Thirty Third Sunday In Ordinary Time 19th 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 19th November 10.00am Aidan Barrett
Sunday 19th November 12Noon William (Billy) McCauley
Monday 20th November 7.30pm Isobel McShane
Tuesday 21st November 10.00am Jean Donaghey
Tuesday 21st November 7.30pm Tilly Evans
Wednesday 22nd November 10.00am Thomas Mooney
Wednesday 22nd November 7.30pm Jim & Ena McCully
Thursday 23rd November 7.30pm Pat Gorman
Friday 24th November 7.30pm Kate Kennedy
Saturday 25th November 6.00pm Terry Robson
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Ann O’Neill- Ontario, Canada, Joseph Eugene McLoone – Grove Place & Euphemia Kelly- Hereford, England (formerly Foyle Road & Ivy Terrace).
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God; Molly Moran, Ollie Coll & Jack Jones. To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 for available dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2171.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £686.00
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.
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.
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.
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 19th 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 Seánán Zaltron (née Cregan) who is married to Luca and together they have 3 children. She is part of the ‘Seven Sisters Apostolate’ and will be sharing her experience of praying for priests. A group of the apostolate is made up of at least 7 women where each member commits to a Holy Hour on a distinct day of the week, thus covering a complete week. The prayers of the group are for a specific Priest and his intentions and the commitment of prayer is for at least a year, but is usually continued onwards where possible. Further information can be found on sevensistersapostolate.org. 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.
PRESENCE – THE MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST: How many of you feel that our world is in desperate need of returning to faith in God? How many of you believe that if more people could encounter the presence of God in their daily lives they would grow in faith? With this new gift of FORMED, we have an opportunity to grow in our understanding of God’s true presence in the world today. I want to invite you to participate in a video-based study on formed.org called PRESENCE: THE MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST. The PRESENCE series will move your heart and give you plenty to discuss as a family or as a group of friends as we prepare for the coming of his PRESENCE this Advent.
This study will take place in the Café in Aras Colmcille, on the first 3 Wednesdays of Advent 6th, 13th and 20th December from 5:30pm-6:30pm. For further details or to book please contact the Parish Office on 028-71262301 (Monday-Friday 9.00am- 2.30pm).
Holy Hour For Peace – Bishop McKeown will lead a Holy Hour for Peace in the World from 8.00pm to 9.00pm on Monday 20th November in Saint Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry. Everyone is welcome to attend. You can also join in this time of prayer for peace via the St Eugene’s Cathedral webcam.
Mass and Holy Hour for Vocations to Diocesan Priesthood: As we continue our Year of Prayer for an increase in Vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood, we will offer the 7:30pm Mass in St Columb’s Church, Chapel Road, on Friday 24th November followed by a Holy Hour to pray for vocations to the Derry Diocese. Everyone is welcome.
Christmas Toy Appeal: Like last year, Long Tower Parish will be a drop off point for anyone who would like to donate toys etc.., that the local charity ‘Free Uniform Scheme’ run by Jemimah Armstrong. If anyone needs support in the Long Tower area you can leave info with Fr Mongan or contact Jemimah directly: on 07873882301 Jemimah198630@hotmail.com. Items can be dropped off at Parochial House, Monday to Thursday between 2pm and 4pm. A Wish List of items is available on our facebook page, or from the Sacristy or Parish Office. Thank you for your support.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses January – March 2024: January 19th/20th 2024, February 23rd/24th 2024 & March 22nd/23rd 2024. Venue: Everglades Hotel, Prehen Road, Derry. Please note that these courses are NOT Virtual but are in person. Courses can be booked online now at www.accordni.com.
“Youth 2000 Ireland are having their annual Christmas retreat in Dominican College, Newbridge, Co Kildare on the 8th -10th of December for ages 16-35. This promises to be a special retreat!! Excellent Speakers, Inspiring Talks & Workshops,Fantastic music, Group activities, Youth Masses, Adoration, Reconciliation, prayer, Drama, Games & plenty of time to chill out, meet new people and find out what it means to be young & Catholic today!! There are free buses leaving from all over the country to the retreat. Donation only. Find out more and register now on www.youth2000.ie“
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. To book, contact Ards. Tel: 074 91 38909. Email: info@ardsfriary.ie.
The 2024 Pioneer calendar is available from Pioneer centres and from Central Office (01 805 4226). The calendar is designed to offer spiritual support and encouragement to families which are being impacted by alcohol and addiction. The calendar is priced at €5. www.pioneerassociation.org/calendar.
November is known as Legacy Month; an opportunity to think about legacy gifts in your Will. Leaving a gift in your Will to Foyle Hospice is a loving act of kindness that will live on forever. Gifts in Wills help us to provide specialist palliative care to patients and families living with life limiting illness. If you want to know more about leaving a gift in your Will to Foyle Hospice, contact Foyle Hospice Legacy Officer, Kathleen Bradley, on 02871 359888 or email: kathleenbradley@foylehospice.com
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.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
