Long
Tower One Hundred
MONSTER
DRAW 2009
CLICK THE 'I' FOR MORE INFO
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
– 9th August
Rededication of the holy
water font at the hawthorn tree: Yesterday
morning, 9th August, as part of our Centenary celebrations,
honouring the 9th day of every month until next St
Columba’s Day, we re-commissioned the old Holy
Water outlet at the famous hawthorn tree behind the
church. In 1909 Fr Willie Doherty, Adm., placed outdoors
the Baptismal Font from the old Long Tower Church
(1812-1908) as a source for Holy Water. The font fell
into disuse some years ago. Now the Grounds Committee
has restored the water supply to it, exactly 100 years
since it ceased to be used for Baptisms. From now
on, Holy Water will be procured from the font at the
hawthorn tree.
The Conversion Prayer: The Conversion
Prayer is a request for God to renew and strengthen
the faith of every single person. And it has a particular
focus on those who are not attending Mass every Sunday.
We recognise that they are good people and that they
have not lost their faith but they have lapsed from
the practice of that faith and we miss them. Therefore,
we have written and printed a new prayer – the
Conversion Prayer – for daily recitation. By
offering this prayer we are asking God to turn the
hearts of each person towards heaven, and in particular,
to bring our brothers and sisters back to Mass and
Confession. We invite you to take a copy today and
pray it each day. Thank you.
THE SECOND TEXT MESSAGE FROM POPE BENEDICT
to the pilgrims at World Youth Day read: "The
Holy Spirit is the principal agent of salvation history:
let him write your life-history 2 – BXVI."
THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM
takes place on Friday (15th August). It is a Holyday
of Obligation.
Vigil Masses – Thursday 6:30pm at the Grotto,
Lecky Road (Bishop Lagan)
NO 7:30pm Mass in the church on Thursday.
Friday Masses – 8.00 am, 10.00 am, 12.00 noon,
7.30pm.
Bishop Hegarty will celebrate the 12 noon Mass for
the Seminarians of Derry Diocese.
BAPTISMS We welcome: Jayden Matthew
Toland, 13 Deanery Street, Matthew Darren O’Neill,
28 Ewing Street and Mya Letitia Curran, 26 Beechwood
Street, who were all baptised recently.
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION
COLLECTION £ 689.00
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION £2796.00
NEW ALTAR AT THE GROTTO IN LECKY ROAD
A new altar is under construction at Our Lady’s
Grotto in the Brandywell. The Grotto has been a place
of prayer since 1945 and the Rosary is recited there
every day at 7.00 pm. We celebrate Mass at the Grotto
twice a year but there has never been a proper altar.
In honour of the 150th anniversary of the Apparitions
in Lourdes the Grotto Committee commissioned the building
of a fitting structure for Mass. It is built of block,
random rubble stone, granite and marble.
Blessing of the Altar: BISHOP LAGAN
will solemnly BLESS and dedicate the new altar on
Thursday (14th August) at 6.30 pm. The blessing will
be followed by OPEN-AIR MASS, the Vigil Mass of the
Assumption. Following the Mass we will have a ROSARY
PROCESSION from the Grotto to Long Tower, concluding
with BENEDICTION in the church. All welcome! Bring
your beads!
No Mass in Long Tower: PLEASE NOTE:
There is NO 7.30 PM MASS IN LONG TOWER on Thursday.
The Grotto Mass replaces it for the Vigil of the Assumption.
Streets Closed: Furthermore, to
facilitate the dignified celebration of the Mass,
the street passing the Grotto will be closed from
6.15 pm to 7.45 pm on Thursday. The following section
will be closed to cars: Part of Lecky Road from the
bottom of the Folly, along the front of the Grotto
and continuing around the bend to the beginning of
Brandywell Avenue. We apologise if this causes any
inconvenience to motorists.
Thanks: Finally, we would like to
express our sincere gratitude to the Grotto Committee
for their tireless work down the years and in particular
this year for the inspirational proposal to build
a new altar for the Mass.
GOING ON HOLIDAY? Make sure God
goes with you. The obligation for Sunday Mass still
applies.
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE
THE ANONYMOUS DONATIONS TO THE LONG TOWER RENOVATION
FUND: £50, £100, £50, £40,
£20, £5, £10, £5.
THE WEE NUNS’ SAVINGS SCHEME will
be closed until Sunday 24th August.
FAMILY CHARITY DAY on Sunday 17th
August from 1.30 pm to 5.00 pm. Fr Sean McKenna will
host a gathering on the occasion of his 50th birthday
in the Upper Room of the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty.
Photographs and exhibits from Africa, fun activities
for children and basic, simple refreshments - bread
and water. This will provide a focus for celebration
of overseas and local charities. There will be an
opportunity to make a donation to the Missions, to
St Vincent de Paul, to the Samaritans and to P.O.D.D.R.O
(People of Derry and Donegal reaching out). This is
a charity run by Sister Ann Doherty and Gerry Deeney
which helps health, education and housing projects
in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Everyone is welcome.
THE BINGO IS ON HOLIDAYS The bingo
will resume on Sunday 17th August. Thank you for all
your support.
YOUTH 2000 SUMMER YOUTH FESTIVAL
All 16-35 yr olds are invited to attend the Youth
2000 Summer Festival in Clonmacnoise close to Athlone
from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th August. The event
is being run on a donation only basis. For more information
contact the youth coordinator at 7126 4087 or check
out the website www.youth2000.ie. Free bus from Derry,
leaving the car park of Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty
on Thursday 14th August at 2.00 pm. Returns Sunday.
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)
