Today's Gospel, Sun 26 July. Where is our treasure?
Please scroll down for today's Gospel reading, notes, notices and general information.
Today in the Parishes, 26 July, REEK Sunday:
- 7.30am. Service On the Mountain, at the Oratory, led by Canon Alex Morahan
- 10am, Service of Morning Prayer, Christ Church Castlebar
- 11.30am, Service of Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Westport
- 1pm. REEK Sunday at the Foot of the Mountain. Prayers at the St Patrick statue, led by LLLMs Kenn McLaughlin and Brad Thien. Meet in the Murrisk Carpark at 1pm for the short walk.
- From 1pm. REEK Sunday, Not on the Mountain. After-Church Picnic (after 11.30am service in HTW), from 1pm, in the Garden of Philip and Kathleen Murphy:
The Old Schoolhouse, Moyna, Kilmeena, Westport, F28YA30
N.B. Please bring your own picnic. Please also note that, in the case of rain and a change in the weather we will not go to Kilmeena but instead have a PICNIC IN THE PEWS, in the church.
- 3pm. REEK Sunday at St Thomas's Dugort, Achill. Service of Evening Prayer, 3pm, led by Alan Cousins, LLLM.
by A.N. Mironov, 2020
Today's Gospel Matthew 13:44-52
[Jesus said] ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
Sacred Space
Notices and Notes for the Aughaval Parishes
All 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).
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism
The sacrament of Holy Baptism will be celebrated in Holy Trinity Westport, on Sunday 2 August. Please pray for baby Joe, his parents, sponsors and family, and for the congregation which will promise to support him in his life and faith.
September
Westport Festival of Chamber Music, 2026, in HTW:
- Friday (evening) 11 Sept, 8pm
- Saturday (afternoon) 12 Sept, 2pm
- Sunday (afternoon) 13 Sept, 3.30pm
Sat 12 Sept
Turlough Harvest Flower Festival, church open from 4pm
and
Turlough Harvest Thanksgiving Service, 7pm - Guest ecumenical 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.
A word of thanks: Holy Trinity Westport Church Fete
- 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
