Today's gospel, plus notices and words of thanks

 Please scroll down for notices and some words of thanks.



Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci, 1472
Public domain, via 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13126265


Today's gospel    Luke 1:26-38 

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 

‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.  

The angel said to her, 

‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’  

Mary said to the angel, 

‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 

The angel said to her, 

‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’  

Then Mary said, 

‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ 

Then the angel departed from her.


Annunciation/ Ecce Ancilla Domini! 

by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, 1850

Public domain, via Wikipedia


Sacred Space

You can find a helpful prayer guide and reflection on this gospel here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-12-08 



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. 

Included in this note of thanks are the performers themselves, Fr John Kenny and St Mary's Church, Westport for hosting this fundraiser event, and 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 7.30 - 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.




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. 
  • 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 Concert 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




Services on the weekend of 27-28 December

- Saturday 27 December
  •     7pm, Turlough

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



A 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, 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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