28/10/2026
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Fr Micheál McGavigan PP – Fr Roni Zacharias CC – Fr Stephen Ward CC
Sunday 25th October 2026 – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the two great commandments: love God and love our neighbour.
But there are two words we can easily overlook: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus does not tell us to put ourselves first, but neither does he tell us that we do not matter.
Christian love means learning to see ourselves as God sees us, with honesty, patience and mercy.
We all have faults, regrets and things we would change, but none of these takes away our dignity or God’s love for us.
Perhaps learning to accept God’s mercy for ourselves also helps us to become more merciful towards others.
We do not have to demand perfection from ourselves, and neither should we demand it from those around us.
Speak to yourself with the same kindness you would offer to somebody you love.
You too carry the image of God. WELCOME TO GOD’S FAMILY Eoghan David O’Carroll; Grace Anna McCauley; Myles Eamon Doherty.
REQUIESCAN T IN PACE We offer our sympathies to the family and friends of: Michael Deery, Galliagh Park; Mary McIvor, Carnhill; Adrian Gallagher, Thorndale; Martin Concannon, Richmond Crescent; John Duffy, Kingsfort Crescent; Gerard Davis, Grainan Drive; Kevin Harkin Rossnagalliagh; Colm McGuinness, Fernabbey Drive
Helen Hume; Andrew Deeney; Pat Mullan; Niall Walsh ; Pat Nolan; Oran Manus McBrearty; Michael McCafferty; Ann McFaul; James McFaul; Georgie Campbell; Pauline McDaid; Una Collins; Fr Jim Hamilton; Tony McDaid; Michelle McGinley; James McGeady; Sadie Hasson ; Liam Glenn; Hugh Doherty.
COME JOIN US FOR CHILDREN’S LITURGY St Brigid’s Church, Carnhill - 5pm; St Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn - 9.45am; St Brigid’s Church, Carnhill - 10.30am St Joseph’s Church, Galliagh - 11am and 6.30pm. Children in P1-4 are invited to attend, where they will take part in an activity themed on Sunday’s Gospel.
REFRESH & RENEW MORNING For all existing and new Readers and Eucharistic Ministers in our Parish Churches, led By Sr Perpetua McNulty from 10am- 12 noon on
Saturday 21st November in St Joseph's Church, Galliagh.
There is a sign-up sheet in the Sacristy.
THREE PATRONS MONTHLY CASH PRIZE DRAW November: 5 £100; 1 £500; Top Prize £1,000. December: 5 £100; 1 £500; JUMBO PRIZE £2,000. Tickets cost £20. Monthly promoter prize of £50 for each winning ticket.
Ticke ts are available from Church sacristies and Parish Offices.
Card payments available at the Pennyburn Parish Office.
Draws take place Friday, 20th November &
Friday 18th December. NOVEMBER MASSES FOR THE DEAD Offered for parishioners who have died over the past year and their families.
Wednesday 4th November at 7pm in St Joseph’s Church, Galliagh;
Wednesday 4th November at 7pm in St Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn and
Thursday 5th November at 7pm in St Brigid’s Church, Carnhill. DO THIS IN MEMORY MASS- WEEKEND
Saturday 7th November at 5pm, St Brigid's - Greenhaw PS
Sunday 8th November at 9.45am, St Patrick's - St Patrick's PS
Sunday 8th November at 10.30am, St Brigid's - St Brigid's PS
Sunday 8th November at 11am, St Joseph's Church – St Paul's PS & St Therese's PS ANNUAL NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP The Novena begins on
Tuesday 27th October at 7pm, in St Joseph’s Church, Galliagh and concludes on
Tuesday 22nd December with a Penitential Service and confessions for Christmas.
FAMILY PRAYER BOOK This Sunday begins psalter week 2. LAST WEEK’S OFFERTORY COLLECTION St Patrick’s Church: £ 1,143 - St Brigid’s Church: £ 2,180 - St Joseph’s Church: £ 1,010 2nd Collection (Maintenance & Pastoral Outreach ): £1,010. Thank you for your continued generosity.
BANK DETAILS FOR ONLINE DONATIONS: A/C Name: The Parish of the Three Patrons Sort Code: 95- 06-79 A/CNo: 60320021 Three Patrons https://threepatrons.org
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LECTIO DIVINA ON SUNDAY’S GOSPEL Take some time to pray, reflect and share as we explore the Gospel for the coming Sunday.
Every Monday after the 10am Mass in the Emmaus Room, Pennyburn.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS AT ST JOSEPH’S 11am Mass on Tuesday in St Joseph’s will be offered for all those associated with St Joseph’s for the past 50 years.
