Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time 29th October 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 29th October 10.00am Mary Fraser
Sunday 29th October 12Noon Harry White
Monday 30th October 7.30pm Edward & Grace McCallion
Tuesday 31st October 10.00am Roisin Lyttle
Tuesday 31st October 6.00pm Mary Dauncy
Wednesday 1st November 7.30pm Darren McCormick
Friday 3rd November 7.30pm RMA Mass
Saturday 4th November 6.00pm Terry Doherty
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Bernadette Roberts – Formerly Brandywell & Gerald Shiels- Phelham Road, Knightsbridge.
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Rudi McCartney-Quigley & Freya Bradley. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2430.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £715.00
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.
Fr. Gerard will visit the sick in his care in the following areas on Monday 30th & Tuesday 31st October 2023; Meenan Drive, Dove Gardens, Deanery Street, Bluebell Hill Gardens, Celtic Court, Kerrigan’s Close, Quarry Street, Nualamount Drive, Lone Moor Road, Old City Court & Mullenan Road.
Fr. Stephen will visit the sick in his care in the following areas on Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd November 2023; Long Tower Court, Bishop Street, Corporation Street, Belview Avenue, Maureen Avenue, Ivy Terrace, Foyle Road, Foyle Park, Ardfoyle, Lower Bennett Street, Jack Allen Court, The Metropole & Alexander House.
Christmas Mass Bouquets are now available from the Parish Office or Sacristy, cost £2.00. Long Tower Christmas Cards are also available from Parish Office or Sacristy, cost is £5.00 for a packet of 12 cards.
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mother of Priests.
Nine Sundays before Christmas in Long Tower Church at 6.00pm, continues this Sunday 29th October.
The theme of our Novena this year “Take the Risk for Christ”- Year of Vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood. Each night will comprise of the Rosary, Novena prayer and petitions with a short talk given by various guest speakers and Eucharistic Healing Ceremony with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Our guest speakers this week are Martina Purdy (former BBC political correspondent) and Elaine Kelly (former Barrister in family law) who will speak on ‘St Patrick and Vocations’. Martina and Elaine are pilgrim guides on St Patrick’s Way, Downpatrick and they live a life of prayer, adoration and evangelisation in the heart of St Michael the Archangel parish, Belfast. They work with Dana on ‘Light The Fire’ – St Patrick’s events and missions and were recently commissioned lay funeral ministers in Down and Connor as a help and support to priests and deacons. We assure them of a warm welcome and wish them and our Parish every blessing as we continue 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.
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS – This Wednesday 1st November we celebrate the Feast of All Saints, Masses are on Tuesday 31st October (Vigil) at 6.00pm (Please note there will be NO 7.30pm Mass on Tuesday evening) & Wednesday at 8.00am, 10.00am & 7.30pm.
ALL SOULS – Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Masses will be offered on Thursday 2nd November at 8.00am, 10.00am & 7.30pm in commemoration of the departed. During the 7.30pm Mass the names of all those who were buried from the Long Tower during the year (1st Oct’22 – 30th Sept’23) will be read out. We invite you to join us in person, if you can, or via the webcam. We also invite you to visit the Church during this month of November to offer a prayer for the happy repose of the soul of your own deceased relative or friend.
Indulgences at the Commemoration of All Souls: From 12 Noon on 1st November until midnight on 2nd November, all who have confessed, received Holy Communion and prayed for the Pope’s intentions (one Our Father & Hail Mary, or any other prayer of one’s choice) can gain one plenary indulgence by visiting a Church or Oratory, and there reciting one Our Father & the Apostle’s Creed. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls of the departed. Confession may be made at any time within the week preceding or the week following 1st November. Holy Communion may be received on any day from 1st to 8th November. The faithful who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the Holy Souls on the usual conditions once per day from 1st to 8th November. The conditions mentioned above also apply to this.
Padre Pio Intercede for Us
Padre Pio Mass for Healing in Mind & Body continues this Monday 30th October at 7.30pm Through the gift of this Mass we will unite in prayer with all who are ill, unwell, feeling isolated and struggling with the pressures of life. We pray to be surrounded by the light and warmth of God’s love to heal us at this time. We hope at the end of each Mass to give a Blessing using a 1st class relic of Padre Pio. The Mass will be streamed via our parish website: www.longtowerchurch.org then click on the link for the webcam or alternatively by logging on to www.churchmedia.tv Everyone is welcome to attend.
