Today’s Gospel, Sunday 12 July. "A sower went out to sow." Sow what?
Please scroll down for today's gospel reading, notes, notices and general information.
Gordon Castle Walled Gardens,Moray, Scotland
Services this weekend in the parishes:
Saturday7pm, Evening Prayer in Turlough
Sunday- 10am, Morning Prayer in Christ Church, Castlebar,
- 11.30am, Holy Communion, in Holy Trinity, Westport
- 3pm, Evening Prayer in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill
- 10am, Morning Prayer in Christ Church, Castlebar,
- 11.30am, Holy Communion, in Holy Trinity, Westport
- 3pm, Evening Prayer in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill
Today’s Gospel Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying:
‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’
‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’
Sacred Space
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.
- Thanks to the Youth & Children's Team, and to attending children and parents/grandparents for making our Super Heroes Holiday Club such a 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. Our thanks to Westport Comhaltas for the donation of €200.
- Thank you 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 continue to 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. Donations on the day towards church repairs totalled a magnificent €1362.
- 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 totalled a very generous €1,745.88.
- 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 ConTempo String Quartet for the stunning concert on 27 May. The amount raised after costs was a greatly appreciated €940, plus online donations which will be published this 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!
- 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
