Today's gospel, plus this weekend in the Aughaval parishes

 

Services this weekend:

Turlough - Sat 7pm, Holy Communion, Turlough Church

Castlebar - Sun 10am, Morning Prayer in Christ Church, followed by tea/coffee

Westport - Sun 12 noon, Holy Communion and Sunday Club, this week in St Mary's, followed by tea/coffee in Carrowbeg House

Achill - Sun 3pm, Evening Prayer in St Thomas's Dugort 

    You are warmly invited.


Please scroll down for more notices and information.



Christ Rescuing Peter from Drowning
Lorenzo Veneziano, 1370
Public domain, via
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15131850


Today's gospel    Mark 6:45-52

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. 

But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.


Sacred Space

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

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-01-09


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-6-45-52-2026/


                                                

                                               Notes and Notices

                                                Subject to change

Sympathy

Sincere and prayerful sympathy on behalf of all in the parishes and in particular in Westport, to Benita Stoney (Hon. Secretary) and the family circle on the passing of her sister Eleanor at Christmas.


Exploring Confirmation

If you or young person is interested in exploring Confirmation with a view to Confirmation in 2026, please contact the Rector (083 800 3233/ email augahaval@tuam.anglican.org). The first of this year's Confirmation classes will be on Saturday 24 January at 10am in the Rectory, Westport, with Bishop Michael. 

Castlebar - Those who wish to enrol for classes please gather with the rector  immediately after the 10am service on Sunday 11 January



Temporary arrangement for Westport services

Please note that services in Westport on Sundays 11 and 18 January will be held in St Mary's Church Westport (S. Mall) at 12 noon, as will midweek Holy Communion on Wed 14 January (10.30am).

These arrangements are short term and are on account of repair works in Holy Trinity Westport. Our gratitude is extended once again to our friends in St Mary's Church and to Fr John Kenny for the kind hospitality and accommodation. 




Preparations for stage two of repair works 
to the ceiling of Holy Trinity Church, Westport
5 January 2026

Sunday Club dates for 2026  (subject to change) 

Sunday 11 Jan  - This Sunday Club will be at 12 noon starting in St Mary's Church, Westport, and moving next door to Carrowbeg House for activities, snacks, etc. (Info. 083 8003233.)

Sundays 08 Feb, 08 Mar, 12 Apr, 17 May, 07 June  - all in Holy Trinity, Westport, starting at 11.30am

20 or 27 June - to be confirmed - Sunday Club End of Year Event 


Special date for the new year diary

Friday 23rd January at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church: A Public Celebration of the Reopening of Holy Trinity Church, Westport, with the Rt Revd Bishop Michael Burrows. Please save the date and spread the word! 





Work is underway again in HTW.

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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