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 November the Sanctuary lamp beside the Tabernacle in Long Tower Church will be lit for all our deceased loved ones & friends. We pray that they are at rest in the Eternal banquet of Heaven.
Long Tower 2024 Calendars are now available, cost £3 each or 2 for £5. All proceeds from the calendars will go towards the cost of refurbishing ‘The Calvary’ in the grounds of the Long Tower Church. They would make an ideal Christmas gift especially for those living away from home. Calendars can be purchased from the Parish Office, Sacristy, Doherty’s Vivo Bishop Street, Vivo Brandywell & Veritas, Shipquay Street.
Celebrating the Saints at Long Tower this Hallowed Evetide: Long Tower and Áras Cholmcille (wee nuns) is hosting a special celebration of two great Feast days in the Church – All Saints & All Souls on Friday 3rd November, 1.30pm to 3pm. We are inviting children from the parish and all schools and neighbourhoods across the city, to dress up as their favourite saint and take part in an organised pageant around the Long Tower precinct. There will be prizes for the best homemade costumes in three categories – best Irish Saint, best Ancient Saint and my favourite Saint. But the real fun is in getting ready and taking part. If you and your family fancy joining a Christian-themed alternative to the Halloween festivities – then Long Tower is a little sanctuary of faith and togetherness at this Holy time of year. Our celebration includes hot chocolate and treats, tea and coffee, storytelling and a little take-home activity pack on St Columba and the Celtic Saints. For more information email dboyle@longtowerarascolm.com
Pope John Paul II Awards: Are you enrolled in the Pope John Paul II Award in St Columba’s Longtower this year? If so, you are invited to attend an Information Session on Thursday 9th November at 4.30pm in the cafe space, downstairs in the Aras Building. There will be a short presentation and discussion on how we can help you find suitable tasks that you will enjoy taking part in. Any questions you can email lauren.doherty@derrydiocese.org.
FOOD BANK APPEAL: There are many people within our local community who go without sufficient food and hygiene products, we have been asked by the Churches Trust to help. Can you donate some nonperishable food items (store cupboard items) or hygiene products (toiletries). If so, donations can be left in Parochial House, 6 Victoria Place, Monday-Friday from 2-4pm. Thank you.
Holy Family Parish Prize Draw. 50 Prizes for £50: 1st Prize £10,000. 2nd Prize £7500., 3rd Prize £5000., 4th Prize £2500. Also 46 other cash prizes of various amounts. Draw tickets will be on sale after weekend Masses in Holy Family Church or you can pay up for the ticket by calling each Wednesday between 7pm –8.30pm. You can also contact the parish office to purchase a ticket 028-71267070.
IN SUNSHINE and IN SHADOW – A book of poetry written by the late Fr. Paddy O’Kane has been reprinted.(Only a small number reprinted). It is available at Holy Family Church Ballymagroarty Cost £10. Tel: 028-71267070 or Veritas Bookshop Shipquay St. All proceeds will go the Foyle Hospice
ROSARY ON THE COAST The next Rosaries on the Coast will be on Sunday 29 October at 3pm on Lisfannon Strand, Buncrana, and Sunday 05 November on Benone Strand, Limavady, also 3pm. All Rosary Coasters welcome. Please ask as many of your family members and friends along to pray for peace, our unborn brothers and sisters, our Catholic faith, our marriages and our families, as all these are under unprecedented attacks coming from many sources. And remember, THE ROSARY IS OUR WEAPON OF MASS CONVERSION.
Memory’s Gifting – A Morning Retreat led by Fr Paschal McDonnell – ‘In remembering, we touch both gratitude, longing and the acceptance of the unfinished.’ Saturday 11th November, 10:00am to 1:30pm, An Grianan Hotel, Burt, Co Donegal. For details/to register, contact Erin at thornhillministries@derrydiocese.org.
Preparing for Christmas: Weekend Retreat at Ards Friary, 8th – 10th December. Led by Philip McParland. In the weeks leading up to Christmas there is usually a lot going on in our lives. This weekend will offer you an opportunity to focus on your spiritual preparation. It will be both reflective and practical, suggesting ways to keep in touch with Jesus. To book, contact Ards. Tel: 074 91 38909. Email: info@ardsfriary.ie.
Anam Cara Donegal, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 9th November at 7:15pm in the Raddison Blu Hotel, Letterkenny Co.Donegal. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether their death was recent or not. We also offer an online service. For more info call 01 4045378.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
