Sat 6 December. Today's Gospel, plus Thanks and Notices

 Please scroll down for information and notices.



Saying attributed to Teresa of Avila
As published by the Church's Ministry of Healing, Ireland


Today's gospel     Matt 9:35 – 10:1, 6-8

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.


Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide and reflection here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-12-06 


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-9-35-10-1-5a-6-8-2025/



Thanks!

Sincere thanks to everyone who supported the Christmas Special Concert by Roscommon Solstice Choir with guest contributors, Westport Children's Choir on Friday 5 December. 

Sincere thanks also to St Mary's Church, Westport, for hosting this fundraiser event, and to the Clew Bay Hotel for their very generous support. 

This truly beautiful event was to raise funds towards the repairs of the ceiling of Holy Trinity Church, Westport. What a fantastic evening it was.

The amount raised will be publicised shortly, once gifts have ceased to come in. If you were unable to attend the event and would like to donate, it is never too late. Please see the information below on Giving. 


Notices

  • Castlebar: 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.




Castlebar's 'Poor George' statue, at Christ Church,
looks down on the church's Advent & Christmas 2025 banner

  • 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.)

  • Westport Sunday Club: The Sunday scheduled for 7 December is being rescheduled to combine with the special service in HTW on Sunday 21 December (12 noon). Info: Steffi or Shirley (numbers on request), or the rector, (details below).

'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. Organist, Mr Sean Tunney
  • Sunday 7 Dec, 10am, Crib Service in Christ Church Castlebar. 
  • Sunday 21 Dec, 11.30am, 'Crib Service' in Holy Trinity Westport

  • Monday 15 December at 7.30pm, Castlebar Community Carol Service 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 . (No service on 3rd Dec.)



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)
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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