There will be a cup of tea in St Pio House after Mass.
All welcome. PARISH COFFEE MORNING We raised over £300 for the Foyle Hospice.
Big thank you to all who contributed the delicious tray bakes and to all those who came along and supported the coffee morning.
VOCATIONS There will be a meeting for anyone considering a vocation to the diocesan priesthood, in Derry, on
Sunday 8 November, at 4pm.
Contact the Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat O'Hagan, at pgoh2111@gmail.com /
(028) 79386259. JOB VACANCY: ST EUGENE’S CATHEDRAL An experienced Choir Director to lead and manage all aspects of the cathedral choir. 10 hours per week: For details:
recruitment@derrydiocese.org . Closing date:
Thursday 12 November at 12noon. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. CYRPUS PILGRIMAGE – MAY 2027 16-24
May’27. Ex Belfast. A few seats have become available.
Contact the Parish Office for more details.
CONSIDER TAKING THE SHORT-TERM PLEDGE If you would like to make this pledge to give up alcohol for the intention of the Holy Souls this November, please contact one of our Parish Offices from 9am - 1pm to receive a temporary pio neer pin or visit www.pioneerassociation.ie . THE COLUMBAN YOUNG ADULTS Is a group for those aged 18 - 35, who are seeking a community of like-minded young adults who have Christ at the centre of their lives.
Next event:
Thursday 19 November, 7pm, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Steelstown . For more information contact us at columbanyoungadults@gmail.com . CARE OF CREATION ‘Each of the various creatures reflects in its ownway a ray of God’s infinite wisdom and goodness.
We must therefore respect the particular goodness of every creature so as to avoid a diso rdered use of things.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church) SAFEGUARDING If you have any concerns about the Safeguarding of Children or vulnerable adults within the Church, please contact Marie O’Kane, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) on 07596500793 or at dlp@derrydiocese.org ANNUAL SOLEMN NOVENA In honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Nine Sundays before Christmas in Long Tower Church, at 6pm, starting this
Sunday 25th. MASS AND EVENING OF WORSHIP
Friday 13th November at 7pm in St Joseph’s Church.
Worshipping God with our hearts and our souls.
Drawing down God’s grace and power in our nation.
Main Celebrant Fr Bernard Murphy CFR and talk by Patrick All welcome.
PARISH GROUPS & MEETINGS Monday After 10am Mass Lectio Divina Emmaus Room, Pennyburn After 11am Mass Holy Souls Prayer Group Our Lady's Chapel, Galliagh 1pm – 2.30pm Legion of Mary Meeting Room, St Joseph’s Church, Galliagh 7pm – 8.30pm Carnhill Folk Group St Brigid’s Churc h, Carnhill 7pm - 9pm Woman's Craft Group Kildare Room, Carnhill Tuesday After 11am Mass Devotion to the Holy Face Our Lady's Chapel, Gal liagh 11.30am - 2.30pm St. Pio's Café St Pio Centre, Galliagh 12pm – 1pm Reflection on Sunday Scriptures St Pio Centre, Galliagh 5.00pm – 5.30pm St Brigid’s Junior Choir St Brigid’s Church , Carnhill 7.30pm - 9.30pm Living Disciples Prayer Group St Pio Centre, Gallia gh
Thursday 11.30am - 2.30pm St. Pio's Café St. Pio Centre, Galliagh 4.45pm – 5.30pm St Brigid’s Youth Choir St Brigid’s Church, Carnh ill 6pm – 7pm Divine Will Prayer Group Kildare Room, Carnhill 7pm – 8pm Holy Hour for the Unborn Our Lady’s Chapel 7.30pm - 8.30pm Youth Prayer Group St. Pio Centre, Galliagh 8.15pm – 10pm Be Still – Men’s Prayer Group Our Lady’s Chapel
Friday 11.30am-12.30pm Divine Mercy Prayer Group Our Lady’s Chapel, Galliagh Saturday 12noon – 1pm The God Club Kildare Room , Carnhill PARISH SCHEDULE ST PATRICK’S CHURCH, PENNYBURN
Vigil 6.15pm; 9.45am
Monday to Friday: 10am; Wednesday: 7pm Confessions: Wednesday: 6.15pm – 6.45pm; Saturday: 5.15pm – 6pm Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday: 10.30am – 4pm in the Emmaus Room Baptisms: Saturday: 4.30pm; Sunday: 1.30pm ST BRIGID’S CHURCH, CARNHILL
Vigil 5pm; 10.30am & 12.30pm
Monday to Friday: 9.30am; Thursday: 7pm; Saturday: 11am Confessions: Thursday: 6.15pm – 6.45pm; Saturday after 11.00am Mass and 4pm - 4.45pm Eucharistic Adoration: Daily: 8.00am – 8.00pm in St Carlo Acutis Chapel Baptisms: Saturday: 3.30pm ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GALLIAGH Sunday Mass: 11.00am; 12.30pm (An t Aifreann Naofa) ; 6.30pm
Monday to Friday: 11am; Tuesday: 7pm Confessions: Tuesday: 6.15pm – 6.45pm; Sunday: 5.30pm – 6.15pm Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesday: 11.30am – 7.00pm in Our Lady’s Chapel Baptisms: Saturday: 3.30 pm
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Parishes of Glendermott & Strathfoyle
Sunday 25th October 2026 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Commandment of Love is the greatest of the commandments, the mother of all the virtues, and the pulsating heart of the Christian message.
