Lenten letter, Chocolat, and a Scripture reading plan

 Letter for Lent to the Aughaval Parishes

Dear friends,

Lent begins on Wed 5 March, Ash Wednesday. Here in the Aughaval Parishes I am recommending that we make the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel for this year (Year C), our spiritual reading for Lent 2025. The seven-week reading plan below is from Prof. Kieran O’Mahony’s ‘Hearer of the Word’ website and will take us gently through to Easter. He suggests a 'double reading': 

 

[I]f you can, read the whole Gospel through in one sitting. [We may be] amazed by the cumulative effect of the power of the writing when we read it in one sitting. After this overview, then we can take some chapters and stories each week for reflection and prayer. Faithful readers will find themselves in the hands of a great spiritual writer, a master story teller. It is no accident that in the tradition, Luke was said to have been a painter. His stories somehow lodge in our hearts and minds because Luke is a very painterly writer. My guess is that if a vox pop were taken, inviting people to name a Gospel story, the grand probability is that most would come from the Gospel according to Luke. 

 

Perhaps we will find ourselves spontaneously echoing the words of the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).

 

As you are already aware, Holy Trinity Church, Westport, had to be closed following Storm Éowyn on grounds of safety. The Select Vestry can assure you that all steps necessary to ensure that the church can be safely reopened as expeditiously as possible are being pursued, and this has been the case from the beginning. It is intended that the essential urgent repair works will be approved and ready to begin at the earliest opportunity after the SV finalises a decision on how to proceed. 

Relatedly and most positively, a wonderfully uplifting recital was held on Sunday 2 March in St Mary’s in aid of Holy Trinity repairs, with performances by Dublin City Choral Union led by Duncan Brickenden and accompanied by our esteemed organist John Dexter. The music was exquisite and the joy in the audience was tangible. The total amount raised will be announced soon but to date over 5,300 euros has been donated. Huge thanks to all involved and to the local community.

 

Some key dates and notices for over Lent, Holy Week and Easter are listed below. Home Communions will be brought to individuals and homes during Holy Week or the week preceding if necessay. Please contact me if you or your loved one would like to arrange a date. 

 

Please also check regularly the parishes’ website, aughaval.tlk.ie and Facebook pages for updates, news and events. 

 

Wishing you a happy and holy Lent,

 

Suzanne

Rev. Suzanne Cousins

Reading Luke for Lent 2025

 (from https://www.tarsus.ie/page-213/)

Week 1

·                Wednesday, March 5 — Luke 1:1-38

·                Thursday, March 6 — Luke 1:39-80

·                Friday, March 7 — Luke 2:1-52

Week 2

·                Monday, March 10 — Luke 3:1-38

·                Tuesday, March 11 — Luke 4:1-30

·                Wednesday, March 12 - Luke 4:31-44

·                Thursday, March 13 — Luke 5:1-32

·                Friday, March 15 — Luke 5:33-6:16

Week 3

·                Monday, March 17 — Luke 6:17-49

·                Tuesday, March 18 — Luke 7:1-35

·                Wednesday, March 19- Luke 7:36-8:18

·                Thursday, March 20 — Luke 8:19-9:9

·                Friday, March 21 — Luke 9:10-36 

 

Week 4

·                Monday, March 24 — Luke 9:37-62

·                Tuesday, March 25 — Luke 10:1-42

·                Wednesday, March 26 - Luke 11:1-36

·                Thursday, March 2 - Luke 11:37-12:12

·                Friday, March 28 — Luke 12:13-59

Week 5

·                Monday, March 31 — Luke 13:1-35

·                Tuesday, April 1 — Luke 14:1-35

·                Wednesday, April 2 — Luke 15:1-32

·                Thursday, April 3 — Luke 16:1-31

·                Friday, April 4 — Luke 17:1-37

Week 6

·                Monday, April 7 — Luke 18:1-43

·                Tuesday, April 8 — Luke 19:1-44

·                Wednesday, April 9- Luke 19:45-20:19

·                Thursday, April 10 — Luke 20:20-47

·                Friday, April 11 — Luke 21:1-38

Week 7

·                Monday, April 13 — Luke 22:1-38

·                Tuesday, April 14 — Luke 22:39-71

·                Wednesday, April 15 — Luke 23:1-43

·                Thursday, April 16 - Luke 23:44-24:12

·                Friday, April 17 — Luke 24:13-53

  

Notices  (Subject to change)

Regular times:

·                Turlough Parish Church, every Saturday at 7pm

·                Christ Church Castlebar, every Sunday at 10am

·                Holy Trinity services are temporarily in St Mary’s, every Sunday at 12 noon 

·                St Thomas's Dugort, Oct-March inclusive, on 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, at 3pm.

 

·                Midweek Holy Communion, Wednesdays at 10.30am, kindly hosted by St Mary’s Church, Westport, followed by coffee in Clew Bay Hotel.

 

·                Drop-in to Christ Church Castlebar, Fridays from 11am – 1pm

 

• Online Prayer and Bible Reading: No meeting on 5 March. Please note that these online meetings during the remainder of Lent (12, 19 and 26 March) will be at 8pm. Everyone is welcome.

