Aughaval Group of Parishes

 Easter Monday 2025 The next service in Inishbiggle Church (‘Holy Trinity Inishbiggle’) is planned for Easter Monday, 21st April, at 11.15am. Those wishing to travel across by ferry (currach) should gather at Dorian’s Point, Ballycroy, at 9.45 for a 10am departure, returning around 3pm. All plans are weather and sea conditions permitting. More information to follow, but please get in touch by email (aughaval@tuam.anglican.org) if you wish to book a place on the boat.  The service will be A Service of Wholeness and Healing, with Holy Communion. At the old school on Inishbiggle, on 15 February 2025,  following a Celebration of Holy Communion in the church,  at which Bishop Michael Burrows presided.

Welcome to the Aughaval Group of Parishes  Lent IVC, 30 March 2025 The Fourth Sunday in Lent   Mothering Sunday Mothering Sunday  offers a brief and welcome retrieve from the seriousness of Lent with colour, flowers and celebration.   Hymns are from this group: 528 - The Church's one foundation     Children’s song: 570 - Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning 587 - Just as I am, without one plea  231 - My song is love unknown  112 - There is a Redeemer   Collect Two Lord God, whose blessed Son our Saviour gave his back to the smiters and did not hide his face from shame: Give us grace to endure the sufferings of this present time with sure confidence in the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sin...

  Midweek Holy Communion in Lent Wed 26 March at 10.30am in St Mary's Church, South Mall, Westport with tea/coffee afterwards in the Clew Bay Hotel. You're welcome! Photo, Alan Cousins

  Sincere thanks to everyone in the community and the parishes who supported the recent fundraising events for repairs to Holy Trinity Church, Westport.  The Table Quiz (7 Feb 2025), hosted by the Clew Bay Hotel, raised 1000 euros. The Concert by Dublin Choral Union (3 March 2025), hosted by St Mary's Church Westport, raised 6,659 euros. A prayer of thanks  For  vibrant voice and music  and  the joy of fun with friends,  for resources joyfully shared, we give you thanks, O Lord, for these, knowing each gift reflects your face of love.   Amen. 

    Welcome to the Aughaval Parishes The Third Sunday in Lent, 23rd March 2025   “A man planted a fig tree…”  (Luke 13:6) Hymns 646 - Glorious things of thee are spoken 576 - I heard the voice of Jesus say 647 - Guide me, O thou great Jehovah   Collect  Merciful Lord,  Grant your people grace to withstand the temptations  of the world, the flesh and the devil  and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.   This collect may be said after the Collect of the day until Easter Eve: Almighty and everlasting God,  you hate nothing that you have made  and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:  Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins  and acknowledging our wretchedness,  may receive from you, the God of all mercy,  perfect remission and forgiveness;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.   The First Readin...

As part of our Lent reflections, a small group of us from the grouped (Aughaval) parishes had a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the Rectory on Friday 21 March, reflecting on the wonderful movie Chocolat (featuring a cast which includes Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp and Judi Dench) with the help of the Lent study, ‘Christ and the Chocolatier’. We also enjoyed tea and biscuits, but resisted the temptation to indulge in eating chocolate!           Seen recently in Galway! The next ‘Friday Night at the Movies’ event is planned for 25th April.  Information to follow.

  This weekend, 21 – 23 March: Friday at 11am – 1pm:   Christ Church Castlebar, Open for drop-in visits Friday at 7.30pm: Westport Rectory, Lenten Movie Night with short study based on the Lent course, ‘ Christ and the Chocolaterie ’. Please let us know if you plan to come along.   Sat at 7pm: Turlough, Service of Holy Communion Sunday 10am: Christ Church Castlebar, Morning prayer followed by tea/coffee Sunday 12 noon: Holy Trinity Westport  meets in St Mary’s for Service of Holy Communion, followed by tea/coffee in Carrowbeg House.   Sunday 3pm: St Thomas’s Dugort,  Achill, Holy Communion