Third Sunday of Lent 3rd March 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.
Monday 4th March 7.30pm Agnes & Brian O’Hagan
Tuesday 5th March 7.30pm Raymond Bradley
Wednesday 6th March 7.30pm Sally Hegarty
Thursday 7th March 7.30pm Sally Cutter
Friday 8th March 7.30pm Gerry Henderson
Saturday 9th March 6.00pm Pauline Clifton
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Anthony Óg Duffy. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £1948.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £570.00
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.
PRAYER OF SAINT COLUMBA
(Prayer of St. Columba in the Dubh Regles of Derry)
May the fire of God’s love burn brightly and steadfastly in our hearts like the golden light within the sanctuary lamp.
This month of March the Sanctuary lamp beside the Tabernacle in Long Tower Church will be lit for all our school children especially those who have/ are preparing for their Sacraments at this time.
We also pray for their families and all involved in our school communities.
Monthly Mass for Mental Health & Mini Vigil to Midnight – We invite you to our 7.30pm Mass on Thursday 7th March. 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. After Mass, Adoration will follow until midnight.
St Columba’s Gift Shop: We have a large variety of cards and gifts for St Patrick’s Day, Confirmations & First Holy Communions available as well as candles and other mementos. The shop will be open before/after 10.00am Mass Monday-Friday and also before 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday’s. For further information/ enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty (via the Parish Office 028-7126230 or Sacristy 028-71261946) who will be happy to assist you.
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2024
Mass at 7.00am in Long Tower Church, Monday- Friday during the season of Lent.
Friday Penance during Lent: (i) make a special effort at family prayer (ii) make the Stations of the Cross (iii) do something to help the poor, sick or lonely (iv) make a special effort to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (v) abstain from meat or some other food.
Schedule for Stations of the Cross During Lent: Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Monday & Friday before Evening Mass at 7.00pm. Confessions on those days will be at 6.30pm.
Lenten Healing Service/ Vespers (Evening Prayer): on Sundays at 6.00pm during the season of Lent, continues this Sunday 25th February with Vespers (evening prayer).
Divine Mercy & Rosary: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Rosary will be recited in Long Tower Church, Monday- Friday at 3.00pm during the season of Lent.
Confirmation & First Holy Communion 2024
Confirmation for the P.7 pupils of the Long Tower Primary School, Nazareth House Primary School & Ballougry Primary School will take place this Thursday, 7th March 2024 at 5pm.
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.
We Congratulate the P.7 pupils from Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation in Long Tower on Friday 1st March. Thanks to Fr. Paddy Doherty who officiated and to all who made the occasion so special. We hope you all had a lovely day!
Gala Concert in St Columb’s Hall: The Priests and soprano Margaret Keys are performing what promises to be a musical extravaganza on Sunday 24th March at 7.30pm in the magnificent St Columb’s Hall. The concert is a fundraiser for the restoration of the Church organ in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower and for restoration of Christ Church in recognition of the kind financial support given by Bishop Hervey to the building of Long Tower Church 240 years ago this year.
Tickets will go on sale this weekend, priced at £25.00 and would make an ideal gift for Mother’s Day!. Tickets can be purchased by going onto the Long Tower website www.longtowerchurch.org, then clicking on the donate button (on the homepage) and proceed to option 5. Concert booking fee. Alternatively tickets will be sold after 6pm Saturday Vigil & 12 Noon Sunday Masses & also from the Parish Office on Tuesday’s & Thursday’s from 2.30pm-4.00pm. For Further details, keep an eye on Longtower facebook page or email darinaghboyle15@gmail.com or longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Spring Activities Programme at Áras Cholmcille in the grounds of Long Tower Church. March begins the rollout of affordable classes for adults in guitar for beginners (tutor Danny McGilloway), art classes in watercolour, oil and acrylics (tutor Phil Kelly), classes in crafting, quilting and embroidery (tutor Louise Kelly) & crafting with willow. See our facebook page ‘The St Columba Heritage Centre’ for schedule & details. To book a place on any of these courses, please email darinaghboyle15@gmail.com or a send text message/ whatsapp on 077 898 50793.
Diocesan Vocations: The annual inter-diocesan Vocations Retreat will take place in Drumalis, Larne, from 8th -10th March. Anyone aged 18 or older, interested in attending should contact Fr Pat O’Hagan at pgoh2111@gmail.com or on (028) 79386259. Please pray every day for an increase in vocations, and for those attending next weekend’s Vocations Retreat in Larne, that the Lord will bless them in their ongoing discernment of His will for them.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024: Monday 1 to Friday 5 July, ex City of Derry Airport. Led by Bishop Donal McKeown. Full board £799, single room supplement £150. The pilgrimage office at 164 Bishop Street, Derry, will open to the public 11am to 1pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. Telephone number 028 71260293, email derrypilgrim@outlook.com.
Fr. Terence O’ Connell will conduct a Day Retreat in honour of Saint Charbel on Thursday 14th March, in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cost for the day, including light lunch £20. A first class relic and Blessed Oil of St. Charbel will also be available on the day. For bookings, please contact 71 262512.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses April – June 2024: April 19th/20th 2024, May 17th/18th 2024 & June 14th/15th 2024. Venue: Please note that all courses are now in person & NOT Virtual. Courses can be booked online now at www.accordni.com.
The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group will meet on Tuesday 5 March at Holy Family Chapel, Ballymagroarty, Derry. Starting with the holy rosary at 1845, mass at 1915, and novena to St. Pio directly afterwards. The priest will bless each person, directly after mass, with a first-class relic of St. Pio.
Lough Derg Retreat For Young Adults (18 – 30-year olds): The Knights of Columbanus, Omagh, is organising a Retreat in Lough Derg for young adults, to take place on Saturday 27th April 2024, from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Guest Speakers, inspirational talks, reflective time and concluding with Mass. This event is FREE OF CHARGE. For further information email info@knightsofstcolumbansomagh.co.uk.
Fatima Pilgrimage 9th-14th August EX Dublin mass in Santarem where bleeding host took place, visit visionaries homes Hungarian stations of the cross, Lisbon with church of Saint Anthony where he was born and baptised, seaside excursion. Payments can be made by instalments, Contact James Treacy 061921470 or email jamestreacyphotography@gmail.com
