Today's Gospel, Sunday 8 Nov. Be ready!

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

Revd Faith Sithole, 

at the Cave Church complex, Cairo

6 November 2026

during the COI-CMSI Interfaith Learning Pilgrimage

Today in the Parishes

You are warmly invited to any of the services, below, which will be led by Alan Cousins, Diocesan Reader. We pray for the Alan, and also for Diocesan Reader Eamon Smith (Castlebar), who today in serving in Killala. 

• 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

Please note that the Westport-Dugort Select Vestry meeting which was to take place on 12 Nov has now been postponed of necessity until Friday 20 Nov. 7pm for tea/coffee in the church (Holy Trinity), for a 7.30pm start. 

Today's Gospel  Matthew 25:1-13

[Jesus said] ‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. 

Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.  

But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.”  

And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.”  

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Sacred Space

A prayer guide and this short reflection can be found here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-11-08/

Christian Art

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

Please pray 

....as mentioned above, for today's services in the churches, for Alan and Eamon as they serve in their Diocesan Reader capacity, and for each congregation.

.... for the Inter Faith Learning Pilgrimage team, travelling home from Cairo today and for 'good fruit' to come from their time away together and from all that they have  experienced. 

... for new, fledgling endeavours in the area of inter faith dialogue in Co Mayo - the simple dialogue of friendship - for the purpose of promoting mutual understanding , respect and peaceable relations in our increasingly multicultural communities and of loving our neighbour.

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.

Notices

for the Aughaval Parishes

(Subject to change) 

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.

Castlebar Community Remembrance Service, Wed 11 Nov at 11am, in Christchurch Castlebar. An ecumenical service, for all in the community.

Westport-Dugort Select Vestry meeting, with special financial focus. Thurs 12 November, in HTW, 7pm

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.,

https://www.facebook.com/cmsireland/posts/pfbid0ArGbUSxwFsET9cGrYtV2Ak1Bi4bKtbkVxhXokpaxmYx48f2pLSKkXtxLpj7vXpg9l

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:

https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes 

Facebook page for Holy Trinity, Westport:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551852152848

Facebook page for Christ Church, Castlebar:

 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592320012165

Facebook page for Turlough Parish:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594312532515