Today’s gospel, notes and notices, Friday 21 August
Please scroll down for today's Gospel reading, notes and notices.
This weekend in the parishes:
Saturday 22 August,
The Marriage of Isaac Brickenden and Maisy Dunne. 1pm in Holy Trinity Church, Westport
- Saturday, 7pm, Service of Holy Communion in Turlough Parish Church
- Sunday 23 August, 10am, Morning Prayer in Christchurch Castlebar
- Sunday, 11.30am, Service of Holy Communion in Holy Trinity Westport
- Sunday, 3pm, Service of Holy Communion in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill
You're welcome!
Today's Gospel Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that he [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Sacred Space
You can find a gentle prayer guide and reflection here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-08-21/
Christian Art
You can find a helpful reflection on today's gospel here:
Photograph of the Golden Rule sign above the employee's entrance to the Acme Sucker Rod Factory in Toledo, Ohio. The business was owned by Toledo Mayor Samuel M. Jones who was known for his fair treatment of his employees, giving them a living wage and benefits unheard of at the time. Photo from April, 1913 issue of American Magazine. (See https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159657719.)Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Anglican Communion online
Anglican Communion online
Notes and Notices
Sat 22 August, Marriage:
Isaac and Maisy, in Holy Trinity Westport
Prayerful good wishes to Isaac and Maisy
in all their preparations for the day and occasion,
and every blessing on all their future days together.
Sat 29 August Faith in Bloom: Church Return to Nature Conference,
at Knock Shrine, 10am - 3pm
Details here:
In memoriam
We extend our ongoing deepest sympathy on behalf of the parishes to Margery and the family of Thomas (Tom) Bennett, of Castlebar Parish, who died on 13 August.
Tom's funeral took place on 16 August in Christchurch Castlebar and was followed by the Committal in Turlough (Church of Ireland) graveyard. Thank you to everyone who showed great kindness and support to Tom and his family during his illness, to the wonderful staff of Mayo Hospice, and to all who have supported Margery and the family in these last few days since Tom's passing.
May Tom rest in peace and rise in glory +
September
Select Vestry Meetings:
- Castlebar, Tues 1 Sept, 7.30pm in the church
- Westport-Dugort, Thurs 3 Sept, 7.30pm in the church
- Turlough, Sat 5 Sept, 8pm (/following the 7pm service) in the church
Sat 5 Sept, 3.30pm,
An 'Indian Summer'
Outdoor Service at St Thomas's, Knappagh
with Bishop Michael Burrows,
and music by our good friend James Kilbane.
Ecumenical visitors are invited and 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 at
- 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport
- 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort
Services are "all-age" and will be followed by refreshments.
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).
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. The above poster by Heather.)
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 build 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.
Friday 25 September
Youth Pizza and Bowling Night, 7pm, Castlebar.
Details to follow. 
Friday 2 October - Save the (provisional) date!
Quiz Night and Auction in aid of Holy Trinity Church, Westport, funds.
Expression of thanks: Holy Trinity Westport Church Fete
The Westport-Dugort Select Vestry and Fete Organising Team expresses sincere gratitude on behalf of the parish, for all who supported the Fete (18.07.26) at HTW. It was a great success from every perspective!
The total amount raised in cash was an incredible €3181.
A further approximate
€100 has been donated online (- exact amount to be confirmed).
Special thanks to Mist who played during the afternoon.
Mist will perform in Holy Trinity Westport in a Concert for Culture Night, 18 Sept.
Comhghairdeas!
Congratulations to the team and management, to all the players and their families, on Mayo's win of the All-Ireland Senior GAA Football Final in Croke Park, Dublin, on Sunday 26 July 2026, Reek Sunday, after a 75 year wait. Special congratulations to our own Rory Brickenden, Westport (pictured), and to all his family and friends who supported him.
Rory raises the Sam Maguire cup, in Croke Park.
Photo, Holy Trinity N.S. Facebook page, 27 July 2026.
Beautiful flowers, in HTW, in Mayo colours, arranged by Tracy Florist
Inishbiggle Land-and-Sea Pilgrimage
Thank you to Inishbiggle churchwarden Christine and islanders who prepared the church and school and welcomed the party of pilgrims on Saturday 8 August, some of whom are pictured, below, including Bishop Michael and canine pilgrim Luna!
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.
*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
- 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
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:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1
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
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
