Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time 24th October 2021
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 24th October 12Noon Tony McDaid
Monday 25th October 7.30pm Edward Diggins
Tuesday 26th October 7.30pm Lily & Joe Monteith, Margo Coyle & Mary Harkin
Wednesday 27th October 7.30pm Kathleen Devine
Thursday 28th October 7.30pm Noel Duddy
Friday 29th October 7.30pm Helen Doherty
Saturday 30th October 6.00pm Grace & Edward McCallion
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of: Maura Starkie- St Columb’s Court
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Lilah Gillespie & Daíre Wilson
Baptisms: Please contact the Parish Office for dates.
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.
Mass Guidance
We would like to remind everyone attending Mass & other Church Services that under current guidance there remains a legal requirement to wear a face covering on the way into a place of worship and on the way out. Despite this change in the legal position Bishop Donal McKeown has asked that we strongly continue to recommend & encourage the use of face coverings during all services of worship. We also kindly ask that you continue to observe social distancing & use the hand sanitiser on entering & leaving the Church and that you receive Holy Communion only in the hand. It is up to each of us individually and as a community to keep each other as safe as possible as we continue to live alongside the virus. We thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to gather together as a parish community.
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Nine Sundays before Christmas in Long Tower Church begins this Sunday 24th October at 6.00pm. Please note on Sunday 31st October the Novena will begin at 3.00pm. The theme of our Novena this year is ‘The gifts of hope and joy in a time of darkness’. Each night will comprise of the Rosary, Novena prayer and petitions with a short talk given by various guest speakers and a ceremony of healing with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Our first speaker will be Fr. Paddy Baker. Fr. Paddy has recently been appointed as the new Administrator of St Columba’s Church, Long Tower. He was ordained in the Long Tower Church on 25th June 1989 and has served in various parishes within the Diocese of Derry during his ministry. We wish him and our Parish every blessing as we begin our Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We encourage everybody, including those in particular need of healing in their lives to join us.
OCTOBER – MISSION MONTH: A series of presentations on Mission Today – what mission means in today’s society – will be available online, by Zoom, on the Tuesday and Thursday evenings of the month of October. Each presentation is free and will consist of a short talk, discussion on the topic and and chance to ask questions. For more information on the individual presentations, the speakers and to receive the Zoom links, visit derrydiocese.org/mission-month.
The Diocese of Derry Privacy Notice: The Diocese of Derry complies with GDPR regulations. A privacy notice is available on the Parish website or by contacting the Parish Office. Live stream and recordings of Mass and Services in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower and are available online. Parishioners should note that the first 4 rows of seats are visible online in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
Safeguarding Notice: If you have any concerns with regard to the Safeguarding of children or adults in need of protection within the Church please contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) at 07596500793/07707311358 or at the Safeguarding Office, Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, BT48 6UJ or PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) 101 or Social Services: Gateway Services, Western HSC Trust, 71314090 and ask for the Duty Social Worker.
THE BIBLE AND THE VIRGIN MARY: Would you like to discover more about the Blessed Virgin Mary? Fr Kevin McElhennon is presenting a 12-week reflection and study on the role of Mary in our faith, the role she plays in our lives today, and on understanding the Church teachings on our Blessed Mother, and how they are connected to Scripture. Choice of evenings or mornings, from Wednesday 20 October (evening) / Thursday 21 October (morning). Venue: Killyclogher Parish Hall. Full details at: https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/the-bible-and-the-virgin-mary Register your participation at info@cappaghparish.com or 028 – 8224 3375
COP26 : HEALTHY PLANET/ HEALTHY PEOPLE PETITION: Advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable, whose lives are devastated by the climate emergency. JOIN WITH POPE FRANCIS IN APPEALING FOR URGENT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE BEFORE 28TH OCTOBER. thecatholicpetition.org
OUR FAITH – DEVELOPING WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL:
- Was RE just a subject in school? Would you like to really to understand it in practice?
- Are you open to deepening your understanding of your Catholic Faith?
- Do you want to better understand the Mass – the celebration to the Eucharist?
- Would you like to explore, discuss and reflect upon issues and questions of faith, the Church, and how to link faith to your everyday life?
The Pathways Adult Faith Programme by Drumalis Retreat Centre, Larne, addresses these questions and more. This two-year faith development programme, delivered one Saturday per month from October to June is available either in-house at Drumalis or by Zoom video-conferencing. For personal testimonies, full details and enrolment on the programme, visit: www.drumalis.co.uk/pathways
Precious Life will be holding a ‘Pro-Life Chain’ at Belfast City Hall on Saturday 23rd October at 2pm to commemorate the second anniversary of abortion legislation in Northern Ireland. For more information please contact Precious Life on 028 9027 8484 or email info@preciouslife.com
ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE: The Western Health & Social Care Trust Adoption Team is holding an Information Session on Monday, 25 October at 3.30pm. It will be delivered via Zoom. If you wish to participate, please email your request with your name and telephone number to anita.birney@westerntrust.hscni.net and confirm the email address linked to your Zoom account.
Anam Cara Northern Ireland, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding a Parent Evening for bereaved parents living with no surviving children on Tuesday 2nd November at 7pm. This is a free online event. If you would like to join us please get in touch on info@anamcara.ie or 028 95213120.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops 2022: January 25th/26th 2022, February 8th/9th 2022, February 22nd/23rd 2022, March 8th/9th 2022, March 22nd/ 23rd 2022, April 5th/6th 2022. All of the above courses are Virtual Interactive Courses. They are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm. Booking online www.accordni.com. Due to demand an extra course is being facilitated on November 23rd/24th 2021.
Accord’s free and confidential ‘Relationships Support Phone Line’ for marriages, families and relationships offers support to those experiencing extra pressure due to social restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The three numbers are: Accord CLG – 01 531 3331, Accord Dublin – 01 905 9555, Accord NI – 028 9568 0151 or 00353 1 531 3331.
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT WEEKEND 5 – 7 November, hosted by Catholic Marriage Encounter: Restore Communication, Renew Commitment and Rekindle Romance. This is an online experience (using Zoom), starting on Friday evening at 8pm and ending on Sunday afternoon at 2:30pm. Full details on: https://www.marriageencounter.ie
Foyle Foodbank, Springtown, Industrial Estate, is open from 11am until 4pm Monday to Friday to help those in food crisis. Telephone 71263699.
Webcams Around the country, some parish churches and cathedrals have installed webcams for the broadcast of Mass and these can accessed on the following websites; https://www.churchservices.tv/churches/
https://www.mcnmedia.tv/cameras
https://www.parishwebsites.ie/
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). Please join our growing faith family.