 

Link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1

• Meeting ID: 827 8190 0766                        Passcode: 747477

 

Safeguarding Audit for the Grouped Parishes, 3 March, 7.30 – 9.30pm

 

Next Westport Sunday Club: 9 March, starting in St Mary’s at 12 noon and moving nextdoor to Carrowbeg House. For info please contact Steffi (+353 89 9418165) or Shirley (+353 87638 8503).

 

Select Vestry Meetings

- Castlebar, Wed 5 March, 7pm

- Westport-Dugort, Thursday 6 March, 7pm 

- Turlough, Sat 8 March following 7pm service 

   

Easter Vestry Meetings 2025

(‘Annual Meeting of the General Vestry’)

·      Turlough     Tues 25 March, 7.30pm

        Westport-Dugort Union  Mon 31 March, 7.00pm 

·        Castlebar    Tues 8 April, 7.30pm 

Note: Anyone is welcome to attend the Easter Vestry meeting and those who are registered members of the General Vestry are entitled to vote. 

 

Serving on a Select Vestry           

For all those considering serving or serving again on a Select Vestry (2025- 26), please read the following ahead of the forthcoming Easter Vestry Meetings. Thank you.
https://www.churchofireland.org/cmsfiles/pdf/Resources/ParishResources/SelectVestry/Introduction-to-Serving-on-a-Select-Vestry-11-01-17.pdf

 

Lent, Holy Week and Easter dates (subject to change)

Pancake/Shrove Tuesday, 4 March

11am, Pancakes and Prayer, St Thomas’s Dugort. All welcome. 

 

Ash Wednesday Services, 5 March

- 10.30 am Ash Wednesday Service of Holy Communion, St Mary’s Westport

- 1pm  Lunchtime Ash Wednesday Service of Holy Communion, Christ Church Castlebar

 

St Patrick’s Day, Monday 17 March 

- 10am Gentle Friendship St Patrick’s Day Walk and Prayers at the foot of the Croagh Patrick, meeting in Murrisk Carpark at 9.45am. All welcome.  

 

Wed 12, 19 and 26 March

10.30 am   Lenten Holy Communion and Reflection, St Mary’s Westport

8.00 pm      Online Prayer and Bible Reading https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1

 

Confirmation Prep Session 4,  Friday 14 March, 7.45pm in the Rectory

 

Lenten movie night in the Rectory, Friday 21 March, 7.30pm – Chocolat  with a short study based on the Lent Course ‘Christ and the Chocolaterie’, plus refreshments, before watching the film. For planning purposes, please let Rev. Suzanne know if you plan to attend (083 8003233).

 

Palm Sunday, 13 April: The Liturgy of the Passion, with The Mark Drama which is being organised by Kenn McLaughlin, Castlebar Parish, with others from across the parishes. If you are interested in getting involved in this ‘low key’ production, please get in touch with Kenn on +353 85 715 4139. 

·      Turlough, Eve of Palm Sunday, Sat 12 April – 7pm

·      Castlebar, Sun 13 April – 10am

·      Westport in St Mary’s, Sun 13 April – 12 noon 

·      Achill – Sun 13 April, 3pm 

 

Monday in Holy Week, 14 April – Compline and Holy Week Reflection, 8pm in Christ Church Castlebar

 

Tuesday in Holy Week, 15 April – Compline and Holy Week Reflection, 8pm in the Rectory

 

Wednesday in Holy Week, 16 March

·      Holy Week Communion 10.30am, kindly hosted by St Mary’s Church, Westport

·      Holy Week Online Prayer and Bible Reading, 8pm

Link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1

Meeting ID: 827 8190 0766                        Passcode: 747477

 

Maundy Thursday, 17 April

- Last Holy Communion before Easter, 6.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Westport. Presiding, Bishop Michael Burrows

- Tenebrae, 8pm in Christ Church Castlebar, with organist Siobhan Kilkelly and musical contribution by opera singer Hubert Francis

 

Good Friday, 18 April

-       The Hours – 12 noon in St Mary’s Church, Westport

-       Ecumenical Good Friday Walk of Witness, Westport, 6pm     

 

Holy Saturday, 19 April

-       7pm in Turlough Church, All-age Easter Vigil and Easter Communion

 

 

        The Lord is Risen! Easter Day Celebrations of Holy Communion:

 

Christ Church Castlebar, 10am

Holy Trinity Westport, in St Mary’s, 12 noon

St Thomas’s Dugort, 3pm 

 

Confirmation Sunday, 27 April

Confirmations by Bishop Michael for the parishes will this year be in Christ Church Castlebar on Sunday 27 April at 10am. 

  

Please check aughaval.tlk.ie for more notices.

You can also find this letter here: 

https://www.scribd.com/document/834868979/LENT-2025-Letter-and-Reading-Luke

  

Pastoral care and enquiries:

Revd Suzanne Cousins, 0838003233

Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org

Website: aughaval.tlk.ie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes

 

For urgent pastoral care from 1 – 7 April, please contact Canon Andrea Wills (086 261 7572).