Today's gospel, Mon 22 Dec

 Please scroll down for notes and notices.



The Meeting of Mary and Elisabeth
Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1866
Public domain
via Wikimedia Commons

Luke 1:46-56

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-46-56-2025/



Christmas Communion Services 
'The First Communion of Christmas'


You are most welcome to join us for the Celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, times and places below. Visitors are especially welcome!
  • St Thomas's, Dugort: Christmas Eve (Wed 24 Dec), 12 noon
  • Turlough Church: Christmas Eve (Wed 24 Dec), 6.30pm
  • Christ Church, Castlebar: Christmas Day (Thurs 25 Dec), 9am
  • Holy Trinity Church, Westport: Christmas Day (Thurs 25 Dec), 11am




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

Saturday 27 December:
    - 7pm, Turlough, Evening Prayer (tbc)

Sunday 28 December:
    - 10am, Christ Church Castlebar, led by LLLM (/Parish Readers) Susie Fry and Jen McCormack
    - 11.30am, Holy Trinity, Westport, led by LLLM (/Parish Reader) Benita Stoney

(No service in St Thomas's Dugort on this date.)



Confirmation

If you or young person is interested in exploring Confirmation with a view to Confirmation in 2026, please contact the Rector (083 800 3233/ email augahaval@tuam.anglican.org). The first Confirmation class will be on Saturday 24 January at 10am in the Rectory, Westport, with Bishop Michael.  



Special date for the new year diary:

A Public Celebration of the Reopening of Holy Trinity Church, Westport

with the Rt Revd Bishop Michael Burrows

Friday 23rd January at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church


Please save the date and spread the word! 





New Year Social and Fundraiser for HTW repairs:

Table Quiz, Friday 20 February 2026, in the 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  

- 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

May-September inclusive
- Services weekly at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion


Inishbiggle 

As announced. The next service in Holy Trinity Church, Inishbiggle, will be in the New Year (2026). 





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

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1






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 below by the Diocese: 

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

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