CENTENARY
CELEBRATIONS
Saturday 9th May 2009
10.30am
Unveiling of the Angels
St Columba died on 9th June 597AD.
In memory of this revered date we are honouring St
Columba and his church with a different ceremony on
each 9th day of the month. On Saturday the Centenary
Committee invite you to participate in our preparatory
celebrations once again. On Saturday morning we will
have great joy in unveiling the new angels on the
roof of the church.
The original design of the Long Tower had seven angels
and seven crosses on the roof of the church. The description
printed in the papers in May 1909 read as follows:
‘Seven angels, representing the seven spirits
that stand evermore round the throne of God, surmount
the northern gables of the church – St Michael
over the front door, St Gabriel over the Calvary,
St Raphael over the Pietà, and one of the other
four over each aisle door, make up the number. Seven
crosses, symbolical of the seven seals that bound
the Book of the Lamb in the Apocalypse, surmount the
altar ends of the church around the Blessed Sacrament.’
However, history has not been kind to the Long Tower
angels and only two of the seven are still standing.
On Saturday we will complete phase one of the restoration,
unveiling the restored angels and replacing the fallen
angels. When Fr Con McLaughlin was administrator in
Long Tower he commissioned a mould of one of the existing
angels. We have now been able to use that mould to
make two new angels. We wish to thank all those who
recently contributed to the angels’ fund. Sincere
thanks are due to all those who organised and undertook
the task of collecting on the streets. All are welcome
to the blessing of the angels on Saturday at 10.30am.
BAPTISMS
We welcome: Sean Gerard Coyle-McKinney,
43 Abbot’s Walk and Clódagh Ailbhe Donnelly,
37 Messines Park, who was baptised recently.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
We extend our sincere sympathy
to the family and friends of
Patrick Jackson,
Edenballymore Lodge.
May he rest in peace.
VISITATION OF HOUSEBOUND
Fr Mongan will visit the sick in his
care on Monday/Tuesday, 4th/5th May.
THE LITTLE WAY NOVENA
The Little Way Novena will take place in the Cathedral
from Saturday, 9th May until Sunday, 17th May. This
will be an opportunity to come and pray for a special
intention and to ask St Thérèse to intercede.
The Novena will begin at the 7.30pm Mass on Saturday,
9th May. Monday to Friday (11th to 15th May) there
will be Novena Masses at 6.30am and 10.00am each morning
and an evening service with a guest speaker at 7.30pm
each evening. Everyone is welcome to the Cathedral
for this time of prayer and petition.
FOUND Ladies wedding
ring found at 10.00am Mass on Easter Sunday. Please
contact the Sacristy on 7126 1946.
MASS AND HEALING SERVICE IN HONOUR OF ST
PEREGRINE O.S.M. (Patron of Cancer Patients)
will take place in St Columb’s Church on Wednesday
13th May at 7.30pm.
SAINT COLUMB’S HALL is at
the heart of the community and the city. Since it
was built in 1886 it has undergone many transformations.
In Long Tower we have a Hall committee which has been
meeting every week for quite some time. Our purpose
is to fully integrate St Columb’s Hall into
the community. We wish to continue its long tradition
of serving the people.
It is also important that the Hall can sustain itself
financially. At present we are exploring lots of possibilities
to do this. We hope to keep the sound of music, arts
and drama alive within its walls. In addition, we
will need to generate necessary income from other
sources, which will include the leasing of some of
the rooms for commercial purposes. With this blend
of arts and commerce we plan to keep the Hall viable
for the future. To further these important projects
we will be appealing for help from the community.
As you know, we already run bingo there every Sunday
night. We are grateful for your support in this and
in all our endeavours.
THE FEAST OF BLESSED EDMUND RICE falls
this week, on Tuesday 5th May. To honour the founder
of the Christian Brothers the CBS Choir will sing
at the evening Mass in Long Tower. All welcome on
Tuesday at 7.30pm.
POPE JOHN PAUL II AWARD
Calling Students from Long Tower Parish! If you are
currently doing or interested in joining the PJPII
Award in Long Tower you are invited to attend a meeting
on Wednesday (6th May) at 7.00pm in the Sacristy.
The purpose of the meeting is to help students complete
the hours required in the Parish Involvement strand
of the award. This will be a great chance to meet
others involved in the award. If you are unable to
attend and need to get involved in the parish for
the award please contact Noel Doherty on 077 1181
4404.
THE MONTHLY DEVOTIONS IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY
will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca,
Derry on Tuesday 5th May starting with confessions
at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around
10.00pm. All are welcome to attend.
TERMONBACCA COMMUNITY FUNDAY will
be held Sunday on 31st May 2009. We would be grateful
for any items you may wish to donate, e.g. clothes,
toys, bric a brac, books etc. If you are willing to
help in anyway please contact us during office hours.
Tel: 7126 2512.
FOYLE HOSPICE DAY THERAPY UNIT is
providing support for carers and family members looking
after a person with a life-limiting illness. Meetings
on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 10.00 am to
12 noon. Next meeting on Wednesday 6th May. For further
information please contact Julia McIvor on 7135 9888.
THANK YOU once again to all who
contributed to the Easter Raffle in aid of the poor
of Kenya, India, Chile, Cambodia and Fiji by buying
raffle lines, giving donations and donating prizes
for the raffle. The total amount raised to date is
£12788.66 plus €100. We could not do this
without your help. Sincere thanks! Sister Ann Doherty
and Gerry Deeney.
YOUTHLIFE – YOUNG PEOPLE’S BEGINNING
EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND from 8th to
10th May in the Residential Centre, Ulster American
Folk Park. For further information telephone Bridie
or Pat on 7137 7227or email: youthlife_be@hotmail.com
THE LONG TOWER
ONE HUNDRED
The final pay in night for the Centenary Draw is
on Monday 4th May 2009. If you need to check the balance
owing on a ticket or to pay the final instalment,
please do so at this time. Could any ticket holders,
who still hold ticket stubs, please return them on
the 4th May.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION £1786.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION £ 684.00
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE
THE ANONYMOUS DONATIONS TO THE RESTORATION FUND: £10,
£5, £20, £10, £20, £10,
£5, £50, £5, £20, £50,
£40.
SUICIDAL?
Counselling available
at ZEST, 15 Queen Street, 7126 6999.
P.S.
‘If people want to have hope and find meaning
in their lives, they need to take God out of the "parentheses".
(Pope Benedict XVI)
