Today's gospel, Wed 4 February. Is not this the carpenter?


What's On: Wednesday 4 February:

  • Midweek Service of Holy Communion, 10.30am in Holy Trinity Westport (F28K102), followed by tea in Cornrue Bakery (near Lidll, New Road, the Demesne, Westport) from 11.05am. You're welcome to join either or both gatherings.   

 

Please scroll down for more notes and more notices. 



Jesus and St Joseph
A painting on a panel of a 19th-century beehive from Slovenia 
Wikimedia Commons/Museum of Apiculture, Radovljica, in
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/st-josephs-heavenly-habits-teach-us-about-dignity-work

Today's gospel    Mark 6:1-6

He [Jesus] left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him.  

On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Maryand brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.


Childhood of Christ
Gerrit van Honthorst, 1620
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-04 


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-6-1-6-2026/



Notes and Notices

This coming weekend, Sat 7- Sun 8 February: 'Living Faith'
From the diocese and in our parish: A special visit from Tunis, organised by the COI's Council for Mission.

This coming weekend this (Tuam) part of the TLK diocese will be blessed with a visit to each of our Aughaval parishes by the Revd Frank Bernard, Rector of St George's Anglican Church, Tunis, with Bishop Michael Burrows.  

There is an open invitation to the Rectory, Westport, on Sat 7 Feb at 3pm for light refreshments and an opportunity to hear Revd 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, below, with Bishop Michael presiding at Holy Communion:

Sat 7 Feb, 7pm Turlough - followed by tea

Sun 8 Feb:  10am in Castlebar
                    11.30am in Westport - followed by tea
                    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  


Sunday 8 February, Westport, Sunday Club, starting in Holy Trinity Westport at 11.30am, and moving to Holy Trinity N.S. for activities, music, Bible lesson and snack.


'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, below.) 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. 

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

  


Holy Trinity Westport KidSpace 


KidSpace, Christ Church Castlebar

 


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

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




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 (tbc), 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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