Third Sunday of Lent 8th March 2026
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 8th March 10.00am Julian Daly
Sunday 8th March 12Noon Darren Pickett
Monday 9th March 7.30pm Pauline Clifton
Tuesday 10th March 7.30pm Mark Brinkley
Wednesday 11th March 7.30pm Monica McGowan
Thursday 12th March 7.30pm Lexi Lynch
Friday 13th March 7.30pm Mardie & Patsy McCallion
Saturday 14th March 6.00pm James Tonner & Sebastian Bowles
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm
The next available Baptism dates are 2nd, 9th & 30th May
13th & 27th June & 11th & 25th July 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 £3005.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £925.00
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.
Last Sunday, Long Tower hosted a most beautiful evening of Gospel music and song with some of Derry’s finest singers and musicians all coming together for the glory of God and for Sr Clare, Servant of God! All proceeds of the evening are going directly to help the children of Ecuador in the school where Sr Clare taught. On behalf of Shauna and Megan, a massive thank you to all who attended in such great numbers and supported such a worthy cause which helped to raise around £4000 so far. Our thanks also to Mrs Claire Doherty, Principal of Long Tower Primary School for providing the use of the school assembly hall and car park. To all the ladies who provided the beautiful refreshments, thank you.
Easter Mass Bouquets are now available from the parish office & sacristy, cost £2. All intentions will be included in the liturgies celebrated during Holy Week in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2026
There will be 7.00am Mass in Long Tower Church, Monday, Wednesday & Friday’s during the season of Lent, ending on Wednesday 1st April, Holy Week.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Lent: Wednesday’s 10.30am-7.00pm and Thursday’s (except Holy Thursday) 8.00pm-9.00pm.
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.
Stations of the Cross During Lent, will be prayed each Monday & Thursday before Evening Mass at 7.00pm. Confessions on those days will be at 6.30pm.
Lenten Vespers (Evening Prayer) with benediction on Sundays at 5.00pm during Lent.
Lectio Divina: Our Lectio Divina, prayful preparation for Lent continues upstairs, 1st floor, at Aras Cholmcille. There are 2 sessions weekly, one on Monday’s after 10am Mass and another on Tuesday’s after 7.30pm Mass. Everyone welcome.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2026 revolves around climate justice & urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza and Ukraine. Trocaire boxes are available in the Church.
Save the Date! Friday 13th March, Nazareth House Primary School are having a Céilí Mór in the School Assembly Hall celebrating the upcoming Feast of St Patrick. Music by Fr Gerard’s Gather-up! (CCE Baile na gCailleach). Come along and enjoy a great family night out of Craic agus Ceoil in aid of School Refurbishment.
First Holy Communion Dates 2026 – St Columba’s Church, Long Tower
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir will take place on Friday 15th May 2026 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Long Tower Primary School & Ballougry Primary School will take place on Thursday 21st May 2026 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Nazareth House Primary School will take place on Friday 22nd May 2026 at 1.30pm.
Aras Cholmcille Heritage Centre, Síopa Cholmcille & Cloisters Café. The shop is open after 10am morning Mass during the week. We have a new range of stock to include Confirmation & First Holy Communion cards and gifts, as well as gifts for St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. For enquiries, please call -028 71368491. The café is open Tuesday – Saturday 9am to 3pm and on Sunday’s from 10am-3pm, with breakfast being served until 12Noon and Sunday lunches being served from 12Noon-3pm.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops: April to June 2026: 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. Accord Derry will NOT be facilitating courses during July or August.
‘An Lasair Chríost’ Conference (Flame of Christ) Young Adults’ Conference- Sunday 22nd March, St Columb’s College, Buncrana Road, Derry, beginning with Mass at 11.30am in St Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn. Fr Conor McGrath will be the keynote speaker at the conference, with Bishop McKeown celebrating the Mass. It will be a great opportunity to meet other young people in a faith setting. All welcome & no tickets required.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 7 June 2026 at 3.00 pm.
Divine invitation – St Patrick’s Way Pilgrim Walk in Downpatrick with guides Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly, Saturday 14th March. A special discount is on offer of £40 (normally £55) To book call 02844 61900 or www.saintpatrickcentre.com.
