Today's gospel, Salt and Light. Racial Justice Sunday, 8 Feb

 

Today's gospel    Matthew 5:13–16

‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.


Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-08


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-13-16-2026/



Racial Justice Sunday

Today, 8th February 2026, is Racial Justice Sunday.

Image: Churches Together in Britain and Ireland 



A Prayer on Racial Justice Sunday 2026

 

God of all creation,

gather us in – stranger and friend,

bring us into Your loving presence,

that we might know that Your love for us never ends

and has no terms or conditions.

 

God of love,

on this Racial Justice Sunday 2026,

point us towards Your dream for all people,

that we might work together in hope,

for justice, peace and unity throughout Your world.

 

Give us grace,

show us mercy,

that we might live and love in Your name,

now and forever.

Amen. 


You can learn more about Racial Justice Sunday here:

https://ctbi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Racial-Justice-Sunday-resource-2026.pdf.pagespeed.ce.dCns4cfhgC.pdf



Services this weekend

Revd Frank will also be the preacher at these services, below, with Bishop Michael presiding at Holy Communion/ The Eucharist (except at Turlough on this occasion). 

Sat 7 Feb;   7pm Turlough - followed by tea/coffee

Sun 8 Feb:  10am in Christ Church, Castlebar - with blessing of the new 'KidSpace'

                    11.30am in Holy Trinity, Westport - with blessing of the new 'KidSpace'                         and the Sunday Club. James Kilbane will sing. Service followed by tea/coffee.

Sun 8 Feb:    3pm in St Thomas’s Dugort, Achill. James Kilbane will sing. Followed by tea/coffee

Everyone welcome.



Special note for all in the parishes:
As previously advertised, the General Vestry Registers for each of the parishes will be updated this weekend after the services. If you have not yet had your name added and wish to do so, please contact Revd Suzanne. 


Select Vestry Meetings (as notified):


Castlebar  Thurs 12 Feb, 8pm   (CRA group, 7pm)  

Turlough  21 Feb, after 7pm service   

Westport-Dugort  26 Feb, 7.30pm in Carrowbeg House

 


Easter Vestry Meetings (Annual Meetings of the General Vestries):


Westport-Dugort  12 March, Carrowbeg House

Castlebar  tbc

Turlough  21 March, after 7pm service




YOUTH
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  

Sunday 8 February, Sunday Club, starting in Holy Trinity Church, Westport, at 11.30am, and moving to Holy Trinity N.S. for activities, music, Bible lesson and snack. All children welcome. For info., please contact Steffi (+353 89 941 8165) or Revd Suzanne (+353 83 800 3233).


'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 suitable and comfortable space to enjoy during services and to call their own. This will be supervised most Sundays by our Sunday Club leaders. For info., please contact Steffi or the Rector.  

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, and thanks to the practical help of Select Vestry members. 

We plan similarly to put in place a KidSpace in Turlough, with the help of the Turlough Youth and Children's team, parents and helpers.  

The bishop will bless these spaces on Sunday 8 Feb during the services.

  


Holy Trinity Westport KidSpace 


KidSpace, Christ Church Castlebar

 

Confirmation Class

The next Exploring Confirmation session is on Sat 21 Feb, 10-11am in the Rectory, Westport.



New Year 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 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, and more to follow)
  • 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 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 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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