The Baptism Of The Lord 12th January 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 12th January 10.00am Ken Grant
Sunday 12th January 12Noon Anthony O’Sullivan
Monday 13th January 10.00am Edmund O’Donnell
Monday 13th January 7.30pm Robert Gillespie
Tuesday 14th January 7.30pm Mary & Liam O’Kane & O’Kane Family
Wednesday 15th January 7.30pm Tony McDaid
Thursday 16th January 7.30pm Stella Healy
Friday 17th January 7.30pm Athás Deehan
Saturday 18th January 6.00pm Patricia McLaughlin
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Siobhan Giacomin- Bishop Street, Patrick McCarron- Sandale Park, Vincent McCauley- Killea Manor, Muranna Moore- Marian Hall, Tony Lynch- Iona Park, Jim McLaughlin- Lindhurst Road & Jim Harte- Marianus Park.
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Nora Cavanagh. 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.
March 2025 – 8th & 15th
April 2025 – 12th
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2195.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £715.00
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. Thank you.
Fr. Gerard kindly acknowledges with thanks a donation of £100.00 to Long Tower Renovation fund.
Derry Diocesan Trust: Cook- Parish of Templemore – St Columba’s, Long Tower 12 hours per week – Permanent Part Time. (Monday – Thursday 11.00 am to 2.00pm). For job description and application pack please contact: Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP, telephone (028) 7126 2302 or email: recruitment@derrydiocese.org. Completed applications must be returned to: Personnel, Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP or via email to recruitment@derrydiocese.org no later than 4.30pm on Monday 20th January 2025.
Sister Clare Crockett- Opening of Cause for Sr Clare Crockett
We are very excited and looking forward to Sr Clare Crockett, native of Long Tower officially being recognised as ‘Servant of God’ as her Cause for Beatification is officially opened in Madrid this Sunday 12th January. We join in the prayers of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, Bishop McKeown, Bishop of Derry, Fr Stephen Quinn, OCD Termonbacca and Fr Gerard Mongan Adm who will accompany Sr Clare’s family, friends and many people from Derry who are in Madrid this weekend for this momentous occasion.
His Excellency, Antonio Prieto Lucena, Bishop of the Diocese of Alcala de Henares, will preside over the opening ceremony in the Cathedral of Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain, at 5.30 pm. You can watch the ceremony live at 4.30pm our time via this link: https://www.youtube.com/hmvideosen.
The Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother have been constituted as the petitioner of the cause in which Sr Kristen Gardner, Servant Sister of the Home of the Mother, has been named postulator. We thank God for this important step in the study of the life and virtues of Sr Clare.
We also look forward to celebrating a Mass to invoke the help of the Holy Spirit for the Cause of Sr Clare on Sunday 26th January, 2025 in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower at 3pm presided by Bishop Donal McKeown. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Diocesan Vocations Intercession: As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus which marked the beginning of His public life and ministry, we pray that each of us will respond positively to the universal call to holiness, thinking especially of those the Lord is inviting to serve His people as priests of the diocese of Derry.
Invitation to 33 Days of Family Prayer: Bishop McKeown will lead the diocese in 33 days of Family Prayer towards Consecration to Jesus Christ through Mary, as part of a diocesan programme for the Jubilee Year of 2025, Pilgrims of Hope. It will be delivered online on the Diocese of Derry Facebook, each evening at 7.00pm, starting on Thursday 9th January 2025 and concluding on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tuesday 11th February 2025. Bishop McKeown explains, “It is a journey I set out to make, to entrust myself and my priesthood to Christ through the Mother of God. I extend an invitation to you and your families from the parishes of the diocese to join me”. Details and times of the prayer programme with a video message from Bishop McKeown can be viewed at derrydiocese.org/consecration.
Catholic Schools Week 2025 begins on Sunday 19th January and continues until Saturday 25 January. The theme for this year is ‘Catholic Schools: Alive in Christ’. During Catholic Schools Week families, parishes and schools are invited to participate in a week of celebration of Catholic schools, reflecting on their contribution to the common good of society. To launch Catholic Schools Week in our diocese, the Eucharist will be celebrated by Bishop McKeown in Saint Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry on Thursday 16 January at 10.00am and everyone is welcome to attend. The national resource pack with ideas to help schools and parishes celebrate this week is available online at Catholic Schools Week 2025 – Alive in Christ! | Catholic Education Partnership.
Children in Crossfire – Thank you so much once again to everyone who has supported Children in Crossfire’s Advent Appeal. The response has been amazing so far, if you would still like to help, the final weekend to return your contributions is next weekend 18/19th. Donations will help provide vital education, nutrition and healthcare to young children living in poverty in inner city Dar es Salaam. Thank you.
Lumen Christi College Open Evening – Tuesday 14th January 2025: Prospective pupils and their parents/carers are invited to visit Lumen Christi College for the annual Open Evening on Tuesday 14th January 2025 between 4.00pm and 6.30pm. Principal’s Address: 4.00pm in College Assembly Hall. Guided tours of departments will be provided by pupils. Parents of current pupils will be available to share their experience with visitors. Details may be accessed on the College website- www.lumenchristicollege.co.uk.
St Joseph’s Boys School cordially invite you to attend their rescheduled Open Night on Tuesday 14th January 2025, all welcome to attend 5.30pm – 7.30 pm. Principal address at 5.30pm.
Saint Columb’s College Open Day will take place on Saturday 18th of January, Session 1: 9:45-11:30 (Surnames A-L), Session 2: 12:00-1:30 (Surnames M-Z).
To mark Christian Unity Week later this month, City Centre Churches are holding a Walking Service on Monday 20th January, starting at First Derry Presbyterian Church at 7 pm. We will visit several areas of the city’s business and residential sectors before finishing at Carlisle Road Methodist Church, approximately an hour later, with light refreshments. In the event of the weather being unsuitable, we will meet in First Derry Presbyterian Church at 7 pm and hold our event there. The Waterside Christian Unity event will take place on Wednesday 22nd January, starting at 7pm in St Columb’s Church, Chapel Road and ending in Ebrington Presbyterian Church. Everyone is most welcome at one or both of these events.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025: led by Bishop Donal McKeown, 30th June to 4th July, from City of Derry Airport. Price £849 plus insurance and single supplement if required. Enquiries via email to derrypilgrim@outlook.com.
Accord Derry – Marriage Preparation Courses: January – June 2025; January 24th/25th, February 21st/22nd, March 28th/29th, April 11th/12th, May 30th/31st & June 20th/21st. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note that all of these courses are in person and NOT virtual.
Ards Friary, Ards, Co. Donegal: ‘What is God’s Dream for your Life’ Retreat: 19th February 2025, 10am -3.30pm. This day will be welcoming of everyone, wherever they find themselves on life’s journey. It will be particularly useful for individuals and teams who want to take time away from the busyness of life and discover or rediscover a sense of direction and purpose in their lives. Facilitated by Jim Deeds. Cost €65 Euro (includes light refreshments & Lunch). For more details email info@ardsfriary.ie or visit our website www.ardsfriary.ie
Trócaire School Volunteers: Are you a retired teacher or someone who has experience presenting to groups of school children? Do you have a passion for making this world a better place, especially for the most vulnerable? Trócaire is looking for volunteers to support our 2025 Lent Appeal in the Derry Diocese. If you think you have the right skills and experience and will be available to help during school hours over Lent, then we would love to hear from you. Full training and ongoing support will be provided. For more information, please call Naomi Purnell on 028 9080 8033 or email naomi.purnell@trocaire.org.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
