Twenty- Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time 5th October 2025
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 October 10.00am Teresa Quigley
Sunday 5th October 12Noon Margaret Lumsden
Monday 6th October 7.30pm Charlotte McEvoy
Tuesday 7th October 7.30pm Andrew Robinson
Wednesday 8th October 7.30pm John Bradley
Thursday 9th October 7.30pm Gerry Houston
Friday 10th October 10.00am Joseph Coll
Friday 10th October 7.30pm Patricia Campbell
Saturday 11th October 6.00pm Patrick Cassidy & Cassidy Family
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; William McCorrsiton- Philip Street
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Finn Taggart & Rioghan McLaughlin
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
8th November & 6th & 20th December
To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours or 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 02871262301. For urgent sick calls for those in hospital, please ask duty nurse on the ward to call hospital chaplain. Thank you
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2612.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £851.00
The Parish Office: Please contact the parish office during office hours to arrange all Anniversary and Months Mind Masses, as well as to book Baptisms & Weddings. The Parish Office is open Monday- Friday from 9am to 2.30pm, Telephone 028-71262301 or via email at longtower@derrydiocese.org. For urgent sick calls, please use the office telephone number at all times.
Fr. Gerard will visit the sick in his care in the following areas, the week beginning Monday 6th October; Mountjoy Street, Long Tower Court, Abercorn Road, Bishop Street, Corporation Street, Belview Avenue, Maureen Avenue, Ivy Terrace, Foyle Road, Foyle Park, Ardfoyle, Lower Bennett St, The Metropole, Bridge Street & Alexander House.
Are you enrolled in the Pope John Paul II Award in Long Tower parish this year? If so, you are invited to attend an Information Session on Thursday 9th October at 4.30pm in the Aras Colmcille building, in the grounds of the Long Tower Church. 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.
Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration- On the last weekend of October, we will have our annual 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration. It will be an appropriate time to welcome members of the National Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration to speak at the 6pm Vigil, 10am and 12 noon Masses, who will invite us to renew our commitment to spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. An opportunity will be given during their brief presentation at Mass to commit to one hour of adoration on a Wednesday (or any other day and length of time that suits you, either in the church or in Pump Street Oratory) by filling in a card with attached pen which will be distributed before Mass and collected afterwards. It’s a call to renewal of Eucharistic Adoration in the parish, responding to the call of the Lord himself to his disciples in Gethsemane: to ‘watch and pray one hour with me’. In Eucharistic adoration, we also share in the legacy of faithful adorers through the ages, following the faithful example of St Columba’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament in the Dubh Regles of this monastic site of Long Tower centuries before us and indeed Sr Clare Crockett of our own time!
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: We pray that our seminarians & those discerning a vocation to the diocesan priesthood will, in the words of St Paul to Timothy, “fan into a flame the gift” [of faith] and “never be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord.” as they rely on the power of God to keep them faithful to their calling.
Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop in Aras Cholmcille: We stock a variety of gifts & cards, candles, rosary beads, books, occasion cards and many other gifts & mementos. The shop is open after 10am morning Mass. For enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty via (parish office 028-71262301 or Sacristy 028-71261946) who will be happy to help.
‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of Long Tower Church, a cosy place to relax and have a bite to eat or a cuppa and a cake! The café is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9am to 3pm and now also on Sunday from 10am-3pm, with Sunday lunch being served from 12Noon-3pm. For more info, view Cloisters social media.
Our Lady, Untier of Knots Novena – The Novena to Our Lady, Untier of Knots continues after the 7:30pm Mass each Thursday in St Eugene’s Cathedral for eight Thursdays, concluding on Thursday 27th November. Do you have “knots” in your life? Knots of discord in your family, unresolved pain in relationships, or a lack of peace and joy in your home? Sometimes life can feel like one overwhelming knot, especially when we face health challenges or burdens beyond our control. This Novena reminds us that sin never entangled Our Lady, and that Christ gave us His Mother as Our Lady, Untier of Knots. Through this devotion, we entrust our personal “knots” to her loving care—learning to let go and allowing her to gently untie what binds us. All are welcome to join in prayer and reflection during this special time of grace.
SVP in Derry is looking for individuals who could assist for a few hours a week as van drivers. Email: svp.derry@svpni.co.uk if you can help.
Accord Derry-Marriage Preparation Courses: October – November 2025. October 17th/18th & November 7th/ 8th. Venue- Everglades Hotel, Derry. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note all courses are in person.
