CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
– Thursday 9th October 2008 St Columba died
on 9th June 597. In honour of this revered date we
will celebrate the Centenary of Long Tower Church
on 9th June 2009. On each 9th of the month before
that we are honouring St Columba and his church with
a different ceremony. This week the Centenary Committee
invites you to participate in our preparatory celebrations
once again. All welcome!
KNIGHTS
OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
CEREMONY OF INVESTITURE
– Thursday 9th October 2008, 7.30pm
Celebrant: Bishop
Séamus Hegarty
A Knight of the Blessed Sacrament is a man who has
been prepared and inducted specially for veneration
and protection of the Eucharist when it is exposed
on the altar. He commits to do one hour’s Adoration
on a Wednesday, during which time he wears a special
garment of veneration that marks him out as a protector
of the Blessed Sacrament.
For the last month a group of local men have been
in formation for this significant apostolate in advance
of the Centenary. We extend a warm invitation to everyone
to attend 7.30 Mass on Thursday evening when the men
will be formally invested as Knights of the Blessed
Sacrament. Bishop Hegarty will celebrate the
Mass and welcome the men into service of the Eucharist.
In the spirit of the original monastery of
St Columba, we will once again have a community of
men at prayer on this holy ground.
Ongoing Programme for Knights:
1. A guided holy hour in Long Tower each Thursday
night, 8.00-9.00pm, until June.
2. An hour’s formation each eve of the First
Friday (Thursday 8.15-9.15pm), in the Sacristy.
3. A specific hour for Adoration each Wednesday.
Fidelity – Be living the Ten Commandments.
Age – Be 18 years or older.
To volunteer – Please collect an application
form in the Sacristy.
BAPTISMS
We welcome: Abbie Millar,
32 Sandbank Park, Kathleen McQuaid, 13 Grove Place,
Natasha McCourt, 18 Malin Gardens and Ava Cregan,
44 Ferguson Street, who were baptised recently.
REQUIESCANT IN PACE
We extend our sincere sympathy to the family
and friends of
Elizabeth McGirr, Lavery Fold,
Theresa Conway, 62 Donal Casey Court
and
Michael Cooke, 15 Corporation Street.
May they rest in peace.
THANKS to the Lumen Christi students
(Years 13 and 14) who are taking part in the Parish
Outreach Programme every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.
Their activities include visitation of the elderly
and the schools, secretarial work, liturgy and caring
for the church.
ALTAR SERVERS are being recruited
at this time. We welcome children from P5 to P6 to
begin training. Training takes place twice a week
for a number of weeks (Monday and Tuesday from 3.00
pm to 3.45 pm), beginning on Monday 13th October.
Practices will be taken by Father Mongan and supervised
by a teacher and some parents. Please call to the
sacristy for an application form.
MONSTER DRAW
FOR THE CENTENARY
***LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS
REMAINING***
To enter the Draw
Members of the committee will be available in the
Sacristy after each Mass today to sign up new members
and for giving out pre-booked tickets.
Tickets available: Daily, 10.00 am
to 2.30 pm in the Parochial House.
Please! give the parish your enthusiastic
support in this essential fund-raising venture. The
priests of the parish will recite the Divine Office
for the intentions and well-being of all the promoters
and the members every day until the Centenary. Thank
you!
YOUTHLIFE WILL BE HOSTING A YOUNG PEOPLE'S
BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND RESIDENTIAL
in the Residential Centre, Ulster American Folk Park
from Friday 17th until Sunday 19th October 2008. This
is a structured programme designed to help young people
work through the 5 stages of the grief process that
can result from the death, divorce or separation of
their parents. The weekend is open to young people
from the age of 11 upwards. For further information
and application forms please contact Bridie or Pat
at 7137 7227, email youthlife_be@hotmail.com or access
our website on www.youthlife.btik.com
PRECIOUS LIFE will be hosting a meeting
on 6th October in the City Hotel regarding the Pro-Life
Rally in Stormont on Saturday 18th October at 1.00
pm. All welcome.
TIME TO PRAY DAY Sunday 5th October,
Thornhill Centre is open from 3.00 pm to those who
wish to use the Centre’s facilities for some
quiet time and prayer. Concludes with Evening Prayer
of the Church at 5.30 pm. All welcome.
THE MONTHLY DEVOTIONS IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY
will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca,
Derry on Tuesday 7th October starting with confessions
at 7.30 pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing
around 10.00 pm. All are welcome to attend.
DEPRESSION – If you or someone
you know is affected by depression, Aware Defeat Depression
can help. The organisation’s self-help support
group meets in 10 Clarendon Street, Derry every Tuesday
evening at 7.30pm. New members are always welcome.
For further information telephone 7126 0602 or email
info@aware-ni.org.
POETRY EVENINGS – SELECTED POEMS
Mary Murphy will lead a four-session workshop, exploring
poems which provoke a critical and creative response.
Dates: Wed 15/29 October & 12/26 November. Time:
7.30–9.30 pm. Venue: Thornhill Centre. Cost:
£5 per night. Please phone 7135 1233 to reserve
a place.
MARGARET KEYS PRODUCTIONS will be
holding Musical Theatre Workshops (singing, dancing
and drama) commencing 11th October in St Columb’s
Hall. For further information contact 7126 8533.
ACCORD MARRIAGE PREPARATION WORKSHOPS
on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October in the Thornhill
Centre, Culmore Road. Friday from 7.00 pm to 10.00
pm and Saturday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. Booking
forms available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop
Street. Telephone 7136 2475.
WE GRATEFULY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ANONYMOUS DONATIONS TO
THE LONG TOWER RENOVATION FUND: £5,
£20, £10, £5, £5, £20,
£20, £25, £40, £100.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE
COLLECTION £2412.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION
COLLECTION £ 614.00
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)