We are created in the image of a God who is Love; so, we cannot live without love In today’s gospel reading from Matthew, one of the Pharisees, a lawyer, asks Jesus to identify ‘the greatest commandment of the Law’(Mt 22:36).
In response, Jesus quotes the great ‘shema’ prayer recited daily by all devout Jews (cf.
Deut 6:4-5). This prayer exhorts us to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul.
Jesus immediately adds a second commandment, familiar to his audience namely, ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mt 22:39).
Sadly, the word ‘love’ is so overused in our world today that it has lost much of its meaning.
We speak of love of country, love of sport, love of food, love between friends, love of parents, romantic love, etc As Pope Leo teaches, ‘True love is not merely a fleeting, briefly inflamed emotion.
It is more. It is a deep commitment to the other, a decision, a journey and a covenant for life All genuine love is manifested in action; it is practical and outgoing.
In the words of St Augustine: ‘It has the hands to help others.
It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of people.
Such love is demanding. It summons us to leave our comfort zones, to give our time, our energy, our talents, and, indeed, our very selves to others FEAST OF ALL SAINTS Mass Arrangements for the Feast of All Saints-
Saturday 31st October 6:00pm Church of Immaculate Conception 6:00pm St. Oliver Plunkett 6:30pm St. Columb’s Church (note change of time) Waterside Strathfoyle amalgamated) https://watersideparish.net
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Diocesan Appointments - This weekend is Fr Lagan’s last weekend in our parish as our priest, I take the opportunity to thank him sincerely for his work both in the parish and the hospitals over the past four years.
His endearing personality enabled him to get to know many people in a short period of time.
His good humour and generosity of time have brought many blessings to many people and our parish community.
As he begins a new phase of his life as Parish Priest in the Sperrin parishes of Gortin and Greencastle, I on behalf of the parish, wish him every blessing.
It will be a very big change for him so let’s keep him and all the priests involved in the latest diocesan appointments in our prayers.
Words of thanks from Fr Lagan On 18th August 2022, Bishop Donal McKeown appointed me to the parishes of Glendermott and Strathfoyle.
On that occasion, even though it was a change, I very much knew that I was coming home.
I was sent to a parish that I had previously served and for a short while after my Ordination in 2012 began ministering as a Priest. It is a place that I love very much and this last four years have been both a time of immense blessing.
On 9th October, Bishop Router appointed me to the parishes of Greencastle and Gortin in Co Tyrone.
Whilst I am deeply honoured for his trust in me, I leave here with the best preparation I could ask for in taking up this new challenge.
I want to thank all the staff of our parish, those who work to support the running of Glendermott and Strathfoyle, but especially to Fr Joshi for his kindness, guidance, support and friendship and to Fr Michael Canny for his ever willing example, paternal guidance and endless patience not only during my time here but throughout my Priestly Ministry and also to each of you, for your prayers, your faith filled example and for the love and kindness that you have shown me, I will forever treasure.
Please keep me in your prayers and be assured of my prayers for you, your loved ones and families in the months and years ahead.
Thank you. Baptisms – We welcome into God’s family: Noah Doherty Birch Hill, Cailean John Christopher Tracey Deramore Drive.
Anniversaries – For those whose anniversaries occur around this time Molly Hegarty, Nora Brown, Margaret Flynn, Jim Mellon, Fonsy Doherty, Bob Kelly, Joseph Devine, William Barr, Willie Guthrie, Paul McFadden, John Monaghan, Charlie Mullan, William McConomy, Bill and Kathleen Monk, Mary Storey, Brian Simpson, Lawerence Boyle.