The Padre Pio Prayer Group, Holy Family Chapel, Ballymagroarty will take place on Tuesday 7 October 2025. Starting with Rosary at 6.45pm & celebration of Holy Mass at 7.15pm. The priest will bless everyone with a first class relic of St. Pio, while closing prayers are recited. Everyone Welcome.
The next ‘Rosary on the Coast’ will be this Sunday 5th October at 3pm on Lisfannon Strand, Buncrana. Everyone welcome.
The Rise and Shine Trust- Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Easter 2026: The Rise and Shine Trust travels to Lourdes every Easter Sunday with young people and children from all over Ireland. the Derry, Tyrone and Donegal groups are now currently accepting applications from young people of all religious denominations with: A medical condition, physical disability or illness (aged 9-18), A learning disability (aged 11-21), Very seriously ill children under the age of 9, accompanied by a parent or close relative or Young adults between the age of 19 and 30 with a disability or illness. The young person travels without their family but accompanied by experienced adult carers in the group. This week is a great experience for the young person as they have the opportunity to make new friends, increase their social skills and confidence and often provides respite for parents/carers. The Rise and Shine Trust cover the cost of those young people selected to travel. If there is a young person that you feel would be eligible and would benefit from a trip to Lourdes, please contact Aileen Henry on 00353872063183 for details. Please note closing date for applications is 15th October.
Road Victim Support Northern Ireland – Donegal Monthly Support Meeting Road Victim Support NI-Donegal provides support and information to those bereaved through fatal road traffic collisions. Their monthly support meeting for the Northwest area will take place on Tuesday 7th October at 7pm in Shantallow Community Centre, Drumleck Drive, Derry. All who have lost a loved one on the roads, and those who support them, are warmly welcome. For more information, contact UK-07748570558, ROI-083 183 7324 or visit www.rvsnid.com
Could you ‘Host for Hospice’- October is officially Foyle Hospice ‘Coffee Morning Month’. We are calling on supporters to help us raise vital funds by hosting a Coffee Morning. Whether it’s at home, work or in your local community, get your friends together and get the kettle on, it’s a piece of cake!! To request your FREE host pack or for more info, please call Ailbhe McDaid, Community Fundraiser on 028 71359888 or email: ailbhe@foylehospice.com.
LIFE CHAIN – Join Precious Life on Saturday 18th October 2025 at Belfast City Hall at 2pm for a Life Chain to mark the 6th Anniversary of Westminster imposing abortion on Northern Ireland. Stand with us in remembrance of the innocent babies lost since then, as we advocate for the protection of life. For more information, please contact Precious Life 028 90278484 or 07592280522.
Could you help nurses of tomorrow learn about Dementia? Join Time for Dementia – an innovative award-winning training programme, coming to University of Ulster. The programme is designed to educate undergraduate healthcare students to improve their knowledge, attitude, and empathy towards people with dementia and their carers. Students are paired up with a family affected by dementia and will arrange to visit them at home. This is a unique learning opportunity for the students but also a great chance for a family affected by dementia to share their experiences of living with the condition. If you would like to find out more information, please contact Anouska Noble on 07860331648 or anouska.noble@alzheimers.org.uk.
Mary’s Meals -Good News: The charity Mary’s Meals is now reaching over 3 million children with daily school meals across 16 countries. We are so grateful for your compassion, prayers and support over the years that have made it possible to reach this milestone. Each little act of love is giving hope to new generations. Mary’s Meals invites you to continue to pray for this work that we can reach the next child waiting and to consider volunteering your time locally to help us raise awareness and funds individually or as part of a group so we can keep the promise of a daily meal to the children we currently feed. Visit our website www.marysmeals.org.uk or contact Caoimhe on 07394564065 to find out more.
Could You Help Share the True Spirit of Christmas? Each year, volunteers in parishes across the north of Ireland set up a small stall after Masses to sell Trócaire’s Gifts of Change — meaningful gifts that make a real difference to families living in poverty around the world. We provide everything you need including training and support. All we ask is a little time and a big heart. Last Christmas, 50 parishes took part — and we’d love to grow that number even more this year! If you would like to find out more about how you can help, please email Mark at mark.mcmahon@trocaire.org or call 028 9080 8030.
Marriage Encounter Weekend: Focolare Centre, Curryhills, Prosperous, Co Kildare, 7 – 9 November. Open to all married couples. For further information and bookings, visit www.marriageencounter.ie
Rachel’s Vineyard: Have you been affected or hurt by abortion? If so, please contact Michelle on 07871765181.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
