Today's Gospel, 21 March. Nicodemus, Part Two

Please scroll down for today's gospel reading, devotional resources and parish notices.

 


Nicodemus and Jesus
by Providence Lithograph Company, 1904  
Public domain, via
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9666300


John 7:40-52

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This [Jesus] is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.”  

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”


Christian Art

You can find a reflection on the gospel and on Nicodemus' story and journey here:

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-7-40-52-2026/


Sacred Space

You can find a helpful prayer guide at the link below, along with this reflection:



 

   Banksy mural, Bethlehem November 2017


Notes and Notices

Today, 21 March, is the 470th anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Cranmer. See  https://www.pbs.org.uk/event/cranmer26/  .


Cost of Living

In light of the rise in fuel costs due to conflict in the Middle East, the Church of Ireland’s Church and Society Commission wishes to highlight the cost-of-living hub on the Church’s website:


The hub can be found at https://www.churchofireland.org/resources/659/responding-to-the-cost-of, and includes details of helplines, price comparison websites, and  leaflets with helpful information.





Fr John Kenny with parishioners of St Mary's Church, Westport
on St Patrick's Day. The vestment (chasuble) worn by Fr Kenny was recently gifted to St Mary's by the Westport-Dugort Parish and the COI Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, as a token of appreciation for the warm and generous hospitality the 
congregation of Holy Trinity Westport was shown throughout 2025 
when HTW was closed for repairs. Go raibh míle maith agat!


Notices

Turlough Easter Vestry Meeting,  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).


In a Triennial Year the following appointments are also made:

- A Diocesan Synodsperson plus a Supplemental; and

- A Parochial Nominator, plus a Supplemental.


All are welcome to the meeting and those whose names are on the General Vestry Register are entitled to vote. 


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. 



 Confirmation Prep Session 3,  Sat 21 March, 10am in the Rectory.

School Service, for Holy Trinity National School, Tues 24 March (time to be confirmed) Service in Lent Holy Trinity Westport. Family and friends are invited and welcome.  

Wed weekly at 10.30 am  Holy Communion in Holy Trinity Westport, followed by coffee in Cornrue Bakery or Clew Bay Hotel.

Wed online prayer 8pm. Link on WhatsApp group or on request, 0838003233. Please note, there will be no online meeting on 25 March, due to Safeguarding training.


Castlebar: Reconvening of the Annual Meeting of the General Vestry, Thurs 26 March, 7.30pm in Christ Church. Reconvening is on account of a procedural error, wherein more than the permitted number of members were elected by the Meeting (on 10 March) to be Trustees and members of the Select Vestry for 2026-2027. Nominations are therefore invited again of any registered members of the General Vestry who meet the criteria for Trustee membership and are willing to serve in this capacity. 

Service on the Select Vestry is for one year at a time. Meetings take place four-to-six times per year and members must be able to attend. The purpose of the SV is to oversee the parish’s Finances, Fabrics, Furnishings and Compliance with law (- both State and Church law). For further information, please contact Mrs Caroline Boyle, Parish Governance Officer, or the Rector.


We look forward to another good year in church and parish life in Christ Church, Castlebar, place of warmth and welcome. “In the name of Christ, we welcome you!”


Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20206867  

 

See https://www.churchofireland.org/parish-resources/select-vestry#section-88. 



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, 'Patrick, Prayer and Pebbles'.  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

 

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

    Clean Team, Flower Team, Welcome and Hospitality Team

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). 



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 Concert for St Thomas's Dugort, Friday evening, 24 April. Details to follow. 
  • Louisburgh Concert: Wed 27 May, 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Westport
  • 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. 
  • Goethe Choir, Concert in Holy Trinity Westport, afternoon of 13 June at 3pm.
  • 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. 



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 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) 

If you are able and willing to contribute to the fundraising efforts towards the next stage of repair works to 'HTW', please contact the Rector (aughaval@tuam.anglican.org) or the Hon Treasurer (bstrutty@gmail.com), or use the link or Westport-Dugort QR code (above). All help is gratefully received. 
Thank you for all donations and support received to date. 



Christ Church, Castlebar  


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:

Pastoral care and enquiries:  

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

Popular posts from this blog

Inishbiggle: Images, and an article on the history of the Church of Ireland on the island

Image
  A few more images taken on Inishbiggle on Sat 15 Feb 2025, thanks mainly to Jim Waters, Westport, and an informative article (2013), below, by Patrick Comerford, on the history of the Church of Ireland on the island.  You can read the full unedited article, with images, here:  http://www.patrickcomerford.com/2013/05/a-history-of-church-of-ireland-on.html .  Shared with thanks to the author.     The freshly decorated interior and beautifully restored pews A history of the Church of Ireland on Inishbiggle  You can read this informative article  by Patrick Comerford,  in full, unedited, with images, here:  http://www.patrickcomerford.com/2013/05/a-history-of-church-of-ireland-on.html From a lecture by  Patrick Comerford  in Holy Trinity Church. Inishbiggle Island, given on Sunday 6 May 2013, as part of a guided walk on Inishbiggle Island led by Sheila McHugh during the ninth Annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend 2013. It wa...
Read more

Return to Inishbiggle, Sat 15 February 2025

Image
  It was especially joyful for a few of us from mainland Mayo to step foot again on Inishbiggle on 15th February, having been prevented by the weather from sailing on our last attempt at the end of November 2024. While on this occasion it was lashing in Limerick, wet in Westport, and raining cats and dogs in Castlebar, the sun was splitting the clouds gloriously on the approach to beautiful Biggle. Also uplifting was to arrive at the church and on entering to find it looking, if not transfigured, transformed - for example, with its newly-stripped and repolished pews, clean floors, doors, harmonica and walls, and a close-to-spotless vestry into the bargain. Hats off and enormous thanks to the church wardens for the hours of painstaking work - truly a labour of love for this precious and important place of gathering and worship, emanating from a sincere love for God and his people, of all faiths and persuasions. Holy Trinity Inishbiggle conveys the message “Come on in! There’s plenty...
Read more

In memoriam: Linda Bourke

Image
  "Safe in the arms of Jesus." It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the death of our friend and sister in Christ, Linda Bourke, faithful Westport parishioner (Holy Trinity Church), on Sunday 9th March, peacefully in Mayo University Hospital.  May she rest in peace and rise in glory.  Notice and arrangements can also be found here:   https://rip.ie/death-notice/linda-bourke-mayo-westport-587759 The death has occurred of Linda Bourke, Riverside, Clogher, Westport – peacefully.   Predeceased by her parents Alex & Frances & infant sister Elizabeth.   Deeply regretted by her sister Iris, extended family, relatives, neighbours, friends & her Westport Country Market Community.   AT REST   Reposing at McGing's Funeral Home (F28 RX58) on Tuesday (Mar 11th) from 11:30am until 12:30pm. THE PUBLIC QUEUE FOR ENTRY INTO THE FUNERAL HOME WILL NOW BE FROM THE SHOP STREET DIRECTION.   Funeral arriving to Holy Trinity Cemeter...
Read more