Today's Gospel. Blessings and woes

Please scroll down for today's gospel plus information and notices.


You are warmly invited to any of the services this weekend in the Parishes - led by Alan Cousins, Diocesan Reader.

  • Sat at 7pm in Turlough Church - Remembering Our Loved Ones
  • Sun 10am in Christ Church, Castlebar, Morning Prayer, followed by tea/coffee
  • Sun 11.30am in Holy Trinity, Westport, Morning Prayer, followed by tea/coffee
  • Sun 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill, Evening Prayer, followed by tea & coffee


Church of The Forty-Nine Martyrs of Scetis, 
at Saint Macarius the Great Monastery, 
located on the desert road between Cairo and Alexandria. 

Today's Gospel  Luke 6:20-26

Then he [Jesus] looked up at his disciples and said:

‘Blessed are you who are poor,
   for yours is the kingdom of God.
‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
   for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
   for you will laugh.

‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
‘But woe to you who are rich,
   for you have received your consolation.
‘Woe to you who are full now,
   for you will be hungry.
‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
   for you will mourn and weep.

‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.


Sacred Space

A devotional aid and short reflection can be found here:



Christian Art

A helpful reflection on today's gospel can be found on the Christian Art website.


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

Note 
If you find any of the gospel readings on our website difficult or unsettling, please feel free to contact us (email, aughaval@tuam.anglican.org). There is also opportunity to discuss the readings at our Wednesday evening online Prayer and Bible Reading meeting - details below.


Notes and Notices
for the Aughaval Parishes
Subject to change 

Remembering Our Loved Ones, Turlough - a service of personal remembrance and thanksgiving, Sat 7 November at 7pm, led by Alan Cousins, Diocesan Reader. Everyone is welcome.


Castlebar Community Remembrance Service, in Christchurch Castlebar


Castlebar Community Remembrance Service  
Wed 11 November at 11am in Christchurch Castlebar
In honour those who lost their lives in two world wars, and to pray for peace. 
Everyone is invited and welcome.


UDYC Multi-activity Day Trip to Galway, Sat 14 November, for children from 3rd - 6th Class. Booking is by 9th November. Email: udyc.info@gmail.com. 



Return to Inishbiggle, Sat 28 November - subject to sea and weather conditions. 


After Harvest Service, Sept 2026, Holy Trinity, Inishbiggle


Turlough All-age Service, Sat 28 November, 7pm in the church



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 collections in the parishes will be toward the work of Christian Aid. 

This is Ruth speaking back in Sept 2025:

https://fb.watch/KAL4AV-LIU/

  • 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

  • Friday 4 Dec, Christmas concert by Bella Capella, 7.30pm (tbc) in Christchurch Castlebar 
  • Community Carol Service, Castlebar, Monday 7 December (Time tbc.)
- Traditional Christmas Carol Service ('Nine Lessons and Carols') for all in the Community, with Castlebar Concert Band, Monday 7 December. (Time tbc.)
  • An Evening of Carols with James Kilbane, Friday 18 December in Holy Trinity Westport, 7.30pm - 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

  • Christmas concerts by Chapel Street Gospel Choir, Sun 20 Dec, 5pm and 8pm in Christchurch Castlebar

Other matters

The Church of Ireland-with-Church Missionary Society Ireland's Inter Faith Learning Pilgrimage is taking place this week in Cairo. Please pray that the learning undertaken will be of longterm benefit to our communities, churches and religious communities, our families and places of work and education. You can see some photos on the parishes' Facebook pages, e.g.,




Present practical needs and opportunities to serve in the Aughaval 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.
Revd Suzanne, on behalf of the Select Vestries


Regular times of Services
(Subject to change)
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!
(Please note, no midweek service on 21 Oct.)

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 (unless notice is given) from September-June inclusive, at 8pm, via Zoom, link below. 
Please message us (+353 83 800 3233) if you need the Meeting ID and Passcode.


Wednesdays at 8pm, via Zoom, link below:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1

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

Please message us (+353 83 800 3233) if you need the Meeting ID and Passcode.



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 recently 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. 


Graveyard Regulations
Church of Ireland
Diocese of Tuam, Killala & Achonry

Diocesan Churchyard Regulations

(Regulations are based on Management of Burial Grounds – Chapter XII of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland)

* Before any burial takes place, permission must be received from the Rector/Priest-In-Charge (PinC) and Churchwardens.
* There must be no pre-booking of grave plots.
* The place of burial in a churchyard is entirely at the discretion of the Rector/PinC and Churchwardens.
* Fees are charged for the purchase of graves and the re-opening of graves.
    (Purchase of graves = right to bury, not ownership).

Recommended fee for new grave – single plot €1,500, double plot €2,500.

Recommended fee for permission to re-open a grave €250.

(No fees for parishioners who belong to any of the parishes of the Group/Union and have contributed at least €1,500 over the past three years – 50% for those below this amount and for former parishioners.

Waiving of fees is entirely at the discretion of the Rector/PinC and Churchwardens.

* Trees or shrubs should not be planted on any grave.
* Plastic or glass ornaments or wreaths should be forbidden.
* Artificial grass should be forbidden.
* Burial of Ashes – Ashes must be buried in a grave and may not be scattered anywhere in the churchyard.

Recommended fee for permission to re-open a grave €100.

(For parishes where there is a designated area for the burial of ashes – cost per plot €250 – each plot a single burial only. Fee exemptions for parishioners apply.)

By order of the Select Vestry.



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:
Facebook page for Holy Trinity, Westport:

Facebook page for Christ Church, Castlebar:

Facebook page for Turlough Parish:

Popular posts from this blog

Inishbiggle: Images, and an article on the history of the Church of Ireland on the island

Image
  A few more images taken on Inishbiggle on Sat 15 Feb 2025, thanks mainly to Jim Waters, Westport, and an informative article (2013), below, by Patrick Comerford, on the history of the Church of Ireland on the island.  You can read the full unedited article, with images, here:  http://www.patrickcomerford.com/2013/05/a-history-of-church-of-ireland-on.html .  Shared with thanks to the author.     The freshly decorated interior and beautifully restored pews A history of the Church of Ireland on Inishbiggle  You can read this informative article  by Patrick Comerford,  in full, unedited, with images, here:  http://www.patrickcomerford.com/2013/05/a-history-of-church-of-ireland-on.html From a lecture by  Patrick Comerford  in Holy Trinity Church. Inishbiggle Island, given on Sunday 6 May 2013, as part of a guided walk on Inishbiggle Island led by Sheila McHugh during the ninth Annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend 2013. It wa...
Read more

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

Image
  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?’...
Read more

Today’s gospel, 24 Oct. Lessons from a Tower and a Tree

Image
Please scroll down for today's Bible reading plus information and notices.  Services t his weekend in the parishes, Sat 24 and Sun 25 Oct:  Remembering Our Loves Ones Sat, 7pm in Turlough Church  Cancelled due to storm. New date, 7 Nov Sun,10am in Castlebar Sun, 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport Sun, 3pm in Dugort, Achill In the vineyard... Today’s gospel   Luke 13:1-9 At that very time there were some present who told him [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” Then he told this...
Read more