Today's Gospel, 30 August. On following Jesus


Welcome!  Please scroll down for today's Gospel reading, notes and notices.



Susie Fry (Castlebar) and Revd Carole Reynolds (Oughterard, Galway)
at yesterday's Faith in Bloom: Church Return to Nature conference



Today: 
  • Sunday 23 August, 10am, Christchurch Castlebar, Holy Communion
  • Sunday, 11.30am, Holy Trinity Westport, Holy Communion
  • Sunday, 3pm, St Thomas's Dugort, Achill, Evening Prayer
Next weekend in the parishes, 5-6 September: 
Blessing of the schoolbags, backpacks and laptop bags and their bearers
- Children and young people are invited to bring their schoolbags to the front of the church before or at the start of the service. 


Today's Gospel     Gospel Reading   Matthew 16: 21-28

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

 

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’


Sacred Space

You can find a gentle reflection and prayer guide here:


Notes and Notices

Prayer needs and requests: If you have prayer requests, please email us at aughaval@tuam.anglican.org. 

Today we pray especially for Nepal following the flooding. 


September

Select Vestry Meetings (- as above):

  • Castlebar, Tues 1 Sept, 7.30pm in the church
  • Westport-Dugort, Thurs 3 Sept, 7.30pm in the church (HTW)
  • Turlough, Sat 5 Sept, 8pm (/following the 7pm service) in the church

Wed 2 Sept

10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, in Holy Trinity, Westport, followed by coffee in the Clew Bay Hotel. Everyone is welcome. 

8pm, Online Prayer and Bible Reading.  Please scroll down for link. 


Sat 5 Sept, 3.30pmOutdoor Service, St Thomas's, Knappagh 
with Bishop Michael Burrows, and music by James Kilbane. 
Ecumenical visitors are especially welcome.


Sat 5 Sept and Sun 6 Sept: 



  Back to School Blessing of Schoolbags, Backpacks and their Bearers

  • Sat 5 Sept at 7pm in Turlough Church of Ireland
  • Sunday 6 Sept
    - 10am in Christchurch Castlebar
    - 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport
    - 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort




  


Westport Festival of Chamber Music, 2026, in HTW:
  • Friday (evening) 11 Sept, 8pm 
  • Saturday (afternoon) 12 Sept, 2pm
  • Sunday (afternoon) 13 Sept, 3.30pm

Booking is online through the WFoCM website.



 Sat 12 Sept  A warm invitation to Turlough Church


Turlough Harvest Festival of Flowers, church open from 4pm 

and Turlough Harvest Thanksgiving Service, 7pm, with guest ecumenical preacher, Fr Charlie McDonnell, Athenry (formerly Westport).

If you'd like to offer help please contact our Hon Sec, Fiona Kelly, fionafairkelly@gmail.com, or Heather Fair (number on request). 




Friday 18 Sept   Culture Night Concert, by Mist, in Holy Trinity, Westport, at 7pm. 


Mist will be back with us in HTW to perform on the evening of Friday 18 Sept, for a very special Culture Night concert. A note in advance, from Mist's director, Ian Leslie (pictured): 

"This will be a unique opportunity to support diversity and inclusion in our community and we are delighted that Holy Trinity will be the first to host such an important event in Westport."


              


Photos: Ian Leslie director (right), and members of Mist.



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 nourish his church and people.

 

If you are interested in exploring the Certificate in Christian Studies, or are interested in exploring training to serve in the grouped parishes as an LLLM (previously known as Parish Reader ministry) or in the diocese as a Diocesan Reader, please make an arrangement to speak with the Rector by emailing aughaval@tuam.anglican.org. 


Thursday 24 September, at 8pm. Chamber Choir Ireland, 'Forgotten Peoples', concert in Holy Trinity Westport. 



Friday 25 September
Youth Pizza (/food!) and Bowling Night, 7pm, Castlebar. Contact Steffi and Paul (+353 89 941 8165) for details. 

  


Friday 2 October - Save the date!
Quiz Night and Auction in aid of Holy Trinity Church, Westport, funds. 
In Clew Bay Hotel, Westport. 


Sat 3 October   Annual Blessing of the Animals, 2pm in Murrisk Carpark


Sunday 4 October, 10am, Castlebar Harvest Thanksgiving - Guest preacher Diocesan Reader, Alan Cousins


Sunday 4 October   YOUTH PRAISE Night - for the Young and Young at Heart!
7pm in Holy Trinity, Westport. For all in the community. All welcome.



Sunday 11 October  Harvest Thanksgiving Services  
  • Westport  11.30am - Guest preacher, Revd John Wesley
  • Dugort  3pm - Guest preacher, Revd Carole Reynolds
(Castlebar, usual service, 10am)

Congratulations to Robert Ferris (Westport) and Tara Lee (pictured), on their Marriage in St Mary's Church, on 27 August. Every blessing on their future together and on their families.



Congratulations to Isaac and Maisy 
who were married in Holy Trinity, Westport, 
on 22 August, a very happy and special day!




Thanks



 
Thanks to the team (pictured) who led last Sunday's Five-Minute-Muddy Church
at Christchurch, Castlebar: The next Castlebar Five-Minute-Muddy Church is planned for Sunday 6 Sept during the 10am service. 


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.

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

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 
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
September-June inclusive        
Every Wed from September-June inclusive, 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

Facebook page for the Aughaval group: https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes 
Facebook page for Holy Trinity, Westport    https://www.facebook.com/
Facebook page (new) for Christ Church, Castlebar: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592320012165
 

 


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