Aughaval Group of Parishes

Whatever your particular church or faith background, you are warmly invited, on Wed 29 January at 10.30am, to come along to Holy Trinity Westport to mark Christian Unity Week, with a time of prayer, friendship, fellowship and a nice cup of tea (or coffee)!  Jointly organised by St Mary's and Holy Trinity Westport.  Go on, go on, go on! Credit to Fr John Kenny for video editing.  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Kurq4CCPK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Saturday 1st Feb , 10am - 1pm, St Brigid’s Cross-making in Christ Church , Castlebar. Legend has it that Brigid, when sharing hospitality with wayfarers who came to her father's house, would also share the good news of God's love and the gospel while weaving these crosses from rushes. Come along on Saturday 1st February, learn the art, and enjoy the activity, coffee and company! Free-of-charge. For all ages. You're welcome. Christ Church on The Mall, Knockaphunta, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

  Outside the main church door, with our Christingles, and telling the children about the tradition of Chalking the Doorpost in Epiphany.  (All photos shared with permission.) The children were given the opportunity to 'go shopping' (for free!), filling gift bags with treats and a piece of chalk each to take home for the Chalking of Doorposts of their own homes, having been taught about this very old tradition and its meaning.  See, for example   https://www.thetableindy.org/epiphany-tradition-chalking-of-the-door/ 20 + C + M + B + 25 The Meaning of the Christingle: The orange stands for the world. The sweets stand for God's many gifts to us in the world. The red ribbon stands for the life and blood of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the World. The candle stands for Jesus, light of the world "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." Christingle-making workshop, with Sunday Club leaders Paul, Steffi and Shirley,  plus the children's mums...

Messy New Year Christingle, Holy Trinity, Westport.  Marvellous morning with wonderful children and parents and the superb Sunday Club team. Thanks to all.  More photos and a write-up to follow.

  Invitation from the TLK diocese:  Day to Celebrate St Brigid at Connemara National Park, Letterfrack, Co Galway on 8th February, 2025.         Enjoy a walk along a scenic trail through nature, reflecting on her wisdom and spirit of renewal. Take the opportunity to watch / take part in making a St Brigid’s cross - A cherished symbol of blessing and protection. Have lunch in the cafe or bring your own picnic.  The day includes: Round trip transportation from Galway city (cost €20 per person to be paid in full when booking)   The day commences in Galway at 8.30am if travelling by bus.  Bus departs from the Park 4.30pm for return trip to Galway city. Book to register your interest and/or pay for the bus at TLK.ie/spiritualtourism/ #spiritualtourism #pilgrimage Pioneer Ministry - Church of Ireland

Coming up this weekend:  ‘Messy New Year Christingle’ (1) All-age ‘Messy New Year Christingle’, Sat in Holy Trinity Church, Westport from 11am - 12.30;  (2) Services at the regular times in Turlough (Sat 7pm, HC), Castlebar (Sun 10am, EP), Westport (Sun 11.30am, MP), and Dugort (Sun 3pm, EP);   (3)  Sunday Club restarts this coming Sunday, 12th January 2025, in Holy Trinity, Westport , starting at 11.30am in the church (4) Regifting weekend - You can bring your unwanted gifts to HTW on Sunday for redistributing by Westport Eco-congregation (please see poster).  Alternatively, if you have items suitable for the HTW Table Quiz raffle (Fri 7th Feb in Clew Bay Hotel) please let Babs or Henry know. Thank you.

  Sunday Club  restarts on 12th January  in Holy Trinity Church, Westport  The monthly Sunday Club restarts this coming Sunday, 12th January 2025, in Holy Trinity, Westport , starting at 11.30am in the church, then moving to the Holy Trinity N.S. , and finishing back in the church. For all children (of school age, for practical reasons). New attendees are most welcome. Information: Contact Steffi on 089 941 8165, or the Rector on 083 800 3233, or email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org. You're welcome!

'Chalking the Door at Epiphany', at Christ Church Castlebar, on Sunday 5th January.   Last weekend , at the end of each  of our services,  the doorposts of Turlough Church, of Holy Trinity, Westport , and of Christ Church Castlebar were each chalked, with the numerals and symbols " 20+C+M+B+25 ", in accordance with a very old church tradition (see earlier post), and this blessing was prayed: As the three Wise Men followed the star of God’s Son who became man,  may Christ bless our church and our homes  and remain with us through the New Year. + Chalks were given to each person present to take and use on their own homes. Next Sunday, 12th January, at 3pm, we will similarly chalk the doorpost at St Thomas's Dugort (Achill). What is the meaning of this Epiphany ceremony? It is a simple act of witness to friends and strangers alike who cross the threshold of our church in the course of the year.  It says to all who come to our door that we believe in Jesus C...

  We are always grateful and deeply appreciative for the gifts we are given at Christmas and other times, but what do we do with those which we won't be able to use? Here is a simple solution. We are invited by  Westport Eco-Congregation to bring any unwanted gifts we may have received to Holy Trinity Church, Westport after the 11.30am service on Sunday 12th January, for redistribution to charities and charity shops, or to St Mary's Church, Westport, on Sat 11th or Sun 12th January. (Please see poster.) Westport Eco-Congregation Holy Trinity, Westport St. Mary's Church, Westport

We were truly blessed to have so much professional input to our Christmas services this year in the parishes, including singers James Kilbane ( James Kilbane Music ), David Durham (see https://mayomalevoicechoir.ie/david-durham/ ) and Hubert Francis (see https://hubertfrancis.com ), Chris O'Malley (Westport Festival of Chamber Music), and organists John Dexter and Siobhan Kilkelly. Sincere thanks to them all for the musical depth and sparkle that they brought to the services.  In the Service of Nine Lessons & Carols in Holy Trinity Westport, we were delighted again this year to have the Choir of St Mary's Westport sing for us and with us (sincere thanks to Dan Delaney), and that our own Barbara Sheppard ( Parish Reader, Westport) brought a beautiful rendition of Don Oiche Úd i mBeitheal  accompanied by Chris O’Malley and Westport Traditional Irish Musicians.  See also: https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes/posts/pfbid0uBUerDk8UFFPpYqPnxXaS92wpBMErM5hKzXDAhLVeU8KMh...

Wed 18 Dec, 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion in HTW, followed by coffee in Cornrue Bakery (beyond Lidl). All welcome. Advent Prayer and Bible Study: Wed 18 Dec, 7.30pm in the Rectory, Westport, with online option, link below. (You most likely will not need to use the Meeting ID and Passcode, if you have a Zoom account.) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1 Meeting ID: 827 8190 0766 Passcode: 747477 Sat 21 Dec, 7pm, Turlough, Holy Communion Sun 22 Dec, 10am, Castlebar Morning Prayer Sun 22 Dec, 11.30am in HTW: All-age Crib Service. Children (and adults!) are invited to come in simple Nativity costume, or items may be borrowed from the dressing-up box in the church. Sun 22 Dec, 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort – as below Sun 22 Dec, 5pm, St Mary's Westport Carol Service. We are warmly invited. Sun 22 Dec, 5pm and 8pm, Chapel Street Gospel Choir Concerts, in Christ Church Castlebar. Info., Ros Potter, Turlough. Christmas Communion: Sunday 22 Dec, 3pm ...

Santa pays a visit to Holy Trinity Westport, Sunday 15th December, following the Traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Pictured: Santa, speaking to Westport parishioner, Linda Bourke. Background: Revd Suzanne with ecumenical colleague, Fr John Kenny, St Mary’s Westport.