Today's gospel. Blessed are the peacemakers... Happy St Brigid's Day!


Sunday 1 February, St Brigid's Day

  • 10am, Christ Church Castlebar: St Brigid's All-age Service with Holy Communion
  • 11.30am, Holy Trinity, Westport: St Brigid's All-age Service with Holy Communion, followed by tea/coffee


Carlos (Seville), John Browne, Johnny Oosen (CRCfm,) 31 Jan 2026
at the Brigid's Cross-making Workshop in Christ Church Castlebar 

Please scroll down for more notes and more notices.


Today's gospel    Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.



Blessed are the Peacemakers

by Bill Nicholls, 2013
at Rotherfield Peppards 
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license. 
URL https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/


Sacred Space

A gentle prayer guide and reflection can be found here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-01


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-1-12a-2026/




Notes and Notices


Video by Johnny Olsen, CRCfm,St Brigid's cross-making in CCC,  31 Jan 2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1856zBy6yg/



Next weekend: 'Living Faith'
From the diocese:and in our parish: A special visit form Tunis

Next weekend this part of the TLK diocese will be blessed with a visit to each of our churches by Bishop Michael with Revd Frank Bernard, Rector of St George's Anglican Church, Tunis. 

The weekend is being organised by the COI's Council for Mission. There is an open invitation to the Rectory, Westport, on Sat 7 Feb at 3pm for light refreshments and an opportunity to hear Frank speak on parish life and witness in North Africa and as a minority community in a predominantly Muslim country. 

If you would like to come along it will be lovely to have your company. Info: Alan Cousins (+44 75 22 33 4555) or +353 83 800 3233 (Suzanne). 

Revd Frank will also be the preacher at these services, with Bishop Michael presiding at Holy Communion:

Sat 7 Feb, 7pm Turlough

Sun 8 Feb: 10am in Castlebar, 
                    11.30am in Westport
                    3pm in Dugort, Achill



YOUTH and CHILDREN

From the diocese:


Diocesan Youth Senior Day Trip to Dublin 
on Saturday the 21 February 2026. 
For more info, please contact Revd Suzanne
083 800 3233


In the parishes


'KidSpace': Children’s spaces in Westport and Castlebar 

Since reopening Holy Trinity Westport we have been pleased to put in place an area, a Kids’ Corner/ KidSpace, recognising the children’s needs for a comfortable and equipped space to enjoy during services and to call their own. (See photos, above.) A similar setting up of a space for the children has been brought about in Christ Church Castlebar, thanks in part to a generous grant received in 2025 by the Church of Ireland Priorities’ Fund. 


Holy Trinity Westport KidSpace 


KidSpace, Christ Church 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!






Spring CONCERTS 
(Subject to change)
  • A partnered concert by Cór Mhaigh Eo and a 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. 
  • Christ Church, Castlebar: Bella Capella, on Saturday 6 June. Details to follow.
  • Blue Jazz Festival Service: Sunday 7 June, 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport
  • Louisburgh Concert:  Wed 27 May, 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Westport




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 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 (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 at the start of 2026 for financial support of the churches, their upkeep, ministry and mission. 


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

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