Today’s Gospel, 24 June. The Birth of John the Baptist

 

Please scroll down for today's gospel reading, notes, notices and some photos from recent events. 



Wed, 10.30 in HTW - Midweek Holy Communion, followed by coffee in the Clew Bay Hotel, James Street, Westport. All welcome.

Wed at 8pm, Online Prayer and Bible Reading, via Zoom. Link:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1

* Please note that Midweek services (Wed morning in HTW and Wed evening online) will stop during July and August and resume in September.


The Nativity of John the Baptist 

by Jacopo Pontormo, 1526

 Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons



Today's Gospel    Luke 1: 57-66, 80

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.  

Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.



Sacred Space

A helpful prayer guide and some sound advice can be found here:


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-57-66-80-2026/


A song 

https://youtu.be/ib_GSMFLlRQ?si=SlqDPjwwE0gV772Z



Notices, notes and a few photos


Sat 18 July
12 noon - 3pm, at Holy Trinity Westport
Church Fete
in the church grounds.
A fundraiser event towards church repairs.




Wed 22 July

Gentle Friendship and Prayer Walk, 

starting in Turlough Park at 7pm.  Everyone is invited and welcome!



REEK Sunday, 26 July


REEK Sunday On the Mountain
Service at the Oratory, 10.30am, led by Canon Alex Morahan

REEK Sunday at the Foot of the Mountain
Prayers at the St Patrick statue - 'tbc'

REEK Sunday Not on the Mountain
Friends and congregation of Holy Trinity Westport are kindly invited to 
an After-Church Picnic (after the 11.30am service in HT Church) 
from 1pm onwards, in the Garden of Philip and Kathleen Murphy,
The Old Schoolhouse, Moyna, Kilmeena, Westport, F28YA30.Sincere thanks in advance to Philip and Kathleen for their generous hospitality.
N.B. Please bring your own picnic.




Sat 8 August, Return to Inishbiggle 
A mini-pilgrimage with Bishop Michael, 
including The Service of Holy Communion in the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Meet at Doran's Point, Ballycroy at 9.45am for 10am departure to the island. 
Please bring a packed lunch and water, weatherproof clothing and sturdy footwear. 
To book your place on the currach, email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org, 
or call/ message Suzanne on +353 83 800 3233


For the diary:
St Thomas's Knappagh


Sat 5 Sept, 3.30pm, 'Indian Summer' Outdoor Service 
at St Thomas's Knappagh, with Bishop Michael Burrows
and music and singing led by our good friend James Kilbane. 



Westport Festival of Chamber Music, 2026, in HTW:Friday (evening) 11 Sept, 8pmSaturday (afternoon) 12 Sept, 2pm
Sunday (afternoon) 13 Sept, 3.30pm
All in Holy Trinity Westport. Details to follow. 


September: Save the date(s)!  


Sat 19 Sept

Turlough Harvest Flower Festival. Details to follow.


Sunday 20 Sept

Bishop Michael will be commissioning new Diocesan Readers on 20 Sept at 5pm in St Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe. Amongst those to be commissioned is Alan Cousins (LLLM - Lay Local Liturgical Minister). 

This will also be the occasion for the Certificate in Christian Studies Graduation. This course has recently been completed by Barbara Sheppard and Alan Cousins, both LLLMs. Congratulations to them both and well done on all the hard work!



Expressions of gratitude

  •     Thanks to the Youth & Children's Team, and to attending children and parents/grandparents for making our Super Heroes Holiday Club such a good, happy and valuable time. Thanks also to Holy Trinity NS for use of the hall.




  •     Thanks to everyone who helped with hosting the Westport Comhaltas (traditional music concert), on 20 June, in Holy Trinity Westport. 

  • Thanks to everyone who supported the Confirmees on 14 June and in months of preparation, and to Bishop Michael who confirmed them and blessed us all. Please pray for the newly confirmed young people - Aradhana, Matilda, Christopher, Matthew, Miya, Eli, Kelly. 

Castlebar parishioners, Revd John Wesley, his wife Anhita, and their daughters, 
with Bishop Michael, and Susie Fry, godparent, 
following Confirmation on Sunday 14 June in Westport.


  • Thank you to the Goethe Choir for a remarkable concert, on 13 June in Holy Trinity Westport, Conductor John Dexter. Combining classical Elizabethan choral music with traditional Irish pieces, plus choral works by Shaun Davey and others, the concert exceeded expectations.
This was a free concert with donations towards church repairs.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LoPiMPK8x/


  • Thank you to Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, and to the Alex Leach Band and members for the uplifting 'Gospel Hour' Service, on 7 June in HTW.  Sincere thanks for the generous donations made by attendees towards the church repair fund. Cash donations came to an incredible 1,745.88 euros.
Most important, is that there was a spirit of joy and genuine worship, and of quiet thankfulness for God's faithfulness, forgiveness and friendship.




  • Thank you! Thank you to Cór Mhaigh Eo and Coro de Cómpeta (Spain) and to all who supported the Voices of Iberia & Eire concert on 18 April. Cushion rentals raised €206.40 towards Holy Trinity repair funds, and the concert raised an impressive €400. Sincere thanks to Cór Mhaigh Eo and Coro de Cómpeta and to all who supported!

  • Thank you!  Thank you to the wonderful Louisburgh Voices and the beautiful ConTempo String Quartet for the stunning concert on 27 May. The amount raised after costs was a greatly appreciated 940 euros, plus online donations which will be published next month (July). 
  • Thanks also to all in the community who came along to HTW on 28 May to give thanks for 40 years of Westport Country Market, including Fr John Kenny and St Mary's parishioners. We were well blessed!




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, 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 
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

Services are followed by tea/coffee occasionally. 


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 and restoration 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 - their own or that of the Diocese (of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe) - 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 +


QR codes and links

Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes
- includes Holy Trinity Westport, St Thomas's Dugort, and Holy Trinity Inishbiggle. 


Westport-Dugort Parishes* 
(Info. Babs Strutt, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request) 

*Westport-Dugort Union of COI Parishes are 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.

Sponsorship invited: 
If you are able to contribute to the fundraising efforts towards the next stage of repair works to 'HTW', or if you would like information on the project, 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). 
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


Turlough Parish Church*
(Info. Karin Shaw, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)

*Turlough COI Parish is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20207056.

Congratulations, thank you, and well done to the Turlough CRA team who succeeded in obtaining this important status for the parish. 




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 is in process of applying for its own CRA registration number. In the interim the parish is 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. 




Pastoral care and enquiries:

Revd Suzanne Cousins
Rector, Aughaval Group of Parishes, 
United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland  


Tel. +353 83 800 3233  / +44 77 1303 7447 
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Aughaval Parishes' website  aughaval.tlk.ie

 

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