Eastertide Letter to the Aughaval Parishes

 

Eastertide Letter to the Aughaval Group of Parishes

Alleluia, the Lord is risen! 

1st May 2025



Christ Church, Castlebar, in the April sunshine


Dear friends,

 

Resurrection

Greetings in this Eastertide season when we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and with it our personal spiritual resurrection, along with promised future “resurrection of the dead” and the reconciliation of all things (see, e.g., Colossians 1: 20). 


We can think of the Resurrection of Christ also as that which one Contemplative thinker and writer, Brian McLaren (in Centre for Action and Contemplation; see cac.org), refers to as “the resurrection of the world”. He asks…. 

 

“What might happen if every Easter we celebrated the resurrection not merely as the resuscitation of a single corpse nearly two millennia ago, but more—as the ongoing resurrection of all humanity through Christ? Easter could be the annual affirmation of our ongoing resurrection from violence to peace, from fear to faith, from hostility to love, from a culture of consumption to a culture of stewardship and generosity … and in all these ways and more, from death to life.”



The Eastertide Confirmations on 27 April in Christ Church Castlebar reminded us that we are indeed, “People of the Resurrection” and have much for which to be thankful. Warmest congratulations to Susie, James and Grace, for whom we continue to pray. And thank you to all who supported/support them in this new stage of their journey of life and faith.


 


Food for thought and food for the soul

Those of you who check out our grouped parishes’ website (aughaval.tlk.ie) or Facebook pages, or are on the parishes’ official WhatsApp Info Groups, or who receive (on request) a daily email, will know that since the beginning of Lent I have been providing some “food for the soul” by means of a daily post. This includes the gospel reading plus links to a reflection and/or a devotional guide. Thank you for the feedback on these, which has been positive. I encourage us all to tap into this simple and accessible resource regularly, for our spiritual nourishment. The resources are such that whether we give them five, fifteen or fifty minutes, they will bless us. And how good it is to have in common, as a church/parish, a daily family ‘meal’ of the food of the written Word, by which the Spirit of God imparts to us something of Christ the Living Word – this, inbetween the shared weekly (or more) meal of Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper. 

 

A few matters and dates for noting and our prayers, in the parishes and diocese:

 

Bereavements

In all the joy of Eastertide, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of young Christopher Gavin in Westport, and we extend deepest sympathy to the St Mary’s community.


Please also keep Revd Vicki Lynch in your prayers following the funeral of Steve her husband in Ennis on Easter Eve. 

 

Congratulations

We extend warm congratulations to Revd Caroline Morrow and her husband, on the birth of their grandchild in New Zealand. Revd Caroline visits and serves us often in the parishes. 

 

Update on Holy Trinity Westport closure

At this time the Select Vestry awaits the granting of permission by Mayo Co Council for us to proceed with the planned emergency repair works to the ceiling which will allow us to reopen. We are hopeful that this will be sooner rather than later, and I will endeavour to provide a weekly update at our Westport services, even if there is little to report. Thanks to all who have been helpful in supporting the rather demanding and time-consuming process thus far.  

 

Westport Sunday Club Dates for the remainder of 2025 (subject to change): 25 May, 01 Jun, 

07 Sep, 12 Oct, 16 Nov, 07 Dec.

 

Sunday Club, until Holy Trinity is reopened, continues to meet at the start of the Holy Trinity service at 12 noon in St Mary’s Church, moving next door for activities, lessons and snacks in Carrowbeg House. Sunday Club is run according to the Church of Ireland’s Safeguarding Policy and Guidelines. For more information, please contact in the first instance Steffi Jebaraj (+353 89 941 8165) or Shirley Larkin (+353 87638 8503).

A Summer Kids’ Club event for all the children of the Aughaval parishes is provisionally planned for Saturday 21st June – details and confirmation of date to follow. 

 

Select Vestries

New Select Vestries were elected in the usual manner again this year. I have already thanked outgoing select vestries, members and office bearers who served in 2023-24 but do so again now to underline my personal appreciation and that of all in the parishes for all faithful (and joyful!) service rendered. Below is a list of the Office Bearers for 2025-26.

 

United Parishes of Westport-Dugort 

 

Rector’s Church Warden, Westport                      Steffi Jebaraj

People’s Church Warden, Westport                     George Keegan

Rector’s Glebe Warden                  Alison Dexter

 

Rector’s Church Warden, Dugort              Kirsty Sweet

People’s Church Warden, Dugort             Willem van Goor

 

Rector’s Church Warden, Inishbiggle       Christine Gibbs

People’s Church Warden, Inishbiggle      Jeremy Holt

 

Hon Secretary                      Benita Stoney

Assistant Hon Secretary     Kirsty Sweet

 

Hon Treasurer                      Babs Strutt

 

Parish of Castlebar

 

Rector’s Church Warden                Susie Fry

People’s Church warden                Trevor Ardill

 

Parish Glebe Warden                      John Browne

 

Hon Secretary                                  Trevor Ardill

Assistant Hon Secretary                 Caroline Boyle

 

Hon Treasurer                                  Trevor Ardill

 

 

Parish of Turlough

 

Rector’s Church Warden                Lynn  Candon

People’s Church warden                Peter McHugh

Parish Glebe Warden                      James Potter

 

Hon Secretary                                  Fiona Kelly

Hon Treasurer                                  Karin Shaw

 

Sincere thanks to all who are taking on responsibility and trusteeship. Full lists of Select Vestry members are available from the Hon Secretaries.

 

Wedding blessings

Congratulations in advance of the wedding of Graham Potterton and Jayne Tuthill, taking place this Saturday, 3 May, in Christ Church Castlebar, with their own recently retired rector Revd Alan Melbourne officiating. We welcome them warmly! Graham and Jayne have longstanding family connections with both Westport and Castlebar. We wish them every blessing and great joy on their ‘big day’ and in their future life together. 

 

Additional diocesan notices

 

Council for Mission           

The proceeds of last year’s Mission Sunday are to be presented to the two designated recipients, the Samaritans and the Church’s Ministry of Healing, at an evening organised by the diocesan Council for Mission this evening, 1 May at 7.30 in the Maldron Hotel Oranmore. Thanks to all who contributed. 

 

Ordinations and a memorial service    

We are expecting two ordinations to the diaconate in June, the first in St Mary’s Cathedral Limerick at 7.30pm on Sunday 8 June, the Feast of Pentecost. The second is planned for 9 June, St Columba’s Day, at 8pm in St Brendan’s Cathedral, Clonfert, when Dr Michael Mulqueen will be ordained deacon for service in the historic Clonfert/ Kilmacduagh diocesan area. Bishop Michael informs us that Michael is widely known for his work especially in the area of academic training and research in policing and security, and adds that it would be most encouraging for the ordinands if representatives from across the diocese and parishes could attend these ordinations. 


On Friday 23 May in St Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe, there will be a memorial service at 12 noon for a former dean, Dr Stephen White. 

 

An Institution   Revd Andy Pierce will be instituted to the newly formed Skreen/Achonry Group on 30 May at 8pm in Rathbarron Church, Coolaney. 

 

Other dates and notices will continue to be communicated at weekly services and posted on the website and on social media.

 

With prayerful good wishes,

 

Revd Suzanne 


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