Today's gospel: How do we make the most of who we are and all we have been given?

Please scroll down for notices. 

Please note also that the Advent Dove-making workshop is on Sat 29 November in Christ Church Castlebar from 12.30- 2.30pm.





Parable of the Ten Pounds/Talents

Jan Frearks van der Bij, 1962

Photo by Ytzen, CC BY-SA 3.0 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31463462




Today's gospel    Luke 19:11-27 

As they were listening to this, he [Jesus] went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. So he said, 

‘A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, “Do business with these until I come back.”  

But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to rule over us.” When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading.  

The first came forward and said, “Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.” He said to him, “Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.”  

Then the second came, saying, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” He said to him, “And you, rule over five cities.”  

Then the other came, saying, “Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.” He said to the bystanders, “Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds. (And they said to him, “Lord, he has ten pounds!”) “I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.



Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide and a short reflection on this gospel reading here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-11-19 


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-19-11-28-2025/



Notices

  • Friday 21 November, 7.30pm in Holy Rosary Church, Castlebar, Ecumenical Prayer Service for those Bereaved by Suicide
  • Sat 29 November, 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' the next day in church, in the10am service. All welcome.


  • Everyday in Advent - Castlebar. Everyday through Advent, Christ Church Castlebar will be open from 7.00 - 8.30 am for private prayer and reflection, a meditative space.  You can drop in at any time. For more information, contact Kenn McLaughlin - number on request. The First Sunday in Advent 2025 is 30 November.

Events in December

  • 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, details on Bella Capella Facebook page. (See https://www.facebook.com/reel/712336474483871 .)



'Crib Services' (All-age Nativity services):
  • Saturday 6 Dec, 7pm, Crib Service in Turlough Church.  Children are invited to come along in simple nativity costume (-tea towel headdresses, dressing gown robes, tinsel halos, angel wings, etc.) and to bring their soft toy animals if they would like to. 
  • Sunday 7 Dec, 10am, Crib Service in Christ Church Castlebar. Children and young people are invited to come along in simple nativity costume (-tea towel headdresses, dressing gown robes, tinsel halos, angel wings, etc.) and to bring their soft toy animals if they would like to. 

  • Westport (pre-)Christmas Sunday Club: Sunday 7 December, starting at 12 noon in the Holy Trinity service in St Mary's (unless otherwise indicated), and moving to Carrowbeg House for Bible story, music, snacks and activities.
  • 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.
  • Sunday 21 Dec, 11.30am, 'Crib Service' in Holy Trinity Westport (subject to change). 
  • 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




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

Sundays Weekly at 12 noon, Holy Communion or (occasionally) Morning Prayer

Wednesdays at 10.30am. Holy Communion, followed by coffee

Services are in St Mary's RC Church, South Mall, Westport, while Holy Trinity Church is closed for safety repairs.

 

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 (listed) or the Rector. 


Thank-you and bless 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)    




Turlough Parish Church

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





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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