Aughaval Group of Parishes

God so loved the world ('kosmos') Nicodemus, Part II - From cautious curiosity to courageous open discipleship Light of the World by William Holman Hunt, 1851, in St Pauls' Cathedral Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89792170  Christ as the True Light Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1526 Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5994089 T oday’s gospel John 3: 16-21 [Jesus said:] ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their de...

Today's gospel      Matthew 11:25-30 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank  you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.  All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ Thought for the day The life of Christian discipleship involves working for and with Christ in the world, and resting in Christ. "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,  and I will give you rest..." Sacred Space You ...

Today's gospel relates the story of Nicodemus, a religious leader who seems to have been a secret enquirer about Jesus and a seeker after God, and even a disciple of Jesus, though initially secretly. Nicodemus later 'went public' in identifying himself as one with a loyalty and allegiance to Jesus when he insisted, after Jesus' arrest, that Jesus be given a hearing according to the law. He is sometimes therefore known as the defender of Jesus. Nicodemus Detail from The Deposition by Michelangelo , c. 1547–1555 by Francesco Bini https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=153228415 Today's gospel John 3:1-8 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’Nic...

  Alleluia! Christ is risen! Three people from the Aughaval Parishes were confirmed by the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, on Sunday 27 April in Christ Church, Castlebar. The Confirmands taking up their baptismal promises were Susan (Susie) Fry, Grace Bourke (Westport) and James Bourke (Westport). The first and second lessons in the service were ably read by Grace and James. These are the questions which the bishop addressed for the Confirmands in his sermon: 1) What more can we in the Church of Ireland do in the face of the Biodiversity and Climate crisis? 2) Does everyone get into heaven? 3) What training do you have to go through to be a bishop? 4) What made you want to be a priest? 5) Has the bishop anything to say to help those who are serious both about their commitment to church and Christian discipleship and to their sports activities? Our gratitude to Bishop Michael for serving us and building us up in faith and love in the parishes, wit...

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”  Confirmation Day Today is Confirmation Day in the Aughaval Parishes. Please join the gathering at 10am in Christ Church, Castlebar, where the bishop will confirm the candidates and preside at Communion. There will be tea after the service in the church. Incredulity of Thomas Giusep Bild Thomas, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S._Giusep_Bild_Thomas.jpg The Gospel Reading John 20: 19-31 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgi...

  All are warmly invited to this Confirmation Service ('Confirmation in the context of the Eucharist') on Sunday 27 April at 10am in Christ Church, Castlebar,  at which three people are to be Confirmed by the Bishop. Followed by tea in the church.     Tá fáilte romhat!

Please note that there is a single, united parishes', service this weekend for the Aughaval Group  -   Confirmation, at 10am in Christ Church Castlebar.  Everyone is warmly invited to come along, support those who are to be confirmed by the Bishop and who will be taking up their baptismal promises and making their declaration of faith.  There will be tea after the service in the church.  Jesus gives the Great Commission to the Disciples Master of the Reichenau school of illumination circa 1010, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_der_Reichenauer_Schule_001.jpg Today's gospel        Mark 16:9-15 Now after he [Jesus] rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After thi...

Today's gospel John 21:1-14 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’  When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the...

  ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'           Celtic Cross at Knock Shrine following the Commemoration Mass for Pope Francis on 23 April  Today's gospel      Luke 24:35-48 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a pi...

Wednesday 23 April  We meet for Holy Communion today at 10.30am in St Mary's Church Westport (South Mall), followed by coffee in the Clew Bay Hotel. All are invited and welcome. J esus and the Two Disciples On the Road to Emmaus Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1350 Public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3799693 Today's gospel Luke 24:13-35 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ...

  Easter morning recital and musical 'feast'  The Holy Trinity Westport congregation and visiting worshippers were treated to this wonderful recital of Widor's Toccata , in St Mary's Church Westport by our esteemed organist John Dexter (assisted and supported), following the Easter Eucharist on Sunday 20 April. Thanks to Fr John Kenny for the recording.  Volume up recommended. We were also delighted that international opera singer Hubert Francis (pictured) sang, including a version of the Gloria, in both Christ Church Castlebar and St Mary's (for Holy Trinity Westport) - an Easter musical feast! The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!  John is pictured here accompanying the Dublin City Choral Union  at the recent fundraising concert in St Mary's for 'HTW'.  Opera singer Hubert Francis,  photo by Frances Marshall

Today's gospel John 20:11-18 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to...

Inishbiggle on Easter Monday: A Service of Wholeness and Healing with Holy Communion  It is always a joy to return to Inishbiggle. Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, was no different except that weighing on our hearts and minds was the fresh news of the death of Pope Francis and the great loss for Catholic people across the world and in our own communities. We give thanks for his life and rich spiritual influence and legacy.  May the Holy Father rest in peace and rise in glory. Here are a few photos of the island and some of the people who were present for the service, A Celebration of Wholeness and Healing with Holy Communion , in Holy Trinity Church, Inishbiggle. Thanks to the islanders for the wonderful welcome, preparations and tea and hospitality. A new wand for the Church Wardens, Jeremy and Christine Photo thanks to Kevin Toolis The progress in the work to restore the church to its former beauty was evident.   Church door, ready for its 'overcoat' https://aughaval.tlk.i...