Today's Gospel, Thurs 24 Sept. Herod's anxious curiosity

  Welcome. Please scroll down for notes and notices.

During the remainder of the week in the parishes: 

  • This evening, 24 Sept, 8pm in HTW, 'Forgotten Peoples' - concert by Chamber Choir Ireland. 
  • Sat, Inishbiggle Harvest. Meet at Doran's Point at 9.45am for ferry at 10am. 
  • Sat at 7pm, Turlough, Holy Communion/The Eucharist.
  • Next Sunday - services as usual, plus special visit and presentation to HTW,  11.30am, by Rory Brickenden (Mayo GAA winning Team member), followed by refreshments. Visitors and all in the community are invited and welcome.  

Today's Gospel   Luke 9:7-9

Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he tried to see him [Jesus].

Supposed site of the baptism of Jesus by John

Photo, 2009, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 

via Wikimedia Commons



Sacred Space

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

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-09-24/





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


News and Notices


From last Sunday's service in St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe, at which Barbara Sheppard and Alan Cousins (Westport-Dugort Union Parishes) received their Certificates in Christian Studies (Maynooth Pontifical University), and at which Alan with three others (- Kieran, Tita 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.

What's On?
Thursday 24 Sept at 8pm
Chamber Choir Ireland, 'Forgotten Peoples', concert in Holy Trinity Westport. 

Please note that this concert is a ticketed event by the Chamber Choir Ireland, with tickets available on Eventbrite (below) or at the door.
Forgotten Peoples | Chamber Choir Ireland and Gabriel Crouch Tickets, Thursday, September 24, 8 PM - 9:15 PM



Youth Night Out - Friday 25 September

Bowling and Food, Night, 7pm in Castlebar Leisure Centre ('Mayo Leisure Centre'). 
Gather (inside) from 6.30pm onwards, for registration, etc.
For more details, see below, or contact Steffi and Paul (+353 89 941 8165) or Revd Suzanne (+353 83 800 3233).
                                    
🎳🍕 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 are 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! 🙌💙
Everyone is welcome! 🎳✨

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 27 September

A special visit to Holy Trinity Church, Westport by winning GAA Team member and Westport parishioner, Rory Brickenden, to the 11.30am service, 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

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. 

Present needs in the Aughaval Parishes:

Help is invited in these specific areas:
  • Harvest decorating of each of the churches ahead of the Harvest Thanksgiving services - Castlebar, 4 Oct; Turlough, 11 Oct; Westport, 11 Oct; Dugort, 11 Oct. Inishbiggle, tbc.  Details for arrangements to follow, with the contact name and number of the person responsible for organising. (Or contact the rector, 083 800 3233.)
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. 
If you can give some time and energy to these please contact us. (aughaval@tuam.anglican.org / +353 83 800 3233). Thank you.

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. Please contact Revd Suzanne or one 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)


Prayers at this time are especially for:
- The people of Nepal in their distress and need
- Bereaved parents 
- For God's blessing on the Season of Creation (1st Sept - 4th Oct) 


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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