Today's Gospel, Fri 20 Feb.

 

Please scroll down for notes and notices. 

This evening in Westport: Social and Fundraiser Table Quiz, at 7.30 for 8pm start, in the Clew Bay Hotel. Please come along, enjoy and support! You're welcome. 





Today's Gospel     Matthew 9:14–15

Then the disciples of John came to him [Jesus], saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.


                              

 Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness, by James Tissot, painted between 1886 and 1894 Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2006. Public domain, via https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10195821


Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-20


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-9-14-15-2026/




Notes and Notices


Tonight! Social and Fundraiser for HTW repairs:


Table Quiz, Friday 20 February 2026, 7.30 for 8pm start, in the Clew Bay Hotel.
Info: Babs Strutt (+353 86 841 7303) or Henry McKinney. 
Donation of prizes for raffle will be much appreciated. 
Please note that sponsorship from local businesses will be greatly appreciated! 

Confirmation Preparation

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. 


Youth Forum - opportunity


The Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) National Youth Forum 2026 is happening from Friday evening 6th to Sunday 8th March 2026 at Dromantine Retreat Centre, Newry.  This event will be an opportunity for 15 - 18 year olds to come together with delegates from each of the dioceses of the Church of Ireland. It is hoped that each diocese will have approximately 8-10 representatives.

UDYC will organise transport to/from the event. The food and accommodation is organised by CIYD for the event. Thus there is no actual cost of attending the event, just time and energy. The group will leave after school, college and work finish on Friday, and everyone should be back home by 5 pm on Sunday. 

The focus this year for the Youth Forum 2026 will be on young people speaking with God, discussing and learning methods of hearing God through the Bible and prayer. While also building confidence in potential future leaders as young Christians
CIYD will be welcoming back Susie Mapledoram, Mark Wells and Ben Jones for the event. Bishop Ferran Glenfield of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh will be leading the opening session, and Prayer Spaces for Schools will also be there.

If your child/children are interested and available to attend, please let Edward at 087 2907553 know, or contact the Rector (083 800 3233).



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


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. 




Westport Sunday Club dates    Please note amended date for May.


8 March, 12 April, 3 May, 7 June



Donations for Tea and Coffee on Sunday 22nd February, after the Castlebar and Westport services, 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. You can read about this online. 
For more info, contact the Hon. Treasurer of your parish, or the Rector.

Donations, large or small, will be towards this worthy campaign. Every little helps! 
Please see post, below.

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



Lent, Holy Week and Easter

[Ash Wednesday (18 Feb)
Service of Holy Communion
with imposition of ashes (optional)
- 10.30am in Holy Trinity Westport  
- 1pm in Christ Church Castlebar]  


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


 

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.

 

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, Westport: 

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

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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