Today's Gospel, plus notices. "It is I. Do not be afraid."

 

Welcome!  Please scroll down for today's gospel reading, notes and notices.  


This weekend in the Aughaval Parishes

Saturday 18 April: 
  • 4.30pm, Holy Trinity Westport, Voices of Iberia & Eire - concert by Cór Mhaigh Eo, with visiting choir from Competa, Spain. 
  • 7pm, Turlough Church, Evening Prayer
Sunday 19 April:
  • 10am, Christ Church Castlebar, Morning Prayer. Preacher, Revd John Wesley
  • 11.30am, Holy Trinity Westport, Holy Communion, followed by tea
  • 3pm, St Thomas's Dugort, Achill, Evening Prayer

You're welcome!


Today's Gospel 

... [Jesus] said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

by Jim Padgett, 1984, from Read'n Grow Picture Bible Illustrations, 
Sweet Publishing, CC-BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons


   John 6:16–21

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.


Sacred Space

You can find a helpful prayer guide and thought for the day here: 

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-04-18


Christian Art

You can find a reflection on today's gospel here:





An Easter season video for the children:




Notices and information
Subject to change


This weekend in n Holy Trinity Church, Westport:
Voices of Iberia & Eire
- a concert by Cór Mhaigh Eo, with visiting choir from Competa, Spain
 4.30pm on Saturday 18 April
Doors open at 4pm. Cost: 10 euros 
Proceeds are towards Holy Trinity Church, Westport.


In the community

Sunday 19 April, 3pm - A special remembrance ceremony will take place at Aglish Graveyard. This event is to acknowledge "the lives of hundreds of people buried there, many of whom were patients of the former St Mary’s Hospital Castlebar, once known as the Castlebar Lunatic Asylum." (The Mayo News)


Photos: The Mayo News online, 14 April 2026



April is Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month. If you or someone close to you is affected by autism and would like to help us make our churches (- Christ Church Castlebar, Turlough Church, Holy Trinity Westport, and St Thomas's Dugort, Achill) more autism-friendly, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please drop the rector a line at aughaval@tuam.anglican.org or call us.


April is Autism Awareness Month
Banner at Carrowbeg House (St Mary's Church), Westport


Sunday Club

Our next Sunday Club will take place on 10 May, starting in the service at 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport. 


Confirmation preparation

Our next two sessions will be on 23 May and 6 June at 10am in the Rectory, Westport.


A Time to Heal

Sunday 24 May, 3pm, St Thomas's Dugort, Achill Island
You are warmly invited to this special event promoting healing and wholeness, run by the Church's Ministry of Healing, Ireland (CMHI). Approximately two hours long, including tea. Details to follow. Info., aughaval@tuam.anglican.org.
     

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 Saturday 18 April, 4.30pm. 
  • Louisburgh Concert: Wed 27 May, 7.30pm, a fundraising concert for Holy Trinity Westport, in Holy Trinity Westport. Please spread the word!
  • Carra Singers, concert in Christ Church, Castlebar, Thursday 4 June at 7.30/ 8pm 
  • Bella Capella, in Christ Church, Castlebar, Saturday 6 June. Details to follow.
  • This year's Blue Jazz Festival 'Gospel Hour' Service: Sunday 7 June, 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport. Bring your family and friends along for this fresh and uplifting time. 
  • Goethe Choir, Concert in Holy Trinity Westport (venue tbc), afternoon of 13 June at 3pm. Not to be missed. More info. to follow.
  • Westport Comhaltas Concert, Sat 20 June, in Holy Trinity Westport 
  • Scoil Acla Annual 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. 



Blessing of the Bikes 2026, took place on Sunday 12 April at Lecanvey. 
For some photos of this happy and special event, please see 
https://www.facebook.com/LecanveyCommunityCentre/posts/pfbid0suorCQf4FkCW9XvTeKKN8Mwymh4JqfQWAmN1nFyJJDWpmEHrLBrM7x7u5PCeDjWFl?wa_status_inline=true


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 

April - September inclusive
- Services weekly at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion

October - March inclusive
- 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion




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 and their upkeep 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



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