A demanding gospel in Lent: Love your enemies...

 

Please scroll down for notes and notices.


Services this weekend:

Sat at 7pm, 'All-age' Service in Turlough

Sun, 10am, 'All-age' Service with Holy Communion in Christ Church Castlebar

Sun 11.30am, 'All-age' Service with Holy Communion, in Westport




4th century papyrus fragment containing Matt 5:13-16
University of Cologne
Public domain, via
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=174020121



Today's gospel     Matthew 5:43-48

[Jesus said] ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


Christian Art 

You can find a helpful reflection on the gospel here:

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-43-48-2026/


Sacred Space

A gentle prayer guide and inspirational thought drawn from today's gospel may be found here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-28



Youth and Children


Westport Sunday Club dates    8 March, 12 April, 3 May, 7 June

Please note amended date for May.



Notice of Easter Vestry Meetings, 2026 

(Subject to change)


·      Castlebar  10 March, 7.30pm, in the church 

.      Westport-Dugort  12 March, 7.30pm in Carrowbeg House

·      Turlough  21 March, after 7pm service, in the church


The purpose of the Easter Vestry meeting (the Annual Meeting of the General Vestry) is twofold:

1. The presentation of the previous year's accounts (2025); and

2. The election of a new Select Vestry for the year ahead (2026 - 2027).


All are welcome to the meeting and those whose names are on the General Vestry Register are entitled to vote. 


In a Triennial Year the following appointments are also made:

- A Diocesan Synodsperson for each parish or union (- allocations vary from parish to parish), plus a Supplemental; and

- A Parochial Nominator for each parish or union, plus a Supplemental.

(NB Numbers can vary from parish to parish.)


If you wish to nominate someone for Select Vestry membership or for one of the above appointments, the individual must give their consent in advance. 

Further information, please contact us: email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org. 



Donations for Tea and Coffee on Sunday 1st March after the Westport service will be towards the Church of Ireland 'Pancakes and Prayer Lent Campaign 2026. 
The fund is to support children in South Sudan and is overseen by the CoI Bishops’ Appeal. For more info, contact the Hon. Treasurer of your parish, or the Rector, 
or you can read about this online: 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1317184423770797&set=a.460256536130261 



The Bishop is Peregrinating again! 

The theme this time is Vintage Vehicles, so if you have an old tractor or a classic car or motorbike, or an old jalopy that's precious to you, do please bring it along!
You can read more about the charitable purpose behind the peregrinations here: https://tlk.ie/bishop-michaels-peregrination-2026/ .

Bishop Michael will be in Castlebar on Thur 12 March at 10.30am and in Westport at 1pm.


Bishop Michael's Peregrinations, Feb 2026, Co Kerry, with Revd Mark Blakely



Holy Week and Easter


Maundy Thursday (2 April):

Last Holy Communion until Easter Day,
with Washing of Feet and Stripping of the Altar
- 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Westport


Good Friday (3 April): 

- 12 noon in HTW    The Last Hours
A reading of the Passion Narrative

- 3pm in Christ church Castlebar    The Last Hours
A reading of the Passion Narrative

- 6pm Good Friday Ecumenical Walk of Witness 
starting from Holy Trinity Church, Newport Road, Westport, at 6pm
and concluding at St Mary’s Church on the Mall
All are invited and welcome, from any church tradition or none.

- 8pm Tenebrae in Christ Church Castlebar



Eve of Easter (4 April)

Sat, 7pm Turlough 


Easter Day (5 April)
Easter Holy Communion:

Castlebar 10am 
Holy Trinity Westport  11.30 
Achill   3pm  


Easter Monday (6 April)
Easter Communion on Inishbiggle 
Meeting at Doran's Point Ballycroy at 9.30am for 10am departure by curragh to the island. If you wish to reserve a place, please contact Revd Suzanne (0838003233). Details to follow and on request.  


Inishbiggle 'Easter Garden' in-the-making
with Rector's Church Warden, Chris Gibbs, 
Spring 2025



Easter Vestry Meetings (subject to change):

·      Castlebar  10 March, 7.30pm 

.      Westport-Dugort  12 March, 7.30pm in Carrowbeg House

·      Turlough  21 March, after 7pm service.

 

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day, 17 March, will be celebrated with a special service to give thanks for our patron saint, in Holy Trinity Westport at 10am, with tea/coffee to follow. 


Fresh opportunities to serve, Holy Trinity Westport: Help needed!

If you are willing to help on the Clean Team or on the Flower Team, please contact Barbara Shepphard (number on request). Flowers are next needed on Easter Day.

If you are willing to help on the Welcome and Hospitality Team, please contact Shirley Kitterick or Mary Farr (number on request). 

You can also add your name to the lists which will be on display this coming weekend, or speak to Barbara. Thank you!



Spring, Summer and Late Summer Concerts 
(Subject to change)
  • Cór Mhaigh Eo and a visiting choir from Competa (near Malaga), Spain, in Holy Trinity Westport, on the afternoon of Saturday 18 April. (Time tbc.)
  • A Social and Fundraising Event for St Thomas's Dugort is being planned for the evening of Friday 24 April. Details to follow. 
  • Bella Capella, in Christ Church, Castlebar, Saturday 6 June. Details to follow.
  • Blue Jazz Festival 'Gospel Hour' Service: Sunday 7 June, 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport. 
  • Louisburgh Concert:  Wed 27 May, 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Westport
  • Scoil Acla Recital Concert: evening of Wed 29 July, in St Thomas's Dugort. Details to follow.
  • Westport Festival of Chamber Music: Concerts on Friday (evening) 11 Sept, Saturday (afternoon) 12 Sept, and Sunday (afternoon) 13 September, in Holy Trinity Westport. Details to follow from WFoCM. 



Regular Service Pattern 
in the Aughaval Parishes
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 on Easter Monday, 6 April. Contact us for details. 


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 are able and willing to contribute to the fundraising efforts to cover the cost of the recent repair work to the ceiling of 'HTW', completed on 16 Jan 2025, please contact Hon Treasurer, Babs Strutt (bstrutty@gmail.com), or use the Westport-Dugort QR code (above). 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, 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 for financial support in 2025 towards the churches, their upkeep, ministry and mission can be found here:

Pastoral care and enquiries:  

Rector: 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

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