Today's gospel: An invitation from the Lord Jesus Christ himself

 Please scroll down for invitations, notices and a word of thanks.


Today, Wednesday 10 December: 

- Midweek Holy Communion

Please note that Midweek Holy Communion is returning to Holy Trinity Church, Westport, from today, at the usual time of 10.30am. Followed by coffee in Cornrue Bakery, New Road, The Demesne, Westport. You're welcome!

 - Online Prayer and Bible Study

Wednesday 8.00pm - 8.30pm, via Zoom. Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1



Today's gospel    Matthew 11:28-30

[Jesus said: ]   

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’


The Beatitudes
by James Tissot, between 1886 and 1896
from the series The Life of Christ, Brooklyn Museum
 Public domain, via 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8790472

 

Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide and reflection here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-12-10


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-11-28-30-2025-2/


 

Two invitations:


Sunday 14 December at 3pm, Nine Lessons and Carols, in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill, followed by refreshments in the church



Monday 15 December at 7.30pm, 
Castlebar Community Carol Service in Christ Church, Castlebar, 
with Holy Rosary Choir and Castlebar Concert Band.

Collection is in aid of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.



A word of 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. What a fantastic evening it was!

Included in this note of thanks are the performers themselves, plus Fr John Kenny and St Mary's Church, Westport for hosting this fundraiser event, and the management of 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. The amount raised on the night was €1364.35 . 

The final total 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 not too late. You can give via the QR, below, 'Westport-Dugort Parishes'. If you would like more information please contact us (details below). 

Please also see the information below on Giving. Thank you. 


Other notices

Castlebar's 'Poor George' statue
looks down on the church's Advent & Christmas 2025 banner.


Holy Communion at Home
If you or your loved one would like to receive Communion at home, please contact Rev Suzanne (details below). 

Castlebar: Every day in Advent 

Every day through Advent, Christ Church Castlebar will be open from 7.30 - 9.00 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.




Remaining 'Crib Service' 
(All-age Nativity services)

Sunday 21 Dec, 11.30am, 'Crib Service' in Holy Trinity Westport
All are invited and welcome.
Children are invited to come along in simple nativity costume 
or they can borrow an item from the dressing up box.

You can see more photos from the recent Crib Service 
in Christ Church Castlebar (7 December) in an earlier post.

Note re. Westport Sunday Club: 
The Sunday Club originally scheduled for 7 December 
is now rescheduled to combine with this special service on 21 Dec. 
Info: Steffi or Shirley (numbers on request), or the rector, (details below).





'Nine Lessons and Carols'
(Traditional Carol Services) and concerts

  • Turlough, Sat 13 Dec, 7pm, followed by refreshments   
  • Achill, Sun 14 Dec, 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort, followed by refreshments
  • Castlebar, Monday 15 December, 7.30pm, Castlebar Community Carol Service in Christ Church, with Holy Rosary Choir and Castlebar Concert Band.
  • Chapel Street Gospel Choir concerts, Sunday 21 December, 5pm and 8pm, in Christ Church, Castlebar. Info., Roslyn Potter, Turlough (number on request).
  • Westport - St Mary's-and-Holy-Trinity-Together - A Shared Celebration - Sunday 21 December, 5pm, in St Mary's Church. 

Please note that regular times (see below) apply for other services during this Advent period.


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

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

Turlough Church: Christmas Eve (Wed) at 6.30pm

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




Services on the weekend of 27-28 December (subject to change)

- Saturday 27 December
  •     7pm, Turlough, Evening Prayer

- Sunday 28 December:
  •     10am, Christ Church, Castlebar 
  •     11.30am, Holy Trinity, Westport



A Public Celebration of the Reopening of Holy Trinity, Westport

with the Rt Revd Bishop Michael Burrows TLK, and Blessing of the Work:

Friday 23rd January at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church. 

Everyone in the community is warmly invited and welcome.




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 (except on 11th and 18th Jan 2026, during repair works), Holy Communion or Morning Prayer

- Wednesdays at 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, followed by coffee in Cornrue. 



Dugort, Achill: October - April inclusive

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


Inishbiggle    As announced. The next service in Holy Trinity Church, Inishbiggle, will be in the New Year. 


Online Prayer and Bible Reading every Wed at 8pm, via ZoomLink:





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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