Today's Gospel, Sunday 4 Oct.

 

Please scroll down for today's gospel reading and notices.

Today in the Aughaval Parishes, Sun 4 Oct: 

  • 10am, Christ Church Castlebar Harvest Thanksgiving Service
  • 11.30am, Holy Trinity Westport, Service of Holy Communion (The Eucharist)
  • 7pm, 'Youth Praise: For the young and young at heart', in HTW. (More below.


Today's Gospel   Matthew 21: 33-46

[Jesus said] ‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’


Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’ 


When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Sacred Space

You can find today's prayer guide and short devotional thought here:

St Francis of Assisi
The oldest know portrait

Prayer of St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.

O Lord, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in forgiving that one is forgiven,
it is in dying that one awakens to eternal life.



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


Notices
Subject to change

In the Church of Ireland

A new bishop for Cork, Cloyne and Ross... Congratulations and every blessing to the Rt Revd Andrew Orr and all in his diocese.


The Rt Revd Andrew Orr with Archbishop Michael Jackson
following the Consecration service.
Photo credit: United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough


In the TLK Diocese 

Diocesan Synod - 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.

Diocesan Confirmation Day - Sat 24 Oct, in Limerick. For all those confirmed in 2026. See posters in the churches. More info to follow.


In the Aughaval Parishes



Sat 3 Oct: Annual Blessing of the Animals, 2pm in Murrisk Carpark. 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 from 11am. 

Sunday 4 October 
YOUTH PRAISE Night - for the Young and Young at Heart!
7pm in Holy Trinity, Westport. All welcome.  
Music and praise will be led by friends from Amazing Grace Fellowship, Westport, and Castlebar Christian Fellowship.



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

Sunday 11 October - NB change of date.
A special visit to Holy Trinity 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.




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


Expressions of thanks


Thanks to all those who supported the Blessing of the Marriage 
of James and Zara Weaver, on their 1st anniversary, 
on Friday 2 Oct in HTW.

Thanks to those who organised and ran an excellent Quiz Night in aid of HTW restoration funds on 2 Oct in Clew Bay Hotel, and to everyone who came along and joined in the fun!  The amount raised will be publicised asap!


Thanks once more to all who made last weekend's Inishbiggle Harvest Thanksgiving Service and outing such a joyful occasion.



Thank you to everyone who supported the Youth Night Out in Castlebar, on 25 Sept. The young people and the not-so-young-people(!!) had a ball! 



Present pressing and practical needs and opportunities to serve 
in the Aughaval Parishes

Help is needed and invited in these specific areas in the parishes:

Fundraising and Social
  • Westport-Dugort Union of parishes is in need of volunteers to help with Fundraising towards the funding of ministry and the upkeep of all the churches and graveyards. 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. 
  • Holy Trinity Inishbiggle is in need of a party of volunteers to undertake 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. 
Flowers!
  • Do you have a love of flowers and floral decorations? 

If you can give some time and energy to any of these areas, please contact the Rector (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.


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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