Twenty Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time 13th September 2020
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 13th September 12Noon Billy McFeely
Monday 14th September 7.30pm George Roberts
Tuesday 15th September 7.30pm Dan Callaghan
Wednesday 16th September 7.30pm Myles Toland
Thursday 17th September 7.30pm Mary Meenan
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Kathleen Clifford- Nazareth House, Fahan.
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Dáire Wasson & Kayson Cooper
Confessions: Monday – Friday 7.00-7.25pm, Saturday 11.30am- 12.30pm & 5.15pm-5.50pm
Visitation of the Sick: For urgent sick calls please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.
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
Mass Guidance
From Monday 10th August it was mandatory to wear a face covering in any indoor public space, including in the Church. We therefore kindly ask that everyone attending Mass, other Church Services and Devotions to wear a face covering at all times (apart from those with certain health conditions). We must all continue to observe social distancing, to use the hand sanitiser on entering & leaving the Church and to 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 continue to have stewards and ushers giving direction as you enter and leave the Church. Please follow the guidance given as they are acting for the well being of everyone. Entrance and exit doorways must be kept totally free at all times.We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to gather together in these uncertain times.
Padre Pio Intercede for Us
Weekly Mass for Healing in Mind & Body continues this Monday 14th September at 7.30pm.
We shall share in a spiritual network of prayer, love and support in these difficult times. While we may still be apart in person, we remain heartfully present with everyone and wish to further connect with all who are ill, unwell, feeling isolated and struggling with the pressures of life.
Through the gift of this Mass we will unite in prayer for all. We pray to be surrounded by the light and warmth of God’s love to heal our brokenness at this time of isolation, suffering and loss. We hope at the end of each Mass to give a Spiritual Blessing using a 1st class relic of Padre Pio.
We ask everyone’s assistance to help others connect with this Mass through our webcam – especially the elderly, frail and vulnerable. Please share as best you can knowledge of this Mass with your family & friends.
You can access the Mass via our parish website: www.longtowerchurch.org then click on the link for the webcam or alternatively by logging on to www.churchmedia.tv
The Goal
‘Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.’
When things begin to fail in our world we humans tend to go searching for reasons as to what went wrong and to satisfy a modern tendency to data proof everything. Certainly, there is a place for knowledge – though it seems we have become distracted with too many words, algorithms and theories. Possibly, in some cases, this is an unconscious response – a way of deflecting what may be too painful to acknowledge and take responsibility for. For too long, many people have sat on the sidelines afraid to speak the truth of what is really happening in our families, communities and world – pretending that all is well. To turn what is happening to our common home into our own personal suffering is not hard to understand – for it feels we are all on our hands and knees as a result of our collective actions. Our goal is to become painfully aware in order to move our hearts towards the reality of divine love. Then we will discover what each of us can do to heal our world.
Reference and further reading: Laudato Si – Care For Our Common Home – Pope Francis.
Schedule of Masses (Week Beginning Monday 14th September)
& Other Devotions until Further Notice
Monday-Friday
10am – Mass
6.50pm–Divine Mercy Devotions
7.00pm- Rosary
7.00pm- 7.25pm Confessions
7.30pm- Mass
Saturday
10am – Mass
11.30am – 12.30pm – Confessions
5.15pm- 5.50pm – Confessions
6.00pm- Vigil Mass
Sunday
8.00am- Mass
10.00am – Mass
12Noon- Mass
Adoration
Wednesday: 10.30am -7.00pm
New Webcam
Access to Church Services: You can access the webcam via the www.longtowerchurch.org website & clicking on webcam or directly via www.churchmedia.tv and clicking into to St Columba’s Church, Long Tower. https://churchmedia.tv/camera/st-columbas-church-longtower. We would ask that parishioners assist one another where possible to access these resources.
The Season Of Creation -1st September To 4th October 2020
The Season of Creation, is marked throughout the Christian world from 1st September to 4th October (Feast of St. Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment. It offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that he has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live. Many ideas and resources have been published on the diocese website (derrydiocese.org) including: Practical actions for parishioners, leaflets for download, videos and other resources and ideas.
National Grandparents Pilgrimage 2020 will be broadcast live on Sunday 13 September at 3.00pm from the Basilica at Knock Shrine. Grandparents and their families are invited to join online at www.knockshrine.ie/watch
The Priory Institute: We are taking registrations now for our autumn online theology courses. The courses are up to degree level and are heavily subsidised by the Irish Domincans. They could be just the thing as the nights draw in and we look to an uncertain winter. https://prioryinstitute.com/
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
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.
