Today's gospel: A different kind of weight watching!

 

Please scroll down for information and notices.


This weekend in the parishes

TODAY! Sat, 29 Nov, from 12.30, in Christ Church, Castlebar. Drop-in Family Dove-making Workshop (for people of all ages and stages). The doves (or some of them) will 'take flight' on Sunday 7 Dec in the church during the10am service. All welcome.

  • Turlough, Sat 29 Nov, Eve of the First Sunday in Advent, 7pm, Evening Prayer.
  • Christ Church Castlebar, Sunday 30 Nov, The First Sunday in Advent, 10am, Holy Communion. Guest preacher, Dr Eamon Smith. Guest soloist, tenor Hubert Francis
  • Holy Trinity Westport, Sunday 30 Nov, The First Sunday in Advent, 11.30am, the Service of Holy Communion, with guest soloist, tenor Hubert Francis, and organist John Dexter. 
  • PLEASE note: There is no service in St Thomas's Dugort this weekend (30 Nov).



Today's gospel    Luke 21:34-36

[Jesus said] ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’


Notices

Come and worship!

Buíochas le Dia!  After ten months of closure following Storm Éowyn (24 January 2025), Holy Trinity Church, Westport is reopening at last for worship, this weekend, on Sunday 30 November, at the traditional HTW time of 11.30am. The service will be Holy Communion/ the Eucharist. You are most welcome to come along and join for worship on this significant occasion. Visitors are particularly welcome.

This reopening is a Sunday-only opening, on account of present restrictions, but the plan is that the church will reopen fully to visitors, and be open every day during the week for visits and private prayer - this as early as possible in the New Year. 


  • Every day in Advent - Castlebar. Every day through Advent, Christ Church Castlebar will be open from 7.00 - 8.30 am for quiet private prayer and reflection, a meditative space. You can drop in at any time. For more information, contact Kenn McLaughlin - number on request.

  • Friday 5 December, 8pm in St Mary’s Church, Westport. Christmas Special Concert with the Roscommon Solstice Choir and guests Eriko Hopkinson and Westport Children’s Choir. A fundraising event for Holy Trinity Church repairs. Donations at the door. Please spread the word and plan to come along!



  • Sat 6 December, 7.30pm, Christmas Concert with Bella Capella in Christ Church Castlebar. Charity fundraiser for AIRC, details on Bella Capella Facebook page. (See https://www.facebook.com/reel/712336474483871 .)


'Crib Services' 
(All-age Nativity services)

Children are invited to come along in simple nativity costume 
and to bring a soft toy animal if they would like to. 

  • Saturday 6 Dec, 7pm, Crib Service in Turlough Church. 
  • Sunday 7 Dec, 10am, Crib Service in Christ Church Castlebar. 
  • Sunday 21 Dec, 11.30am, 'Crib Service' in Holy Trinity Westport (subject to change). 



  • Westport (pre-)Christmas Sunday Club: Sunday 7 December, starting at 12 noon in serving ice Holy Trinity Church, Westport.
  • Monday 15 December at 7.30pm, Castlebar Community Carol Service (traditional 'Nine Lessons & Carols'), in Christ Church, Castlebar, with Holy Rosary Choir and Castlebar Community Silver Band.
  • Chapel Street Gospel Choir concerts, Sunday 21 December, at 5pm and 8pm, in Christ Church, Castlebar. Info., Roslyn Potter, Turlough (number on request).

'Nine Lessons and Carols'
Traditional Carol Services
  • Turlough - Sat 13 Dec 7pm   
  • Achill - Sun 14 Dec, 3pm
  • Castlebar (‘Community Carol Service’) - Mon 15 Dec, 7.30pm (as above)
  • Westport - St Mary's-and-Holy-Trinity-Together - A Shared Celebration - Sunday 21 December, 5pm, in St Mary's Church. 


Christmas Communion Services
'The First Communion of Christmas'
(Subject to change)


St Thomas's, Dugort: Christmas Eve at 12 noon

Turlough Church: Christmas Eve at 6.30pm

Christ Church, Castlebar: Christmas Day at 9am
                    
Holy Trinity Church, Westport: Christmas Day at 11am




New Year Social and Fundraiser for HTW repairs:

Table Quiz, Friday 20 February 2026, in Clew Bay Hotel, 7.30 for 8pm start.

Info: Babs Strutt or Henry McKinney. Contact details on request. 
Donation of prizes for raffle will be much appreciated.




Regular Service Pattern 

in the Aughaval Parishes

(subject to change)


Turlough

Saturdays Weekly at 7pm:  

- Holy Communion on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.

- Evening Prayer on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.


 

Castlebar 

Sundays Weekly at 10am: 

- Holy Communion on 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

- Morning Prayer on 2nd and 4th.

Open church every Friday from 11am - 1pm.


*Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No.  20206867


 

Westport     PLEASE NOTE CHANGE from 30 Nov 2025:

- Sundays Weekly at 11.30am, in HOLY TRINITY WESTPORT, Holy Communion or Morning Prayer

- Wednesdays at 10.30am in St Mary's RC Church, Westport,. Holy Communion, followed by coffee in Clew Bay. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE



Dugort, Achill: October - April inclusive

- 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion


Inishbiggle    As announced


Online Prayer and Bible Reading every Wed at 8pm, via Zoom.  Link:




Giving towards the upkeep of the churches


The work and upkeep of the churches requires ongoing funding to meet costs. 


For one-time donations: You can securely give towards these costs and the upkeep of the churches using your phone or electronic device using the QR codes (below) which will direct you to the parishes’ iDonate pages. 


Regular giving can also be by standing order. If you are a tax-payer, a tax refund on your donation can be made to your parish at no additional cost to you.


For help or more information, please contact one of the Hon. Treasurers (contact details on request) or the Rector (details below), or see 


https://aughaval.tlk.ie/2025/11/giving-towards-upkeep-of-churches.html .


Thank-you.


Westport-Dugort Parishes
(Info. Babs Strutt, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request) 



     Christ Church, Castlebar    
(Info. Trevor Ardill, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)
Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No.  20206867     



Turlough Parish Church

(Info. Karin Shaw, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)



Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) 

CRA status of the Aughaval Group of Parishes, United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland: 

    Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No.  20206867

    Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes and Turlough Parish are in process of applying for their own CRA registration numbers. In the interim the parishes are included in the CRA registration of the TLK Diocese, as outlined by the diocese, below:

The United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry is registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under No. 20015237 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7241.  

The United Dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert is registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under No. 20015688 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7327.  

On 1st November 2021, the dioceses amalgamated to become the Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe. The Diocesan Councils remain separate.


For further information on the above, please contact Mrs Lorna Sharpe at  limerickdiocsec@gmail.com, or Mr Damian Shorten at admin@tka.ie. 




Pastoral care and enquiries:  


Revd Suzanne Cousins 

Aughaval Group of Parishes, 

United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland 

Tel. 083 800 3233   

Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Aughaval Parishes' Website  aughaval.tlk.ie

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


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