Today's Gospel, 15 March. The Man Blind from Birth
Please scroll down for today's gospel, notes and notices.
This weekend
Mothering Sunday services (Eucharistic) in the churches:
Sat 14 March, 7pm in Turlough
Sun 15 March, 10am in Christ Church Castlebar
Sun 15 March, 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport
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. Fáilte!
Today's Gospel John 9: 1-40
As he [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg? ’Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ But they kept asking him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, ‘Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.’ He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’
Then they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’
Sacred Space
You can find a gentle and helpful prayer guide here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-03-15
Christian Art
https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-9-1-6-9-13-17-34-38-2026/
Notices
St Patrick's Day Tues 17 March, 10am, The Eucharist, in Holy Trinity Westport, followed by tea
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. All welcome.
· Turlough 21 March, after 7pm service, in the church
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 plus a Supplemental; and
- A Parochial Nominator, 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.
Notices (subject to change)
Please see also website: aughaval.tlk.ie
Last of the 2026 Easter Vestry Meetings (‘Annual Meeting of the General Vestry’)
· Turlough Parish Sat 21 March, after the 7pm service, in the church
Confirmation Prep Session 3, Sat 21 March, 10am in the Rectory.
Wed weekly at 10.30 am Holy Communion in Holy Trinity Westport, followed by coffee in Cornrue.
Wed online prayer 8pm. Link on WhatsApp group or on request, 0838003233
Holy Week and Easter
Eve of Palm Sunday, Sat 28 March, Turlough 7pm. All children and young people are in invited to be part of a Palm Sunday procession at the beginning of the service.
Palm Sunday, 29 March: Castlebar, Sun 29 March, 10am. All children and young people are in invited to be part of the Palm Sunday procession.
Monday in Holy Week, 30 March
- 11am, Monday on the Mountain. Meet in Murrisk carpark for a gentle walk to the St Patrick statue, and prayers. Suitable for all ages.
- 8pm Compline in Christ Church Castlebar
Tuesday in Holy Week, 31 March
- 8pm Compline in the Rectory
Wed in Holy Week (‘Spy Wednesday’), 1 April
- The Eucharist, 10.30am in Holy Trinity Westport
- Wed Online Prayer, 8pm. Link below
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 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, South Mall. All are invited and welcome, from any church tradition or none.
- 8pm Good Friday Tenebrae in Christ Church Castlebar
Easter Day (5 April), Easter Holy Communion:
- Castlebar 10am
- Holy Trinity Westport 11.30am (Please be aware that the start of this service may be delayed by a few minutes.)
- 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.
Fresh opportunities to serve, Holy Trinity Westport: Help needed!
If you are willing to help on the Clean Team or on the Flower Team, please contact Barbara Shepphard (number on request). Flowers are next needed on Easter Day.
If you are willing to help on the Welcome and Hospitality Team, please contact Shirley Kitterick or Mary Farr (number on request).
You can also add your name to the lists which will be on display this coming weekend, or speak to Barbara. Thank you!
- 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
- Westport Comhaltas Concert, Sat 20 June, 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 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
One-time donations
You can securely give towards these costs and the upkeep of the churches using your phone or electronic device using the link or 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 and bless you +
Westport-Dugort Parishes: includes Holy Trinity Church Westport, St Thomas's Dugort, and Holy Trinity Inishbiggle
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 Church of Ireland Parish Church
https://www.idonate.ie/cause/TurloughChurchofIreland
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:
Rector: Revd Suzanne Cousins
Aughaval Group of Parishes,
United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland
Tel. +353 83 800 3233
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Aughaval Parishes' website aughaval.tlk.ie
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes
