Today’s Gospel, and Notices, 13 July 2026.
Please scroll down for today's gospel reading, notes, notices and general information.
Let us Beat Swords into Plowshares,sculpture by Yevgeny Vuchetich, 1959.Gift of the Soviet union to the United Nations. Photo by Neptuul, Wikimedia CommonsCreative Commons Attribution,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32412758
Swords into Ploughshare sculpture,Benburb Priory, Co TyroneArtist unknown
Today's Gospel reading Matthew 10:34-11:1
‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’
Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’
Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
Wed 22 July, 7pm, Gentle Prayer and Friendship Walk,
gathering at the carpark in Turlough Museum and National Country Park at 7pm. Everyone is invited and welcome.
All in the parishes are invited to a special meeting on Tues 28 July in Christ Church Castlebar, gathering at 7pm for tea and 7.30pm for a short presentation and discussion on the ideas, potential and challenges contained in this inspiring and helpful recently published book, 'Havens for Nature'.
Please let us know if you intend to come along. Contact: Susie Fry or Brid McAuley (- numbers on request), or Revd Suzanne (details below).
Westport Festival of Chamber Music, 2026, in HTW:
All in Holy Trinity Westport.
September: Save the date(s)
Sat 12 Sept
Turlough Harvest Flower Festival, church open from 4pm
and
Harvest Thanksgiving Service, 7pm - guest preacher Fr Charlie McDonnell, Athenry (formerly Westport).
Details to follow nearer the date. If in the meantime you'd like to offer help please contact our Hon Sec, Fiona Kelly, fionafairkelly@gmail.com, or Heather Fair (number on request).
Sunday 20 Sept Commissioning of new Diocesan Readers
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, pictured below).
This will also be the occasion for the Certificate in Christian Studies Graduation. This course has recently been completed by Barbara Sheppard (LLLM) and by Alan. Congratulations to them both, and may God continue to bless and use them to bless and build his church and people.
- 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, September-June inclusive, 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, September-June inclusive
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
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
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.
Tel. +353 83 800 3233 / +44 77 1303 7447
Aughaval Parishes' website aughaval.tlk.ie
