is gift. Let gifting be the energy that I bring to my family, my friends, my work, my home. www.thornhillministries.co.uk
Want to learn about the rich wisdom and inspiration from our Celtic Spiritual Heritage? The IOSAS Centre, Derryvane, Muff, Co. Donegal is running a 3 week program on ‘How our Celtic past can help us today’?. These programs are made up of short videos & small group discussions; Building Welcoming Communities, Growing in Faith, Renewed in the Holy Spirit, Caring for God’s Creation & Evangelising with Love and Action. Starting Monday 27th March from 7pm -8.30pm / Tea & Coffee included. All Enquiries by Tel: 00353 74 93 84866 / by Email: info@sanctuarydonegal.com
Millennium Forum-Energy of Light Discos: Our next 15+ Energy of Light Disco on Friday 31st March @ 8.30pm. We now also have a Kids (0-6 Yrs) at 4-5pm and Juniors (6-14 yrs) 5-6pm on Saturday 18th March, please note age is a guidance. Our discos are aimed at those experiencing limited physical, sensory and or learning disability. Tickets are £3 with carers and parents going free – complimentary tea/coffee provided. Tickets for this performances are on-sale through our box office (02871 264455 choose option 1) or on our website www.millenniumforum.co.uk
March sees the beginning of the Foyle Hospice Make a Will Month campaign. During the month local solicitors have very kindly agreed to waive their Will Writing Fee in replace of a donation to Foyle Hospice. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to have their Will written by a professional. Participating solicitors can be found by visiting the Foyle Hospice website or calling Kathleen at the Foyle Hospice on 02871 359888.
Concern Charity bookshop in Ferryquay Street is receiving donations for the Turkey/Syria Earthquake appeal. You may leave them in the church and we can arrange to collect them. You can also call up to the shop with cash or use our debit card machine. Concern, a member of the DEC, is currently providing food, shelter, clean water and emergency toilets in both Turkey and Syria. Thank you for your support.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
