Thirty First Sunday In Ordinary Time 5th November 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 5th November 10.00am Jack Morrison
Sunday 5th November 12Noon Bronagh Crossan-Sheaffer
Monday 6th November 7.30pm Allison McCafferty
Tuesday 7th November 10.00am Margaret Lumsden
Tuesday 7th November 7.30pm Kevin Mullan
Wednesday 8th November 10.00am Daniel Ferguson
Wednesday 8th November 7.30pm Thomas McShane
Thursday 9th November 7.30pm William Mallon
Friday 10th November 7.30pm Michael & Michelle Green
Saturday 11th November 6.00pm Maureen Tonner
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Patrick McKeever- Castleview Park & Rosaleen McCallion- Nualamont Drive.
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Charlie O’Hagan & Alexander Cleverley. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2046.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £656.00
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 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.
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
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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 5th November.
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 speaker this week is Aoife O’Neill, Youth Co-ordinator, Termonbacca and currently president of ‘The Cursillo’ in Derry. She leads ‘Anam Óg’ a Catholic formation course for young people aged 10-14 on 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month in Termonbacca. Continuing our theme of ‘Vocations’ Aoife will speak on nurturing the seeds of Vocation, particularly among our young people. We assure her of a warm welcome and wish her 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.
Christmas Mass Bouquets are now available to purchase from the Parish Office Sacristy or from the Novena Shop each Sunday, cost £2.00. Long Tower Christmas Cards are also available from the Novena shop, Parish Office or Sacristy, cost is £5.00 for a packet of 12 cards.
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.
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.
The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group will meet on Tuesday 7th November 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.
The Annual Mass for deceased children and young people will take place in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Sunday 12th November at 7:00pm. There will be an opportunity to write the name of your deceased loved one before Mass. All are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend the Mass but would like your loved one’s name included in our prayers, please email lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org.
Pioneer Pledge for the month of the Holy Souls. A short-term pledge gives spiritual support and encouragement to people and their families who are living under a shadow of addiction. Further information from the Pioneers on 01 80-5 4226 or via www.pioneers.ie/pray.
The next Rosary on the Coast will be this Sunday 5th November at 3pm on Lisfannon Strand, Buncrana, and then on Sunday 19th November at 3pm on Benone Strand, Magilligan. Everyone welcome. Details 07730330028.
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.
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.
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.
A Day Retreat of Prayer for the Relief of the Souls in Purgatory will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre Termonbacca on Friday 17th November from 10.00a.m. – 3.00p.m. Cost for the day, including light lunch £15. For bookings – Tel: 71 262512.
Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group – Day of Prayer, Praise and Healing: Mellon Country Hotel, Omagh, Sunday 19th November. Registration from 9.30am. Celebration of the Eucharist in the afternoon. Speaker Fr Brendan Walsh SAC. Lunch, tea & coffee available. Booking by 10 November essential. Tel: 07876411435 or 07596609041.
