Today's gospel, Sat 20 December

 

Please scroll down for notes and notices.


Services this weekend in the Aughaval Group of Parishes:

Saturday 20 December 

    Evening Prayer, 7pm in Turlough Church

Sunday 21 December

    Holy Communion, 10am in Christ Church Castlebar

    Crib Service (all-age Nativity), 11.30am in Holy Trinity, Westport

    Ecumenical Carol Service, 5pm in St Mary's Church, Westport





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 to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Anonymous, 1610, Mexico 
Public domain, via
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45207232 


Sacred Space

"Her generosity of spirit facilitates God's arrangements rather than obstructing them."

You can find a gentle prayer guide and this devotional thought in full, here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-12-20


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-26-38-2025-4/



Notes and Notices


A word of thanks - Castlebar Community Carol Service

A word of sincere thanks to everyone who came along to the Community Carol Service in Christ Church Castlebar on Monday 15 December, or who supported in other ways. Particular thanks to Emily Tunney and the Choir of Holy Rosary Church (Castlebar Parish), to organist Sean Tunney, to Castlebar Concert Band, and to Fr Conal Eustace and Pastor Cathal Duffy for their parts in the service.

The event was so joyful, and raised 600 euros towards the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, Castlebar Daycare Centre. (Info., Hon. Treasurer, Trevor Ardill, contact details, email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org.) 



Home Communion 

If you or your loved one would like to receive Holy Communion at home prior to  Christmas, please contact the Rector (083 800 3233). 


Sunday 21st December

Morning:

Sunday 21 Dec, 11.30am, 'Crib Service' (All-age Nativity) in Holy Trinity Westport with participation by Westport Sunday Club and children of Holy Trinity National School. All are invited and welcome. Info: Steffi or Shirley (numbers on request), or the rector. 
Visitors are especially welcome.

Evening:



Please come along and enjoy this ecumenical Carol service, organised by St Mary's Church Westport and Holy Trinity Westport, at 5pm on 21 December in St Mary's. 
Once again, the people of Holy Trinity Westport are deeply grateful to St Mary's and to Fr John Kenny for making room for their Church of Ireland neighbours in this meaningful way, at this special time of year, and with generosity and warmth.


Also: 
Chapel Street Gospel Choir concerts, Sunday 21 December, 5pm and 8pm, in Christ Church, Castlebar. Info., Roslyn Potter, Turlough (number on request).




Christmas Communion Services, 'The First Communion of Christmas'

  • St Thomas's, Dugort: Christmas Eve (Wed), 12 noon
  • Turlough Church: Christmas Eve (Wed), 6.30pm
  • Christ Church, Castlebar: Christmas Day (Thurs), 9am
  • Holy Trinity Church, Westport: Christmas Day (Thurs), 11am




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

Saturday 27 December:
    - 7pm, Turlough, Evening Prayer, led by LLLM (/Parish Reader) Ros Potter

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.)




Special date for the new year diary:

A Public Celebration of the Reopening of Holy Trinity Church, Westport,
and Blessing of the Work
with the Rt Revd Bishop Michael Burrows

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





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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