Today's gospel, 30 May. A question of authority
Please scroll down for today's gospel reading, notes and notices.
This weekend:
Sat 30 May
- Evening Prayer in Turlough Church, 7pm
Sunday 31 May, Trinity Sunday
- Christ Church Castlebar, 10am
- Holy Trinity Westport, 11.30am
- St Thomas's Dugort, Achill, 3pm
Today's gospel Mark 11:27-33
Again they came to Jerusalem. As he [Jesus] was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’
Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’
Christian Art
https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-11-27-33-2026/
Sacred Space
You can find a short prayer guide with a helpful reflection here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-05-30/
"When they put their minds to it, the Pharisees had a great talent for setting people against each other. They tried to engage Jesus in discourse and unrest, but he turned the trouble back on them. When we feel ourselves producing more disharmony than concord, we pray that you may give us the wisdom which you yourself displayed so often to create goodwill and benevolence instead of strife.
Notes and Notices
Subject to change
Our thanks to Louisburgh Voices and ConTempo String Quartet.
Thank you!
The Church’s Ministry of Healing Ireland
CMHI invites everyone to sign up for its new series, God’s Compassion; Self-Compassion, created and facilitated by Lydia Monds.
The series offers four live sessions on Wednesdays from 17 June to 8 July, 7.30-8.15pm, and four pre-recorded videos, available to watch at any time.
When we criticise ourselves harshly for “not being good enough,” we deny ourselves the lovingkindness that God offers, and which never falters or fails.
Join Lydia as she gently guides us through prayerful practices that can help us to follow the call to live like Christ, who spoke to those he met from a place of radical compassion. Book via www.ministryofhealing.ie or email lydia@ministryofhealing.ie
Carra Singers, in concert, Thurs 4 June at 7.30pm,
Sun 14 June, Confirmation Service, 3pm in HTW, for all the parishes of the Aughaval Group. Bishop Michael Burrows will confirm and preside at the Holy Communion. Our final two preparation sessions will be on Sat 23 May and Sat 6 June at 10am in the Rectory, Westport.
For all the children and young people of the Aughaval Parishes,
their families and friends.
Parents are welcome to stay for the event.
Westport Festival of Chamber Music
Westport Festival of Chamber Music, 2026, in HTW:
Bringing faith to life through Muddy Church
‘Muddy Church’, ‘Messy Church’ and 'Forest Church' are fun yet serious all-age faith-building innovations, tried-and-tested in other parishes and places over many years. With the help of our Youth and Children's Ministry team, we plan to introduce variations and aspects of these expressions in the parishes, as occasional and supplemental to traditional services in these summer months, for the benefit especially of our children and young families.
Please continue to pray for our young people, and, 'Watch this (outdoor) space!'
- 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, followed by tea/coffee.
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, followed by tea/coffee.
- Wednesdays at 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, followed by coffee (from 11.05am) in the Clew Bay Hotel. These gatherings are valuable and uplifting times of fellowship and friendship. You're welcome to drop in!
Dugort, Achill
- 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion
Services are followed by tea/coffee occasionally.
Online Prayer and Bible Reading
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 +
Westport-Dugort Union of 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)
Turlough Church of Ireland Parish Church
https://www.idonate.ie/cause/TurloughChurchofIreland
Turlough Parish Church*
(Info. Karin Shaw, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)
*Turlough Parish Church is registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under the Tuam, Killala and Achonry charity No. 20015237 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7241.
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.
Revd Suzanne Cousins
Tel. +353 83 800 3233 / +44 77 1303 7447
Aughaval Parishes' website aughaval.tlk.ieFacebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes
