Third Sunday Of Lent 23rd March 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 23rd March 10.00am Gerry Murray & Aileen Dunne
Sunday 23rd March 12Noon Frankie Campbell & Colm Quigley
Monday 24th March 7.30pm Philip Grant
Tuesday 25th March 7.30pm Paddy Breslin
Wednesday 26th March 7.30pm Edward McLaughlin
Thursday 27th March 10.00am Pat Hamil
Thursday 27th March 7.30pm Colbert Byrne
Friday 28th March 7.30pm Anthony Canavan
Saturday 29th March 6.00pm John Cassidy & Cassidy Family
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Skylar Toland, Olly Millar & Reáltáin Coyle. To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours.
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
May 2025 – Saturday 17th
June 2025– 14th, 21st & 28th
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2392.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £855.00
CLERICAL EDUCATION & ONGOING FORMATION £1750.00
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. Thank you.
Fr. Gerard will visit the sick in his care in the following areas, beginning Monday 24th March; Mountjoy Street, Long Tower Court, Abercorn Road, Bishop Street, Corporation Street, Belview Avenue, Maureen Avenue, Ivy Terrace, Foyle Road, Foyle Park, Ardfoyle, Lower Bennett St, Jack Allen Court, The Metropole, Bridge Street & Alexander House.
Fr. Stephen will visit the sick in his care in the following areas beginning Wednesday 26th March; Meenan Drive, Dove Gardens, Deanery Street, Bluebell Hill Gardens, Kerrigan’s Close, Quarry Street, Drumcliffe Avenue, Lone Moor Road, Nualamount, Old City Court, Old City Close & Mullenan Road.
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: In our first reading this weekend God calls Moses to lead His people from exile into the Promised Land. We pray for those being called by God today to lead His people in the ways of faith as priests of the diocese of Derry.
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2025
There will be a 7.00am Mass in Long Tower Church, Monday- Friday during Lent, ending on Wednesday 16th April of Holy Week.
Friday Penance during Lent: (i) make a special effort at family prayer (ii) make the Stations of the Cross (iii) 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.
Lectio Divina will take place on Tuesdays (after evening mass) and Thursdays (after morning mass) upstairs in Aras Cholmcille (excluding Holy Week). All welcome.
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 (except during Sr. Clare Retreat).
Lenten Healing Service/ Vespers (Evening Prayer) continues this Sunday at 5.00pm.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2025: This year’s campaign focuses on Guatemala.We tell the story of Ilma & Julio and how climate change is having life-changing consequences on their livelihood, wellbeing and future. This Lent, may we, empowered to stand in solidarity with them. Trocaire boxes are available at back of Church, please take one. Find out more at trocaire.org.
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The Annual Sister Clare Crockett Retreat will take place in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower from Monday 31st March – Sunday 6th April.
The theme of this year’s retreat is ‘Reflecting on the Eucharist with Sr Clare’. There will be Mass at 7am & 10am (Monday to Friday). Evening prayer service with Benediction and guest speaker each evening at 7pm (Monday-Friday). A healing service with anointing of the sick will take place on Thursday 3rd April at 7pm. On Saturday 5th April, Service with Benediction led by Archbishop Eamon Martin at 3pm. The retreat will conclude on Sunday 6th April at 3pm with Mass celebrated by Bishop Donal McKeown. Everyone is welcome to attend in person or you can also stream the services online at www.longtowerchurch.org.
Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop in Aras Cholmcille: We have a variety of Confirmation/ First Holy Communion gifts & cards, candles, rosary beads, books, occasion cards and other gifts & mementos available. The shop is open after 6pm Mass on Saturday’s and after 10am morning Mass during the week. For enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty via (parish office 028-7126230 or Sacristy 028-71261946) who will be happy to help.
The Long Tower Parish recognises and upholds the dignity and rights of all children and is committed to ensuring their safety and wellbeing. We are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church and recognise that we also have a special responsibility towards all vulnerable people who are members of our faith community. Our Parish Safe-Guarding Representative is Ms Josephine Brown. If you have any concerns with regard to Safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church please contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Tel: NI 075 96500 793 / ROI (0044) 75 96500 793 or at mariegormley@derrydiocese.org. Additional contact numbers: N Ireland PSNI: 101 or Social Services WHSCT Tel +442871314090 (Ask for Duty Social Worker).
Long Tower Parish are organising a ‘Columban Camino’ in Derry and Donegal between 5th and 7th June. Participants will walk from Derry to Buncrana, from Rathmullan to Milford and from there on to Gartan, overnight stay’s will be in the Inishowen Gateway and Mulroy Woods. All sponsorship raised will go to Children in Crossfire. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org or call Aishling on 028 7127 8955.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 22nd June 2025 at 3.00 pm.
Accord Derry – Marriage Preparation Courses: April- June 2025: April 11th/12th, May 30th/31st & June 20th/21st. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note all courses are in person and NOT virtual.
Marriage and Relationship Counselling with Accord NI: Help us help you support your marriage and relationship. If you feel your relationship is in crisis or you need a little guidance and help, either face to face or online, contact your local ACCORD centre. Every year Accord help thousands of couples rebuild and sustain healthy relationships. For support, call 028 9023 3002 or visit accordni.com.
Eucharistic Adoration: Calling all Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament in the Derry Diocese to the National Eucharistic Adoration Pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday 6th April. Ring to enquire or book a seat: +4477 0912 5696 or +4477 3887 3492 Full Bus details on www.eucharisticadoration.ie
March is Foyle Hospice Make a Will Month. During the month of March local solicitors very kindly agree to waive their usual Will writing fee in return for a suggested £100* donation to Foyle Hospice. A list of participating solicitors can be found at www.foylehospice.com or by calling Kathleen at the Foyle Hospice on 02871 359888. The purpose of Make a Will Month is to encourage people to write their Wills, whilst also raising much-needed funds for Foyle Hospice. Money raised will ensure Foyle Hospice can continue to deliver high quality specialist palliative care and end of life care to those in our community with life-limiting illness.
Mary’s Meals -Emergency in Southern Africa: Southern Africa is experiencing its worst drought in 100 years, with an estimated 21 million children in the region suffering from malnutrition. Mary’s Meals works in providing vital daily school meals to 1.5 million hungry children. To help Mary’s Meals keep providing these life-changing meals please keep our work in your prayers and consider donating to this appeal. 10p provides a school meal. Find out more at www.marysmeals.org.uk or freephone 0800 698 1212. Thank you for your support of Mary’s Meals.
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).
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
