Today's gospel, 14 January.


Please scroll down for today's gospel reading and resources, plus notices.



  • Please note that today's (midweek, 10.30am) Service of Holy Communion is in St Mary's Church, Westport, followed by coffee in Cornrue.
  • Next Sunday's Westport service (18 Jan), for the Holy Trinity congregation and visitors, will also be in St Mary's, at 12 noon.  
  • There will be a special (ecumenical) service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and to celebrate the return to Holy Trinity Westport ('HTW'), on Friday 23 Jan at 7.30pm in HTW. Followed by tea and refreshments in Carrowbeg House, South Mall. Please see below. You're welcome!
  • Online prayer and Bible reading - this evening, Wed, 8-8.30pm. Link below.


Today's gospel    Mark 1: 29-39


As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.


That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.


In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 


When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.





Sacred Space 


You can find a helpful prayer guide and reflection here:


https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-01-14



Collect of the Day


Eternal Father, 

who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, 

anointing him with the Holy Spirit: 

Grant to us, who are born of water and the Spirit, 

that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.



Notices

In memoriam

It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Caroline Fitzgerald (Dr Caroline Anne Fitzgerald), faithful and committed Westport parishioner, former Parish Reader, and a kind and generous friend to many. 

May she rest in peace and rise in glory +

Our prayers and sympathy are with all Caroline's family: in particular, her husband Rob, son Cullan, sister Pen, sister-in-law Joan, Caroline's cousin Mary, and her nephews and grand-nieces. 

Funeral arrangements as published on RIP.ie :

Caroline Fitzgerald

Rosmoney, Carrowholly, Westport, Co. Mayo

 

Caroline, died peacefully at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, on Sunday 11th January, 2026, after a short illness, with her family and friends by her side.

She will be sadly missed by all her loving family, her husband Rob, son Cullan, sister Pen, sister-in-law Joan, her cousin Mary, nephews, grand-nieces, neighbours and wide circle of friends.

Reposing in Navin's Funeral Home Westport (F28 XR61) on Wednesday 14th Jan from 5pm-6pm.

Funeral Service for Caroline will take place in St. Mary's Church, Westport, Officiated by Rev. Suzanne Cousins on Thursday 15th Jan, arriving at 12noon for service at 12:30pm with burial immediately afterwards in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Newport Road, Westport.

 Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired to Medecin Sans frontiere.

http://www.msf.ie/donate .


https://rip.ie/death-notice/caroline-fitzgerald-mayo-westport-617923



INVITATION


You are warmly invited to this ecumenical service
in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

on Friday 23rd January at 7.30pm 
in Holy Trinity Church, Westport: 

A Public Service of Thanksgiving 
for the Reopening of Holy Trinity Church,
with the Rt Revd Bishop Michael Burrows. 

Followed by refreshments in Carrowbeg House, S. Mall
(beside St Mary's Church)
Please spread the word and plan to come along. 




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. Please note that sponsorship from local businesses is invited and will be greatly 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 Sundays of the month.

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, when we will be back in St Mary's Church); Holy Communion or Morning Prayer

- Wednesdays at 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, followed by coffee in Cornrue. 
Please note there will be no Midweek service on Wed 31 December.


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:




Giving towards the upkeep of the churches

The work and upkeep of the churches requires ongoing funding to meet costs. Each of our Church of Ireland parishes has charity (CRA) status - please see note below. 

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 
Regular giving can be by means of the weekly envelope system (-information on request), or by standing order. 

Tax refund on donations
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 for your help, 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 Diocesan Secretary, Mrs Lorna Sharpe at limerickdiocsec@gmail.com, or Assistant Diocesan Secretary, Mr Damian Shorten at admin@tka.ie. They will be happy to help you and to answer your questions.


Go raibh maith agaibh go léir!  

An expression of thanks at the end of 2025 and the start of 2026 for financial support and generosity, plus information - please see here:

 https://aughaval.tlk.ie/2026/01/expression-of-thanks-go-raibh-maith.html


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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