Job Opportunities- Derry Diocesan Trust
Parish of Templemore – St. Eugene’s Cathedral- Grounds & Maintenance Person, 16 hours per week (Fixed Term Contract to 31 March 2027 with possible extension). To provide an effective grounds and maintenance service to the parish to ensure the grounds are maintained in a tidy, presentable and safe state at all times. To undertake maintenance work of the Cathedral grounds and premises as designated by the Administrator.
Parish of Coleraine- Grounds Person, 30 hours per week on a Seasonal Basis (1st March – 30th November each year). To provide an effective grounds service to the parish grounds and cemetery areas to ensure the grounds are maintained in a tidy, presentable and safe state at all times. To undertake maintenance work of the Church grounds and premises as designated by the Parish Priest. For application packs please contact: Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP, telephone 028 7126 2302 or email: recruitment@derrydiocese.org. Completed applications must be returned to Personnel, Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP or via email to recruitment@derrydiocese.org no later than 12 noon Friday 13th March 2026. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We welcome applications from all men and women and from members of all communities.
‘Shepherding Talent’ Online Programme – Aspire to Serve, Inspire to Lead: In partnership with St Mary’s University Twickenham, the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre is offering this programme. ‘Shepherding Talent’ is a pioneering programme from the university, in which teaching professionals with leadership potential are challenged to explore their vocation to lead. Aimed at all teaching professionals in Catholic schools, this programme is delivered in the context of Catholic School education. It will be delivered over five weeks, with each session taking two hours. The total cost is £250. The first session takes place on Wednesday 29 April 2026, 4.30 – 6.30pm. For further information and registration please email: tferry@derrydiocese.org.
‘Children Waiting’ is an online Virtual Information Event which will be hosted by HSC NI Foster Care on Thursday 12th March. It is aimed at finding homes for specific children. Please join the online event if you can help. Tel:-08000720137 or email adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net.
Catholic Men’s Retreat – Standing in the Breach- A morning retreat for Catholic men at Portglenone Monastery, Saturday 14th March, 9am to 1pm. To register or learn more, visit:https://catholicminute.co.uk/mens-retreat/ or call Thomas on 07967620435.
Songs of Praise and Radio 2 are searching for the Junior and Senior BBC Young Choristers of the Year 2026! Entries are now being accepted for this year’s event, which will be recorded in July at Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester. Eligible singers will be aged 10–17 and will enjoy singing sacred music of any genre, whether as part of a choir of any type, a worship group, or simply singing at home. There are two categories: Junior – singers aged 10–13, Senior – singers aged 14–17 (as of 7th April 2026). It’s very easy to enter all the details can be found here: www.bbc.co.uk/songsofpraise. If you know a young singer who would love this opportunity, please encourage them to apply and also share this information with schools, choirs, churches, and families who might be interested. Please note that all applications must be received by 23:59 on Tuesday 7th April 2026. Any questions or problems – please email: YoungChorister@ctvc.co.uk.
Time for Dementia. The University of Ulster & the Alzheimer’s Society are actively looking for families to take part. Time for Dementia is an innovative award-winning training programme. The student nurses will be paired up with a family affected by dementia and will arrange to visit them at home, 3 times a year. Please contact Anouska Noble on 07860331648 or anouska.noble@alzheimers.org.uk.
Alcoholics Anonymous, Public Information Meeting Rosemount Resource Centre, 1A Westway, Derry, Monday 24th March 3pm. The meeting is open to anyone who may be personally affected, have a family member or friend affected, or simply wish to learn more about recovery, community supports, and how people can access help.
Sean Davis 3 Day Indoor “Easter” 2026 Fun Soccer Academy” at Templemore Sports Complex from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th April for boys and girls aged 5 to 18 years. Times: 10am to 3pm daily. For bookings/details Tel. Sean Davis FAI, IFA, FA European A Licence Coach on 07787791880.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329
Rachel’s Vineyard: Have you been affected or hurt by abortion? If so, please contact Michelle on 07871765181.
