Summer Pastoral Letter for the Aughaval Group (updated 29.6.25)
Aughaval Parishes, Summer Pastoral Letter, 2025
Mini-pilgrimage on Achill, Sunday 20 July
At Turlough National Museum and Country Park, 22 June 2025
Revd Suzanne, Valerie Raitt, Dorothy Shaw, Susie Fry
27 June 2025
Dear Friends,
Summer
Summer is now well underway, with exam season over and the children having finished the school year. I trust you are well and able to enjoy the long, bright and warm days. Please take note of the summer events and extra services listed below and come along where you are able and bring friends and family. Included is a planned service on Reek Sunday in the Oratory on the holy mountain, to be led (all-being-well and knees-permitting!) by Bishop Michael and/or myself.
A mini-pilgrimage
Please note also the publicity (below) for a mini-pilgrimage on Achill, part of our TLK diocesan Spiritual Tourism ministry. We look forward to welcoming Valerie Raitt, Diocesan Pioneer Ministry, who will be leading and guiding the afternoon. The event promises to be gently uplifting and suitable for people of all ages, stages, faiths and interests.
A mini-sermon
Last week’s Collect is a mini-sermon in itself:
God,
the strength of all those who put their trust in you:
Mercifully accept our prayers and,
because through the weakness of our mortal nature
we can do no good thing without you,
grant us the help of your grace,
that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you,
both in will and deed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This prayer features:
- a direct invocation of God, emphasising God’s nearness to us; God is only ever a breath away, if that!
- a reassuring reminder that, to quote the old hymn, “We are weak but he is strong”;
- a reassuring reminder that God is the source of our everyday strength; and
- an appeal to God for help in living lives which are pleasing to God.
How do we please God? By loving - the Lord our God, our ‘neighbour’, and even our enemy! In pleasing God we are doing only good and are doing our part in shining the light of God and of Christ in the world where we are, and beyond. Why do we want to please God? Simply, because God, “Great and Good”, is Love (1 John 4: 7, 8) and Jesus tells us to be like our heavenly Father.
News, views and updates
Sympathy
There have been a number of bereavements in this last month or two. We express our deepest sympathy as a group of parishes to Edith Hellberg in Westport on the death of her sister Margaret in South Africa, and to Sue Fabby and her sons Simon, Rupert and Tom and their families, on the passing of Dave/ David Fabby. Also to others in the grouped parishes who have suffered recent bereavements but prefer privacy rather than any kind of public attention. We keep all in our prayers and our hearts, along with those known to us who are ‘housebound’ or confined to care home or hospital at this time.
Some good news
The Westport-Dugort Select Vestry received some good news recently, that Mayo Co Council is to permit us to proceed with the planned indoor repair works to Holy Trinity Church, Westport (a Grade 1 Heritage building), with the council’s involvement. Work will begin as soon as the relevant professionals are able to oblige and their various timetables are aligned. We are grateful to all and to Mayo Co Co for their support and guidance.
Similarly with the reopening of the church grounds, where a number both of professionals and Select Vestry volunteers are carrying out practical and administrative tasks to make ready the churchyard, including the addition of some necessary signage and markings, plus putting in place a simple registration scheme for Monday-Friday access and parking. The work will pay off in the longterm by affording the parish and its trustees peace of mind that good Governance, Health and Safety and Insurance requirements are in order and that the parish is compliant with COI and Charities Regulatory Authority standards and considerations.
Ministry and mission
Last (almost!) but not least, I am delighted that we have several new candidates for the ministry of Parish Reading, newly called ‘Local Lay Liturgical Ministry’ (LLLM). Please pray for each person as they explore and undergo training, through the TLK Diocese and with the Rector. The intent is that this new team will complement the existing group of Readers, whose service is greatly valued, and be able to help us expand our offering of ministry and services in the Aughaval churches, going forward.
A final note, is to express sincere thanks to those who will be providing service cover and emergency pastoral cover to allow us some holiday leave.
With prayerful good wishes,
Revd Suzanne Cousins
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Summer Dates
[Saturday 20 June Holiday Family Club, 2-5pm at Turlough Community Centre
Sunday 21 June Summer Sunday Evening Friendship Walk]
Friday 18 July Summer Evening Prayer and Praise at Knappagh, gathering in the churchyard at 7pm, with music by James Kilbane.
Sunday 20 July Mini-pilgrimage on Achill, starting at St Thomas’s, Dugort, at 3pm. This event is being run under the Spiritual Tourism banner for this (TLK) diocese, with the help of Valerie Raitt (COI Pioneer Ministry). More details on TLK and Aughaval websites.
Saturday 26 July Return to Inishbiggle. Details to follow.
Sunday 27 July Reek Sunday:
Communion on the Mountain
This year our Church of Ireland parishes have been invited, most kindly, by our ecumenical friends from the Roman Catholic Church and Diocese to avail of the Oratory on Croagh Patrick to hold a service in our own church tradition. We are grateful for their thoughtfulness and generosity, a reflection of the hospitality and welcome of God. We hope to avail of the offer. Details to follow shortly.
2.30pm Gentle walk-and-talk-and-pray
For those who wish to enter in to the spirit and joy of the day but are unable to make the climb, there will be the opportunity to gather in the Murrisk carpark and with a few others to walk to the St Patrick statue at the foot of the mountain, for prayer and reflection.
Sunday 10 August Bishop Michael will preside at Holy Communion at 3pm in St Thomas's, Dugort, Achill.
Sunday 24 August Turlough Parish, Late Summer Get-Together, gathering at 3pm at the park gates of the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough. Details to follow. If you would like to help with planning and organising please contact Fiona Kelly or Hilary McInerney or the Rector. Thank-you.
Regular Service Pattern
Turlough Parish Church: Saturdays weekly at 7pm. Holy Communion on 2nd and 4th of month; Evening Prayer on 1st and 3rd Sundays.
Christ Church Castlebar: Sundays weekly at 10am. Holy Communion on 1st and 3rd of month; Morning Prayer, 2nd and 4th, followed by tea.
Holy Trinity Westport: Sundays weekly, currently in St Mary's Church, South Mall, at 12 noon, followed by tea/coffee in Carrowbeg House.
St Thomas's Dugort, Achill: Sundays weekly (April to Sept incl.) at 3pm
Midweek Holy Communion, Wednesdays at 10.30am in St Mary’s Church. S. Mall, followed by coffee in Clew Bay Hotel (from 11.05 am).
Open Church Weekly Drop-in, Christ Church Castlebar, Fridays 11am -1pm.
Pastoral care and enquiries:
For urgent pastoral needs from 27 June - 4 July inclusive, please contact Canon Andrea Wills, +353 86 261 7572.
Revd Suzanne Cousins
Phone 083 800 3233
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Website aughaval.tlk.ie
Please see also the Aughaval Parishes Facebook page.
