Sunday 31st May 2009

Pentecost Sunday

Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so am I sending you." Then he breathed on them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit." As we celebrate Pentecost in our homes and our parish communities, there are two qualities we need to develop - peace and energy. Peace is Christ's desire for us as we journey with him and with one another. But peace is not a passive thing. Rather it is a dynamic way of life. We are to be his witnesses in the world, and so he gives us his Holy Spirit so that we can have the energy we need in order to witness through love. This love is practised and developed in marriage and family life. It needs to be extended to the life of the parish community. Our motto for this week of Pentecost can be: "Love as if everything depends on you. Live as if everything depends on God."

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

 

 

 

BAPTISMS

We welcome: Dean Jared Thomas McSherry, 224A Bishop Street, who was baptised recently.

YESTERDAY WAS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF LONG TOWER CHURCH. Although our Centenary Mass with the Papal Legate will take place on the 9th of June, Feast of St Columba, this present church opened its doors for the first time 100 years ago yesterday, 30th May 1909. Pentecost Sunday fell on that date and it was chosen as the ideal day to open the new church.

THE ANNUAL CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION will take place from the Grotto in the Brandywell today, Sunday. The Angelus and Exposition will take place at the Grotto at 5.30pm, followed by the procession with the Blessed Sacrament from the Grotto to Long Tower Church. The ceremony will conclude with Benediction in the church at 6pm. All welcome! We especially invite the First Holy Communion children to dress up and walk with the Blessed Sacrament.

THE CENTENARY MASS WITH THE PAPAL LEGATE will be open to all on Tuesday 9th June at 7.30pm, Feast of St Columba. We extend a general invitation to our parishioners and friends. It will be necessary to reserve a limited number of seats for invited guests. The remainder of the seats will be available for anyone else who would like to attend. This should extend to about 1500 seats which will be there for the taking – and the praying! Come early to be sure of a seat!

PARISH NOVENA 1st to 9th June

To honour St Columba and the Centenary of his church, we will have three days of prayer this week to launch the annual novena. The triduum.

Please note that there will be NO evening Mass on Monday or Tuesday. For those who would like early morning Eucharist there will be a Latin Mass on Monday and Tuesday at 6.30am in Long Tower, as part of a series of traditional Masses in preparation for the centenary celebrations. 8am and 10am Mass continues as usual. The novena prayer to St Columba will be recited at Mass every day until the 9th June.

DIOCESAN YOUTH MASS & BLESSING FOR YOUNG DRIVERS today, Sunday in St Columb’s Church, Chapel Road, Waterside, at 7.00pm. All young drivers are invited to bring their license or car keys to this Mass for a special blessing. ‘Rejoice’ the Diocesan Youth Choir will lead the music and Bishop Hegarty will be the main celebrant. Refreshments will be served in the parish centre after Mass. Everyone welcome.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CHILDREN from Long Tower and Ballougry Primary Schools who received the Blessed Sacrament yesterday. On Saturday (6 June) the P4 children of Nazareth House PS will make their First Communion in the Nazareth House Chapel.

P7 PLEDGE

The children from Long Tower PS who made their Confirmation recently will take their pledge (until 18) against alcohol at the 12.00 noon Mass today, Sunday. We live in an age when the gift of alcohol is abused and causes immense damage to homes, families and society in general. Therefore the parents, sponsors and families are also invited to this Mass to give special encouragement to the children. By our own example of abstinence or of consuming alcohol in moderation we can help the children to keep the promises that they make to God. May God who has begun the good work in them bring it to fulfilment.

THE MONTHLY DEVOTIONS IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre on Tuesday 2nd June starting with Confessions at 7.30 pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00 pm. All are welcome to attend.

BLESSING OF THE GRAVES – WATERSIDE & ARDMORE

The Service of Intercession for the dead will take place on Sunday 14th June in Ballyoan and Altnagelvin cemeteries at 3.00pm and in Ardmore cemetery at 6.00pm. A bus will travel to Ardmore leaving Chapel Road at 4.30pm (sharp) and calling at Trench Road at 4.45pm, returning immediately afterwards. We ask those who are traveling by car to co-operate with stewards, disabled parking will be available at the upper end of the new cemetery. Please try to be in the cemetery at 5.50pm. A collection to help maintain the upkeep of the cemetery will be taken up at gates. We thank you in anticipation of your generosity. We ask people to dispose of any waste in the appointed area of each graveyard. The sale of flowers in Ardmore on this evening is strictly by arrangement with cemetery committee. We thank people for their ongoing care of their family grave, we ask God to reward you and we pray for all our deceased loved ones.

CEMETERY SUNDAY

The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead takes place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 21 June at 6.00 pm.

THE LONG TOWER ONE HUNDRED

The final opportunity to pay in is closing in, Monday 1st June. If you need to check the balance owing on a ticket or to pay the final instalment, please contact Moira on 7126 6808. If anyone has pre-booked tickets they are available for collection and payment at the Parochial House during the week. Any ticket holders who still hold ticket stubs are asked to return them to the Committee immediately.

LONG TOWER 100 DINNER DANCE & DRAW

If you would like to purchase tickets for the Dinner Dance and Draw which will be held on Friday 19th June in the Tower Hotel please contact Moira on 7126 6808. Tickets are priced £25.00. Everyone welcome.

CENTENARY CEILI in St Columb’s Hall on Friday 26th June from 9.30 pm. Music by Fr Mongan & Emerald Ceili Band. Tickets £5.00 incl. supper are available from the Parochial House. All welcome.

ST EUGENE'S CATHEDRAL CHOIR PRESENTS AN EVENING OF SACRED MUSIC, SCRIPTURE AND PRAYERS: A most special evening for the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ on Sunday, 14th June in St Eugene's Cathedral from 8.00pm to 9.15pm. The Cathedral will host a beautiful and prayerful Evening of Sacred Music, Scripture and Prayers in honour of this great Feast. All welcome.

LONG TOWER OLD BOYS TRÓCAIRE DANCE presents the George McGowan 20th Anniversary at the Delacroix on Tuesday 9th June. Doors open from 9.30pm. Admission £1.00. All welcome.

AGE CONCERN DERRY provide free computer classes for over 60s every Wednesday morning from 11.00am. Computers are provided. All are welcome to attend!

AGE CONCERN DERRY Annual Gardening Competition – extended entry. The closing date for the competition is now Wednesday the 10th of June!

 

818 PEOPLE visited the Long Tower website last week.

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ANONYMOUS DONATIONS TO THE RESTORATION FUND: £170, £4.28, £100, £10, £5, £20, £5.

LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION £2014.00

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION £ 508.00

 

 

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)