Friday 25 Sept. The most important question

 

Welcome. Please scroll down for notes and notices.

This weekend in the parishes: 

  • This evening, Fri 25 Sept, Youth Bowling & Food, meet at 6.45pm at Mayo Leisure Centre, Castlebar, for 7pm start. (More details below.)
  • Sat, Inishbiggle Harvest. Meet at Doran's Point at 9.45am for ferry at 10am. 
  • Sat at 7pm, Turlough, Holy Communion/The Eucharist.
  • Sunday, 10am, Morning Prayer, Christchurch Castlebar, followed by tea.
  • Sunday, 11.30am, Holy Communion/The Eucharist, Holy Trinity Westport, followed by tea.
  • Sunday, 3pm, Holy Communion/The Eucharist, St Thomas's Dugort.
You're welcome!


Today's Gospel   Luke 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’

  

Sacred Space

You can find today's prayer guide with a short helpful devotional thought here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-09-25/


Christian Art

You can find a reflection on today's gospel here:





Prayers at this time are especially for:
- The people of Nepal, Sudan, Iran, Yemen and Ukraine in their ongoing distress and need due to war of disaster;
- All bereaved parents and families; 
- For God's blessing on the Season of Creation (1st Sept - 4th Oct) 

If you have prayer requests, please email us at aughaval@tuam.anglican.org or message 083 800 3233. 


News and Notices
Subject to change


From last Sunday's service in St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe, 
at which Barbara Sheppard and Alan Cousins (Westport-Dugort Union) received their Certificates in Christian Studies (Maynooth Pontifical University), and at which Alan with three others (- Kieran, Rita and Jessica) from the TLK Diocese were commissioned by the Bishop to serve as Diocesan Readers. 
Congratulations and love to all! More photos can be found on our Facebook pages. Pease see bottom of this page.


Thank you to everyone who supported and attended the (incredible) Chamber Choir Ireland, 'Forgotten Peoples', concert, conducted by Gabriel Crouch, in HTW on 24 Sept. And thanks to all who hired cushions or made donations towards the church repairs. (Amount raised to be published asap.)

Youth Night Out - Friday 25 Sept
Bowling and Food, Night, 7pm in Castlebar Leisure Centre ('Mayo Leisure Centre'). 
Gather (inside) from 6.45pm, for registration, etc. Details, below.
                                    
🎳🍕 YOUTH NIGHT OUT! 🍕🎳
Hey everyone! 👋😊
You’re invited to a fun-filled Youth Night Out 
with bowling, food, games and great company! 🎳🍔🍕🎉
📅 Friday 25th September ⏰ 7–9pm
📍 Castlebar Leisure Centre
🌟 All young people from age 10 upwards welcome! 🌟
💚 There is NO COST for young people.
Parents/guardians, please note: all young people/children must be registered, 
and no unaccompanied drop-offs are permitted.
📞 More info: Call or message Steffi Jebaraj on +353 89 941 8165
Come along, bring your friends and enjoy a great night! 🙌💙


Sat 26 September    
  • Inishbiggle Harvest, Service 11.30am in the church. For those travelling from the mainland, please gather by 9.45am at Doran's Point, Ballycroy, for ferry (currach) at 10am. Please let us know if you are planning to come (+353 83 800 3233). This will be an ecumenical and cross-community Harvest, and everyone is invited and welcome. 


Sunday 11 October - NB change of date
A special visit to Holy Trinity Church, Westport by winning GAA Team member and Westport parishioner, Rory Brickenden, to the 11.30am service on Sunday 11th October, followed by tea. Please come along if you can for this extra-special occasion! 


Remaining Harvest Thanksgiving Services
Sunday 4 October  
  • Castlebar Harvest 10am - Guest preacher, Diocesan Reader, Alan Cousins
Sunday 11 October  
  • Westport Harvest 11.30am - Guest preacher, Revd John Wesley
  • Dugort Harvest, Achill 3pm - Guest preacher, Revd Carole Reynolds

Turlough's Harvest Festival
You can find more photos from Turlough's Harvest Festival of Flowers (Sat 12 Sept) on the parish's new Facebook page ('Turlough Parish Church') or at this link, below:

https://aughaval.tlk.ie/2026/09/harvest-festival-of-flowers-at-turlough.html


Friday 2 October 
Blessing of a Marriage, James and Zara Weaver, 5.30pm in Holy Trinity, Westport

Friday 2 October 
Quiz Night in aid of Holy Trinity Westport Church restoration funds. 
7.30pm in the Clew Bay Hotel, Westport. All welcome. 
Info. on request (+353 83 800 3533).



Sat 3 October Annual Blessing of the Animals, 2pm in Murrisk Carpark. 
Don't miss this heart-warming event. Come along, with or without a pet. You too will be blessed!


Sunday 4 October Harvest Thanksgiving, Castlebar 10am - Guest preacher, Diocesan Reader, Alan Cousins.  Preparation of the church - Sat 3 Oct. (Please contact for arrangements.) 

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.
We are so grateful to friends from Amazing Grace Fellowship who will be providing the music and leading the praise. 



Diocesan Synod 
This year's Diocesan Synod is on Sat 17 October. All Diocesan Synodspersons are requested to attend. For any who  can't attend, the Rector and Hon Sec of the parish ought to be informed (asap) in order to allow the Supplemental Synodsperson to substitute. Thank you.


Present practical needs and opportunities to serve 
in the Aughaval Parishes

Help is invited in these specific areas:

Fundraising and Social
  • Westport-Dugort Union of parishes is in need of volunteers to help with Fundraising. This work has a strong social and community-orientated aspect to it
Maintenance 
  • Westport-Dugort Union of parishes is in need of volunteers to help with light and occasional tidying and maintenance work, in the church grounds and graveyards.
  • St Thomas's Dugort is in need of an indoor cleaning session. 

Health & Safety

Westport-Dugort parishes are in need of people with an eye for H&S to help us meet safety standards at each of the churches and or churchyards. 


If you can give some time and energy to these please contact Revd Suzanne (aughaval@tuam.anglican.org / +353 83 800 3233) or any of the church wardens - numbers on request:

- Shirley Larkin or George Keegan (HTW)
- Kirsty Sweet or Willem van Goor (St Thomas's Dugort)
- Tom Fabby or Tom Kitterick (Knappagh)

  Thank you.





Thanks following Westport Festival of Chamber Music



Thanks to everyone in the Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes who worked hard to accommodate Westport Festival of Chamber Music concerts in HTW and to welcome musicians, attendees, guests and visitors. 
Photos: Westport Festival of Chamber Music


THANKS
Sincere thanks to Mist Ensemble, for a wonderful Culture Night Concert on Friday 18 Sept, in Holy Trinity Church, Westport - to performers, organisers and supporters, and to all who made donations towards Church repairs. The amount donated in cash on the evening was €352, which is greatly appreciated, plus online donations (- statement with amount will be available to us from iDonate in mid-late October). 



Regular times of Services
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. A fresh link will be published ahead of the meeting.


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. 

https://www.idonate.ie/donate/cause/WestportDugortParishes


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  

https://www.idonate.ie/cause/ChristChurchCastlebar


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

https://www.idonate.ie/cause/TurloughChurchofIreland


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  diocesansecretary@tlk.ie, 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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