Today's Gospel, 19 January. A question of fasting
Please scroll down for notices and information.
Scriptural Reasoning Event, Tuesday 3 Feb, 7.30 - 9pm, online.
Please see below for details and to book.
Mark 2:18-22
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.
“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”
Sacred Space
You can find a gentle prayer guide on the gospel here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-01-19
Week pf Prayer for Christian Unity 2026
Mark 2:18-22
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.
“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”
Sacred Space
You can find a gentle prayer guide on the gospel here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-01-19
Week pf Prayer for Christian Unity 2026
You can find daily devotional resources for this WPCU here:
Scriptural Reasoning - Fasting
An opportunity to learn about Fasting in three traditions: Jewish, Christian and Muslim.
Tues 3 Feb, 7.30- 9.00pm, online.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scriptural-reasoning-perspectives-on-fasting-tickets-1979860140978?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
This event is organised by the Church of Ireland's Inter Faith Working Group
and is highly recommended.
Notices
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.
You will be blessed!
Repair work to the ceiling of beautiful 'HTW' has been completed. If you would be willing to contribute to the fundraising efforts to cover the cost, please scroll down.
All help is gratefully received. Thank you for donations and support received to date.
Confirmation
If you or young person is interested in exploring Confirmation please contact the Rector. The first Confirmation class will be on Saturday 24 January from 10-11am in the Rectory, Westport, with Bishop Michael.
St Brigid's Cross-making fun workshop
Sat 31 January 2026, 11am - 1pm, in Christ Church Castlebar. This is a free all-age event. All welcome. Contact: John Browne or Jen McCormack - numbers on request.
Last year
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!
A Social and Fundraising Event for St Thomas's Dugort is being planned for Friday 24 April, details to follow.
Regular Service Pattern
in the Aughaval Parishes
(Subject to change)Turlough
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:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1
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
- 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:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1
Giving towards the upkeep of the churches
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
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes
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
