Aughaval Group of Parishes

  Bringing Mark to Life: A Creative Exploration of the Gospel of Mark   Palm Sunday sculpture: Jesus enters Jerusalem   Wednesday 9 th  April, 6 – 8pm  Unlock your creative voice while engaging with the Gospel of Mark. Rich in detail, Mark’s simple narrative is recognized as the foundational work for both the Gospel’s of Luke and Matthew. What about Mark’s writing so inspired others? And can his work inspire us today?  Through conversation, fellowship, and creative writing prompts, workshop participants will explore how key points in Mark’s storytelling can be understood through their own creative lens. Participants may create poetry, songs, short scenes or essays – which will be woven into sections of Mark’s original words thus creating a unique contemporary expression of the Gospel of Mark. The full work will be shared as part of the Palm Sunday liturgy on Palm Sunday, 13 April, at 10am in Christ Church Castlebar. The workshop is offered free of charge an...

  Services this weekend, 15-16 March : Sat at 7pm in Turlough Church, Evening Prayer Sunday 10am in Christ Church Castlebar, Holy Communion Sunday at 12 noon in St Mary's Church, Westport "How often have I desired to gather your children together  as a hen gathers her brood under her wings..." (from  Luke 13:31-35) This weekend's bulletin, with readings, prayers and notices can be found here: https://www.scribd.com/document/839327969/Bulletin-Lent-IIC-16-March-2025 The Lenten Collect, which is prayed from Ash Wednesday until Easter Day: 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.

Illustration of Jonah being swallowed by the fish from the  Kennicott Bible , folio 305r (1476) Wikipedia, Public domain The gospel reading Luke 11:29-32 When the crowds were increasing, he [Jesus] began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! Jonah and the Whale Folio from a Jami al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Chronicles) Public domain, Wikicommons   You can find a pra...

  "Safe in the arms of Jesus." It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the death of our friend and sister in Christ, Linda Bourke, faithful Westport parishioner (Holy Trinity Church), on Sunday 9th March, peacefully in Mayo University Hospital.  May she rest in peace and rise in glory.  Notice and arrangements can also be found here:   https://rip.ie/death-notice/linda-bourke-mayo-westport-587759 The death has occurred of Linda Bourke, Riverside, Clogher, Westport – peacefully.   Predeceased by her parents Alex & Frances & infant sister Elizabeth.   Deeply regretted by her sister Iris, extended family, relatives, neighbours, friends & her Westport Country Market Community.   AT REST   Reposing at McGing's Funeral Home (F28 RX58) on Tuesday (Mar 11th) from 11:30am until 12:30pm. THE PUBLIC QUEUE FOR ENTRY INTO THE FUNERAL HOME WILL NOW BE FROM THE SHOP STREET DIRECTION.   Funeral arriving to Holy Trinity Cemeter...

  We're excited that it's Sunday Club time again, today, 9 March, starting at 12 noon in St Mary's Church, Westport (- Holy Trinity Church services are in St Mary's at this time while the church is closed due to storm damage and awaiting repairs) and moving next door to Carrowbeg House.  All children of school age are welcome. All activities are run in accordance with the Church of Ireland's Child Safeguarding Policy.  For more information please contact us: Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org  Sunday Club team leaders: Paul, Steffi and Shirley

  Lent, Holy Week and Easter 2025   (Subject to change)   St Patrick’s Day, Monday 17 March  - 10am  Gentle Friendship St Patrick’s Day Walk and Prayers  at the foot of the Croagh Patrick, meeting in Murrisk Carpark at 9.45am. All welcome.     Wed 12, 19 and 26 March 10.30 am   Lenten Holy Communion and Reflection, St Mary’s Westport 8.00 pm      Online Prayer and Bible Reading  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1   Confirmation Prep Session 4,    Friday 14 March , 7.45pm in the Rectory   Lenten movie night in the Rectory , Friday 21 March, 7.30pm –  Chocolat   with a short study based on the Lent Course ‘Christ and the Chocolaterie’, plus refreshments, before watching the film. For planning purposes, please let Rev. Suzanne know if you plan to attend.   Palm Sunday, 13 April : The Liturgy of the Passion, with ...

    Sunday Club team : Paul, Steffi, Shirley Luke 5:27-32 (NRSV) After this he [Jesus] went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up, left everything, and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax-collectors and others sitting at the table  with them.The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’ Jesus calls Levi by William Hole, early 1900s Public domain   You can find a gentle reflection to start / enrich/ end your day here, with Sacred Space: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-03-08/ This weekend in the Aughaval Parishes: You're welcome! Saturday 8 March, 7pm in Turlough, S...

Come and enjoy a Gentle Friendship Walk and Talk, with Prayers and Reflection at the foot of Croagh Patrick, on Monday 17 March, gathering at 9.45am in Murrisk Carpark (outside the cafe).  Suitable for all ages.  Recommended: warm clothes, sturdy footwear, water and snacks You’re welcome! Info: email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org Beautiful photo: source unknown 

  Matthew 9:14-15 Then the disciples of John came to him [Jesus], saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often,  but your disciples do not fast?’  And Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. You can find a gentle reflection to start / enrich/ end your day here, with Sacred Space: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-03-07/ This weekend in the Aughaval Parishes: We'd love to see you. Saturday 8 March, 7pm in Turlough, Service of Holy Communion   Sunday 9 March, The First Sunday in Lent 10am in Christ Church Castlebar, Morning Prayer ( The Mall, Knockaphunta, Castlebar, Co. Mayo ), followed by tea 12 noon, Service of Holy Communion for Holy Trinity Westport, in St Mary's Church, Westport ( South Mall,  F28 FD00 ) f ollowed by tea in Carrowbeg House (next door to the church) 12 noon, Westport Sunday Clu...

 What an encouraging time was had at St Thomas’s Dugort, Achill, on Shrove Tuesday. There was a definite international flavour to our time of sharing friendship, food, and some of our personal thoughts, faith stories and experiences, and our expectations of Lent.  The next gathering for worship in St Thomas’s will be on Sunday coming, 9 March, at 3pm, the Service of Evening Prayer. You’re welcome!

  Why not mark the beginning of Lent by joining for a short service of Holy Communion?  Ash Wednesday Services of Holy Communion for the Aughaval Parishes are as follows: Westport-Dugort Parishes: 10.30am in St Mary's Church, Westport (on the Mall) Castlebar and Turlough Parishes: 1pm in Christ Church, Castlebar  All are welcome.

  Letter for Lent to the Aughaval Parishes Dear friends, Lent begins on Wed 5 March, Ash Wednesday. Here in the Aughaval Parishes I am recommending that we make the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel for this year (Year C), our spiritual reading for Lent 2025. The seven-week reading plan below is from Prof. Kieran O’Mahony’s ‘Hearer of the Word’ website and will take us gently through to Easter.   He suggests a 'double reading':    [I]f you can, read the whole Gospel through in one sitting. [We may be] amazed by the cumulative effect of the power of the writing when we read it in one sitting. After this overview, then we can take some chapters and stories each week for reflection and prayer. Faithful readers will find themselves in the hands of a great spiritual writer, a master story teller. It is no accident that in the tradition, Luke was said to have been a painter. His stories somehow lodge in our hearts and minds because Luke is a very painterly writer. My guess is tha...