Today’s Gospel, Wed 23 June. Dogs, pearls, pigs, gates and roads.
Please scroll down for today's gospel reading, plus notes, notices, and expressions of gratitude.
St Thomas's Dugort, Achill
21 June 2026
Today's Gospel Matthew 7:6,12-14
[Jesus said] ‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
Sacred Space
A helpful prayer guide and some sound advice can be found here:
Christian Art
https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-7-6-12-14-2026/
A song for today
https://youtu.be/ib_GSMFLlRQ?si=SlqDPjwwE0gV772Z
Notices and notes
Request for voluntary help with parish graveyard tidying:
Monday 22 June and Tuesday 23 June, from 7pm at Holy Trinity Graveyard, Newport Road, Westport. Please bring your own equipment. Further info., please contact Holy Trinity Westport Church Wardens Shirley Larkin or George Keegan, or the Rector.
Members of the parish are kindly asked to give a few hours here and there over the summer weeks as they are able. Thank you.
Thank you!
- 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 Sat 20 June, in Holy Trinity Westport.
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.
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, 8pm
Saturday (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 everyone who supported the Confirmees on Sunday (14 June) and in the weeks and months of preparation, and to Michael our Bishop who confirmed them and blessed us all. Please pray for the newly confirmed young people:
Aradhana, Matilda, Christopher, Matthew, Miya, Eli, Kelly.
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 lived up to expectations.
This was a free concert with donations towards church repairs.
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 Holy Trinity Westport.
Sincere thanks for the very generous donations made by attendees towards the church repair fund. Cash donations towards the church restoration and repairs 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 to us, God's friendship towards us and God's forgiveness of us (human beings), with all our foolishness and foibles!
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. The cushion rentals on the day 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 Louisburgh Voices and ConTempo String Quartet for the stunning concert on 27 May. The amount raised after costs was a greatly appreciated 940 euros, plus online donations.
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, and to everyone who contributed to the ecumenical service, including Fr John Kenny and St Mary's parishioners. We were well blessed!
Castlebar parishioners, Revd John Wesley, Anhita, and their daughters,
with Bishop Michael, and Susie Fry, godparent, following Confirmation
on Sunday 14 June in Holy Trinity, Westport.
Regular Service Pattern in the Aughaval Parishes
Saturdays Weekly at 7pm:
- Holy Communion on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.
- Evening Prayer on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.
- 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
- 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
Wed at 8pm, via Zoom. Link:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1
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 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 +
Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes
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 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 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:
Giving towards the upkeep and restoration of the churches
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 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
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
Aughaval Parishes' website aughaval.tlk.ie
