The Long Tower One Hundred is a monster draw to raise funds for the Centenary of the Long Tower Church, built in 1909. The Draw is built around the number NINE. Nine is a number which is very significant in the Catholic faith and particularly important to our parish. St Columba died on the 9th of June, 597AD. The novena to St Columba spans the first nine days of June. The parish is hosting a special Columban celebration on the 9th day of each month up to the Centenary. We have nine restoration goals for which we wish to generate revenue. And at the first committee meeting the number of people who turned up was nine!

In 2009 the Long Tower Church is 100 years old therefore we wish to sell 2009 tickets at a £100 subscription each. There are 39 prizes (£20,000 plus 2 cars plus 36 great cash prizes). There will be no more than 2009 tickets sold, giving each member almost a one in 50 chance of winning a prize! In addition, each promoter will have almost a one in 40 chance of winning a prize!

The committee is calling for your collective support and collecting ability to be put into generous action over the next number of months. We need members to buy tickets and we need promoters to sell tickets. There will be ten promoters’ prizes. To be a promoter you need to sell a minimum of 5 tickets, collecting £10 a month from each of your members. The subscription works out at £2.50 a week for the 10 months or 27 pence a day over a full year.

Programme for the Long Tower 100
Tickets available: Monday 7th July 2008, 7:00-9:00pm, Parochial House
Pay-in: First Monday of every month, 7:00-9:00pm, Parochial House
First pay-in night: Monday 4th August 2008
Final pay-in night: Monday 4th May 2009
All tickets must be paid in full by: Monday 1st June 2009
Monster Draw (Grand social night): Friday 19th June 2009

We need your help!
£100 may seem like an ambitious price to ask for a subscription but the committee believes the generosity of the people will rise to this request out of love for the Long Tower. Between 1907 and 1909 when this church was being built, the people were far from wealthy yet they collected with such enthusiasm and devotion that the necessary revenue was all raised locally. ‘Stimulated by the princely generosity of Mr Hannigan the people rallied to Fr. Doherty’s assistance. Collectively and individually, the people of every rank and station subscribed readily and whole-heartedly according to their means. So generous was the response to Fr. Doherty’s appeal that he did not, and he is convinced, will not, feel compelled to seek financial aid outside the city.’ (“The Story of the Long Tower”, 1909)

9 Restoration Objectives for the Centenary
Restore the tomb of Bishop John Keys O’Doherty
Restore the Opus Sectile art-work above the tabernacle
Restore all the stone walls
Restore the angels to the church roof
Upgrade the toilet area in the Sacristy
Restore the Baptismal font to the Baptistery and repair the seats in the church.
Restore the original Stations of the Cross to the gallery
Erect a statue of St Columba in Long Tower School
Publish the “Story of the Long Tower”

Please!
Please give the parish your enthusiastic support in this essential fund-raising venture. Furthermore, 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!