Aughaval Group of Parishes

Today's gospel: 17 May 2025 The gospel      John 14:7-14 [Jesus said] If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask m...

Jesus, The Way, Truth, Life In St Buadan's Church, Culdaff, Co Donegal Today's gospel      J ohn 14:1-6 [Jesus said] ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Christian Art You can read a reflection on the gospel and on Jesus' statement "I am the way, the truth and the life" here:  https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-14-1-6-2025/ Sacred Space You can find a gentle prayer guide and reflection here: https://sacredspac...

  Christ Church Castlebar on a glorious day in May Today's gospel           John 13:16-20 [Jesus said] Very truly, I tell you, servants  are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread  has lifted his heel against me.” I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.  Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’ Sacred Space You can find a gentle devotional guide here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-05-15/ Christian Art You can find a reflection on the gospel and a painting here: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-13-16-20-2025/

Community Radio Castlebar (CRCfm) interview  On Monday 12 May Anne Marie Gibbons of CRCfm interviewed Revd Suzanne Cousins and esteemed musician and composer Kathy Fahey, about an upcoming musical event, ‘Illumination’. Poceeds of this much-anticipated concert will go towards Holy Trinity Church (Westport) restoration and repairs, with the present state of closure of the church in mind and efforts to bring about its reopening.  ‘Illumination’, t he stunning 'Sacred Opus', was composed by Kathy Fahey and is sponsored by Port West. T he performance (approximately 90 minutes) will take place on Friday 30 May in St Mary’s Church, Westport, on the Mall.  You can listen to an extract of the interview or the full interview, about the event and about the church, its history and status and current predicament, at the links below.  Our sincere thanks to Kathy and her guests Anne Marie herself and Andrew Gavin, to Vocalessence Choir and Mayo Concert Orchestra, to Port West...

  "I have appointed you to go and bear fruit in my name." The gospel reading      John 15:9 - 17 [Jesus said] "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants  any longer, because the servant  does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give yo...

 Tuesday 12 May 2025 John 10:22-30  At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,  tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.’ Sacred Space You can find a gentle guide to prayer and reflection here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-05-13/ Christian Art You can find a reflection on this gospel...

  I Am the Gate "I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." John 10:1-10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”  Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enter...

On Sunday 11 May, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, 'Good Shepherd Sunday', it was a pleasure to welcome to St Thomas's Dugort visitors from Finland (pictured) - from the Evangelical Lutheran Church - as well as from St Alban's and Huddersfield, England, and a party from 'Solid Rock' fellowship church in Drogheda. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland, like the Church of Ireland, is a member of the Porvoo Communion. 'Porvoo' is a fellowship of 15 Anglican and Lutheran churches throughout Europe. Among this year's speeches at this year’s Church of Ireland General Synod, reference was made to the importance of our Porvoo Communion relationships, and in light of this it was particularly good to make new Finnish friends and learn about their experience of church and faith in their own context. At St Thomas's Dugort, Achill Porvoo You can learn more about the Porvoo Communion here: https://porvoocommunion.org/ "The Porvoo Communion is a communio...

This weekend (10-11 May) there were tragic drowning accidents at Newport Quay, Co Mayo, and on Lough Swilly, Donegal. Also, a young Spanish student died in a road crash in Waterford. In our church services we prayed for the families and communities in their shock and grief. Here are some prayers (from the Church of Ireland's online resources), below, which may be helpful for us to use at home as well as when gathering. Photo:  Inishturk angel, at St Columba's Church Prayers for Use in Cases of Sudden and Unexpected Death God of hope, we come to you in shock and grief and confusion of heart. Help us to find peace in the knowledge of your loving mercy to all your children, and give us light to guide us out of our darkness into the assurance of your love, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For the Bereaved God our strength and our redeemer: you do not leave us in this life nor abandon us in death. Hear our prayer for those in despair, when days are full of darkness and the future s...

"My sheep hear my voice" Photo taken at Westport House, Co Mayo The Gospel Reading      John 10: 22-30 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’ Sacred Space You can find a gentle prayer and devotional guide here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-05-11/ Christian Art ...

"My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10: 27-28)  BULLETIN The Fourth Sunday of Easter 11th May 2025 Good Shepherd Sunday     Hymns    365 - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty    655 - Loving Shepherd of your sheep 644 - Faithful Shepherd, feed me                                          528 - The Church's one foundation   Collect  Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:  Raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,  that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. ...