Today's gospel, Sunday before Advent, The Feast of Christ the King

 

Today, Sunday 23 November, in the Aughaval Parishes:


  • Castlebar, 10am, The Service of Morning Prayer
  • Westport (in St Mary's, for Holy Trinity and friends), 12 noon,The Service of Morning Prayer
  • Funeral Service for Sue Fabby, Sun at 2pm in Holy Trinity Westport. Committal at St Thomas's Knappagh graveyard. (See https://rip.ie/death-notice/sue-fabby-mayo-westport-611966.)
  • Dugort, Achill, Sun at 3pm, The Service of Evening Prayer, led by Kenn McLaughlin and Brad Thien (LLLMs/Parish Readers)  


Please scroll down for more notices.



Christ Pantocrator
6th century icon, 
from Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai, unknown artist. 
Public domain, via Wikimedia


The Gospel Reading    Luke 23: 33-43


When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’  

 

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ 

 

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’


Sacred Space

A helpful prayer guide and short reflection can be found here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-11-23


 Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-23-35-43-2025/




Holy Trinity Westport Bell Tower, 
the temporary entrance and exit to the church 



Sue Fabby
Sue's funeral service is today, Sunday 23 November, at 2pm in Holy Trinity Westport. 
Committal at St Thomas's Knappagh graveyard. 
(See https://rip.ie/death-notice/sue-fabby-mayo-westport-611966.)



Notices

  • 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 (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 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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