Today's Gospel, plus On Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

 

Please scroll down for notices and information. 

Christ of the Cornfield

by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, 1914

Public domain, via

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45611023

Today's Gospel    Mark 2:23-28

One sabbath he [Jesus] was going through the cornfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?’ And he said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.’ 

Then he said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.’

Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-01-20

Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-2-23-28-2026/

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

 "One body, one Spirit"

"There is one body and one Spirit, 

just as you were called to one hope when you were called;  

one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

one God and Father of all, 

who is over all and through all and in all." 

(Ephesians 4: 4-6)

WPCU Day 1 in Castlebar and Westport, All-age talk 

Building one another up in faith and love

Jen McCormack LLLM and Revd Suzanne Cousins

Building Unity and Community

 Last (for now!) of the Holy Trinity services in St Mary's Church, Westport.

Thanks to Fr John Kenny for taking part in the All-age sermon

and for the photo.

Notices

INVITATION

You are warmly invited to this ecumenical service for the 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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

A Public Service of Thanksgiving 

for the 

Reopening of Holy Trinity Church,

Preacher: The Rt Revd Bishop Michael Burrows. 

Followed by refreshments in Carrowbeg House, S. Mall (beside St Mary's Church)

Please come along and bring others.

You will be blessed!

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 in Castlebar 

Inter Faith Learning through Scriptural Reasoning 

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. 

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!





CONCERTS to look forward to:

• A partnered concert by Cór Mhaigh Eo and visiting choir from Competa (near Malaga), Spain, in Holy Trinity Westport, on the afternoon of Saturday 18 April. 

• 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

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; 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. 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) 

If you would be willing to contribute to the fundraising efforts to cover the cost of the repair work to the ceiling of 'HTW', completed on 16 Jan, please contact Hon Treasurer, Babs Strutt (bstrutty@gmail.com), or use the Westport-Dugort  QR code. All help is gratefully received. 

Thank you for all donations and support received to date. 

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!  

A sincere expression of thanks at 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