Today’s gospel, Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is traditionally, for Christians and the church, a penitential season, of prayer, fasting and giving, leading up to Easter.
Wishing you a holy and blessed Lent in which your spirit is drawn to and aligned with the Spirit of Christ.
Today's Gospel Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21
[Jesus said] ‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Sacred Space
You can find a gentle prayer guide here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-18
Christian Art
https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-6-1-6-16-18-2026/
Pancake/Shrove Tuesday, 17 Feb 2026, for 'Pancakes and Prayer', in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill. 110 euros was donated towards the appeal. Details at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1317184423770797&set=a.460256536130261
You can make further donations towards the appeal as follows:
- on Saturday coming (21 Feb) in Turlough after the 7pm service
- and next Sunday, the First Sunday in Lent, in Christ Church Castlebar at coffee after the 10am service, and in Holy Trinity Westport at coffee after the 11.30am service.
Further information via the Hon. Treasurers - Karin Shaw (Turlough), Trevor Ardill (Castlebar), and Babs Strutt (Westport-Dugort Union).
Notice of Easter Vestry Meetings
(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
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, plus a Supplemental; and
- A Parochial Nominator for each parish or union, plus a Supplemental.
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.
Let the children be fed first...
Everyone is welcome, and every little helps!
Select Vestry Meetings (as notified):
· Turlough 21 Feb, following the 7pm service
· Westport-Dugort 26 Feb, 7.30pm in Carrowbeg House
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.
Social and Fundraiser for HTW repairs: Table Quiz, Friday 20 Feb, in the Clew Bay Hotel, 7.30 for 8pm start. Donations of raffle prizes appreciated. Info: Babs (086 841 7303) or Henry.
Fresh opportunities to serve, Westport: If you are willing to help on the Clean Team or on the Flower Team, please contact Barbara Shepphard. Thank you.
Confirmation Class
The next Exploring Confirmation session is on Sat 21 Feb, 10-11am in the Rectory, Westport. If for some reason you or your young person is unable to attend, please be reassured that recaps and catch-up sessions can be arranged later, and the relevant materials shared.
- 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.
- 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
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, 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:
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
