Fourth Sunday of Easter 11th May 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 11th May 10.00am Gerard Stewart
Sunday 11th May 12Noon Marlena McGowan
Monday 12th May 10.00am Barney Brady
Monday 12th May 7.30pm Madge Meehan
Tuesday 13th May 7.30pm Liam Melly
Wednesday 14th May 10.00am Mary McDaid
Wednesday 14th May 7.30pm Eddie Breslin
Thursday 15th May 7.30pm Jimmy Friel
Friday 16th May 7.30pm Magdalen Nelis
Saturday 17th May 6.00pm James Smith
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Harry Gilmore- Alexander House
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Theo Gill, Rua McColgan, Alana Blackburn & Isaac Anderson-McCallion. To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours.
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
July 2025– 12th & 19th
August 2025– 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2607.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £760.00
The Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by phone on 028-71262301 (during office hours) or via email.
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. Thank you.
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: As we celebrate Vocations Sunday we pray especially for those considering a vocation to the diocesan priesthood – that they will listen to the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd; that they will develop a personal relationship with Him as they come to know Him and follow Him wherever He may lead them.
St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, Annual Parish Draw: Tickets are NOW ON SALE!!! Price £5/per ticket. The draw will take place 9th June, St Columba’s Feast Day. 1st prize £2500, 2nd prize £1000, 3rd prize £500, 4th prize £300, 5th prize £200. Promoters prize of £100. We would ask that anyone interested in becoming a promoter or wishing to purchase tickets to please call at or contact the Parish office on 02871-262301, Monday to Friday 9am – 2.30pm or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org. Thank you for your support.
We Congratulate the P.4 pupils from Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir who celebrated the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in Long Tower on Friday 9th May. Thanks to all who made the occasion so special. We hope you all had a lovely day!
Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop in Aras Cholmcille: We have a variety of Confirmation/ First Holy Communion gifts & cards, candles, rosary beads, books, occasion cards and other gifts & mementos available. The shop is after 10am morning Mass during the week. For enquiries please contact Sheila Doyle/ Jim Doherty via (parish office 028-7126230 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. Spread the word! ‘Meet & Bite’ is housed in Cloisters Café on a Tuesday between 4pm-6pm and is available to those in need at no cost. We aim to provide a listening ear, as well as a warm meal and some goodies to take away where we can. Have a look at Cloisters social media Meet & Bite for more information.
Adult Safeguarding Training for Long Tower: We have invited Mrs Briege O’Neill, Safeguarding Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Derry to facilitate Adult Safeguarding Training on Saturday 17th May, 11am – 1.30 pm in Aras Cholmcille, with light lunch provided. Adult Safeguarding Training is relevant to clergy, sacristans, church secretaries, adult prayer groups, senior choir leaders, Legion of Mary volunteers, members of St Vincent de Paul and eucharistic ministers who attend to people confined to their homes/nursing homes and all those in the parish who are interested in Safeguarding Adults at risk and in need of protection. Please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301, by Tuesday 13th May to book.
Long Tower Parish are organising a ‘Columban Camino’ in Derry and Donegal between 5th – 7th June. Participants will walk from Derry to Buncrana, from Rathmullan to Milford and from there on to Gartan, overnight stay’s will be in the Inishowen Gateway and Mulroy Woods. All sponsorship raised will go to Children in Crossfire. For more info., contact aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org or call Aishling on 028 7127 8955.
The Little Way Novena in honour of St Thérèse of Lisieux, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, Saturday 10th May – Sunday 18th May. The Novena begins with Mass of the Anointing of the sick at 7.30pm on Saturday 10th May. Sunday 11th May at 6pm there will be Devotions and a talk. Monday to Friday (12th – 16th May) Novena Masses will be celebrated at 6.30am & 10am each morning with an evening service with a guest speaker at 7.30pm. On Saturday 17th May, 10am Mass will be offered up for those who have died. The Novena will close on Sunday 18th May at 3pm. This will be an opportunity to pray for a special intention and to ask St Thérèse to intercede for us.
Diocese of Derry 3-Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg; Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July. For those wishing to avail of transport, a bus will depart after 10am Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, on the Friday; it will travel via Lifford and Ballybofey. Cost: £95/€110 (including transport). Pre-booking is required. Please contact Tony Brennan on tony.brennan@derrydiocese.org or phone the Diocese Office on (+44) 028 7126 2302 for a booking form.
Pray for Life Novena: The Pray for Life Novena is an invitation to join thousands of people across Ireland to pray for the protection of human life, from Friday 23rd May to the Feast of the Visitation on Saturday 31st May. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life in Ireland. Visit www.prayforlife.ie for the daily novena prayers and to sign up for daily reminders. The prayers will also be posted facebook.com/PrayforLifeNovena @PrayforLife_ie on X and @prayforlifenovena on Instagram.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock: Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage 2025 to Knock Shrine, led by Bishop McKeown, will take place on Sunday 15th June, commencing with Rosary at 2.00pm, followed by Anointing of the Sick at 2.30 and concluding with Mass and Eucharistic Procession at 3.00pm. Confessions available throughout the day. Bus transport avail from St Eugene’s Cathedral. For further information on this, please contact Karen on 028 71262 894 or by email on cathedral@derrydiocese.org. In conjunction with the pilgrimage, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, is running a two-night pilgrimage to Knock from 15 -17 June. Cost £280 per person sharing. For more information and full itinerary, contact Anne Marie on amhickey@derrydiocese.org, telephone 028 71262894 or call into the Cathedral Parish Office.
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 22nd June 2025 at 3.00 pm.
Pilgrimage To Fatima; Now Flying Direct From Belfast International.7 Nights F/B Avenida Hotel 30th July/6th August. Spiritual Director Fr Martin Graham Adm St Peter’s Cathedral Belfast. £885pps. Convenient flight times. For further information contact Joe Catney 07776425631.
Pilgrimage To Medjugorje: Seats are still available on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje leaving from Belfast International Airport on 2nd July. Cost is £765 per person sharing with an additional charge for a single room. The pilgrimage is organised through Marian Pilgrimages, Dublin. For more details, contact John Murray on 0780 1105575.
‘Vulnerable to delight’ – Seamus Heaney: Poet of Childhood. A lecture presented by Dr, Gary Wade (Adjunct Lecturer, University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia) will take place at St. Columb’s College, Buncrana Road, Derry on Wednesday 18 June 2025 at 4:15 pm. To book places please email: info@stcolumbs.derry.ni.sch.uk or telephone 02871 285000. Light refreshments served afterwards. All Welcome!
Mary’s Meals – Pray in May: During the month of May, dedicated to Our Lady, we invite you to join us in praying for the 2.6 million children in 16 of the world’s poorest countries who receive our nutritious school meals daily & for all the children & families around the world living in poverty. For free prayer calendars and resources for individuals, families, schools, prayer groups or to sign up visit www.marysmeals.org.uk/prayinmay .Thank you for your support of Mary’s Meals.
The next ‘Rosary on the Coast’ will be this Sunday 18th May at 3pm on Benone Strand, Magilligan. Everyone welcome.
