Today's reading, 11 October, St Philip the Deacon

 Please scroll down for today's Bible reading plus notices.


Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
by Мастер Георгий, authors of Menologion of Basil II (circa 985 AC, Constantinople)
from the Menologion of Basileiou - 11th century illuminated Byzantine manuscript.
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8914456


Acts 8:26-40

 

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. 


Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:


‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
   and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
     so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
   Who can describe his generation?
     For his life is taken away from the earth.’


The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 


As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.





The Sam Maguire Cup, at Holy Trinity National School
with players Conal and Rory, on 9 October 2026,
plus (L-R) Bishop Michael, Revd Suzanne, and Principal Orla Brickenden.
Rory will be with us at the harvest Service in HTW today, 11 Oct, at 11.30am.
Please join us for the occasion, and/or afterwards for tea.



Christian Art



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


Notices
Subject to change

CONFIRMATION 2027
If you or your young person would like to explore the meaning of Confirmation, with a view to being confirmed in 2027, please let the rector (083 800 3233) know, preferably before the end of Monday, 12 October. Thank you. 

Sympathy 

Sincere sympathy on behalf of these parishes to Revd Dr Christine O'Dowd-Smyth on the recent death of her mother, Breda O'Dowd (née Moore), who was laid to rest on 8 Oct, in the Aughavale cemetery, Westport. 
May Breda rest in peace and rise in glory. 
Christine, who comes from Westport, preached for us recently in Holy Trinity Church. 


In the TLK Diocese 

Diocesan Synod - Sat 17 October

For any Diocesan Synodspersons who cannot attend, Please let the Rector and Hon Sec of the parish know (asap) in order to allow the Supplemental Synodsperson to substitute. Thank you.



Bishop Michael's Big Confirmation Day - Sat 24 Oct, Limerick. 
Highly recommended for all those confirmed in 2025 and 2026. 
If your young person would like to go along, please email Valerie at udyc.info@gmail.com


In the Aughaval Parishes

Remaining Harvest Thanksgiving Services, Sunday 11 October:
  • Westport Harvest 11.30am - Guest preacher, Revd John Wesley, and input from Westport Eco Congregation, represented by Sr Kathleen Friel.
  

Revd John Wesley, Castlebar, pictured with Susie and Suzanne


  • Dugort Harvest, Achill 3pm - Guest preacher, Revd Carole Reynolds, and input from Westport Eco Congregation, represented by Sr Kathleen Friel.
   
  Revd Carole Reynolds, Galway



Also on Sunday 11 October (as above): A visit to Holy Trinity 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 special occasion, when a presentation will be made. If you are a parishioner and are able to contribute a few biscuits or baked treats for the tea, these will be most welcome! Thank-you!  (Info., Shirley Kitterick)

  

Mayo GAA team member Rory Brickenden 
will be with us in Holy Trinity Westport on Sunday 11 Oct
for the Harvest Thanksgiving Service and Tea.
Pictured above and with parents Steve and Orla 
and Westport People's Church Warden, George, 9 Aug 2026.


Advent is coming!

Advent Sunday is this year on 29 November. The guest preacher on that date will be Ruth Cooke (Christian Aid Ireland) and the collection in the parishes will be toward the work of Christian Aid. 
  • First Sunday of Advent: 29 November 2026 (Start of Advent and the new liturgical year)
  • Second Sunday of Advent: 6 December 2026
  • Third Sunday of Advent: 13 December 2026 (Gaudete Sunday)
  • Fourth Sunday of Advent: 20 December 2026

For the diary:
Friday 18 December in Holy Trinity Westport, 7.30pm: 
An Evening of Carols with James Kilbane 
- a Christmas Concert in aid of St Thomas's Dugort 


St Thomas's friends, Tom, Carolyn, Pony, James and Stuart
 after Harvest Thanksgiving 2024 in Dugort


Expressions of thanks


Thanks... to everyone who supported the Blessing of the Animals on 3 Oct.



Thanks.... for a wonderful Harvest Thanksgiving, in beautifully prepared Christchurch Castlebar, and to preacher, Alan.  


 

Thanks.... to all who supported the YOUTH PRAISE Night in Holy Trinity, Westport, on 4 Oct, and especially to friends from Amazing Grace Fellowship (Westport), United Church Castlebar, and Castlebar Christian Fellowship, for providing the music and leading the sung praise. 


Thanks to all those who supported the Blessing of the Marriage 
of James and Zara on their 1st anniversary, on 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 was 590 euros. 

For info. on getting involved in the life of the churches, and on finances and giving, please see below.


A bit about Biggle, from the IT



The Irish Times, 10 Oct 2026, p5



Present pressing 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 to beautify the churches? 


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)- Christine Gibbs (Inishbiggle)

  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, link below. Please message us (+353  838003233) if you need the Meeting ID and Passcode.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1

Meeting chat link
https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/jc/82781900766



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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