Offertory Collections: Glendermott: £3,800.00 Strathfoyle: £580.00 Thank you for your generosity to the parish collections and Mission Collection taken up last weekend
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Vocations- there will be a meeting for anyone considering a vocation to the diocesan priesthood, in Derry, on
Sunday 8 November, beginning at 4pm. For further details, please contact the Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat O'Hagan, at pgoh2111@gmail.com or by calling (028) 79386259. Lectio Divina – Join us on Thursday evenings at 8:00pm in St Columb’s Church for our weekly praying of the Sacred Scriptures.
Centring Prayer Group – Join us on Wednesday at 8:00pm in the St Columb’s Church (Parish Hall) Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible Many of us want to read the Bible but can find it difficult to understand.
The Parish will be running ‘Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible’, an eight-part course that will help us to understand the main story of the Bible and how all the different parts fit together.
It gives the ‘big picture’ and helps us see what the Bible is really about.
We will meet on Monday evenings starting on 2nd November at 8pm (after 7.30pm Mass) in the Parish Hall, St Columb’s Church.
Sessions will begin with prayer, followed by a video presentation and small group discussion.
By the end, you’ll feel more confident reading the Bible and have a better understanding of how you fit into God’s plan.
To register for the course, please leave your name and contact details at the Parish Office (028 71 342303 or email secretary@watersideparish.net ).
Annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Nine Sundays before Christmas in Long Tower Church, Derry at 6.00pm, beginning this
Sunday 25 October. The theme of our Novena this year is ‘Make me a Channel of your Peace – celebrating the 800th Jubilee Year of St Francis’. Each night will comprise of the Rosary, Novena prayer and petitions with a short talk given by various guest speakers and Eucharistic Healing Ceremony with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Choir Director: St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, 10 hours per week: St Eugene’s Cathedral is recruiting for an experienced choir director to lead and manage all aspects of the cathedral choir.
They will ensure that the music enhances worship services and aligns with the church’s liturgical themes.
For a job description and application pack, Tel. (028) 7126 2302 or
recruitment@derrydiocese.org . Submit completed applications to Personnel, Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP, or email them to recruitment@derrydiocese.org . Applications must be received by noon on
Thursday 12 November 2026. Derry Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group: Day of Prayer, Praise and Healing, celebrating 50 years:
Sunday 15th November 2026 in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh: Registration 9:30am, concluding in the afternoon with Mass.
Theme: People of God’s Delight (Ps 194.4).
Speaker Fr. John Keane. Cost £40, including coffee and lunch.
Book by 1ST November, please, for catering purposes: Evelyn 07876 411435 or Kathleen 07596 609041.
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Mass & Confession Times Sunday St Columb’s Church 10.00am, 12.30pm & 6.00pm Church of Immaculate Conception 10.15am & 12.15pm St Oliver Plunkett Church 11.15am St Mary’s Oratory 9.15am Monday – Friday St Columb’s Church 10.00am & 7.30pm Church of Immaculate Conception 9.15am St Oliver Plunkett’s Church 11.00am Mon.
Tues. Thurs. St Mary’s Oratory 11.00am – Wednesday only Saturday St Columb’s Church 10.00am & 7.00pm (Vigil of Sunday) Church of Immaculate Conception 6.00pm (Vigil of Sunday) St Oliver Plunkett’s Church 6.00pm (Vigil of Sunday) Confessions St Columb’s Church Monday –
Friday 7.00pm – 7.25pm Saturday after 10.00 Mass Church of Immaculate Conception
Saturday 5.30pm – 5.55pm St Oliver Plunkett’s Church
Saturday 5.30pm – 5.55pm Parish Office 32 Chapel Road, Derry BT47 2BB. Tel. 02871 342303
www.watersideparish.net You Tube Channel: www.youtube.com/WatersideParish Rev. Michael Canny PP 02871342303 secretary@watersideparish.net Rev. Patrick Lagan CC 02871342303 secretary@watersidepaish.net Rev Joshy Parokkaran CC 02871342303 secretary@watersideparish.net SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS – If you are concerned about the welfare and safety of children or a vulnerable adult contact: Designated Diocesan Person Ms Marie Gormley at 07596500793 or marie.gormley@derrydiocese.org or PSNI 101. Our Churches are monitored by CCTV cameras and by live streaming.
Live streaming can be viewed online at the parish website.
The Diocese of Derry Privacy Notice is displayed on the parish website and Church notice board.
Auto-generated from the bulletin PDF. Irish (Gaeilge) and English preserved as printed. Check mass times and names against the original PDF.