Aughaval Group of Parishes

This weekend in the Aughaval Group of Parishes: Back to School Sunday, with Blessing of the Backpacks Sat, 7pm in Turlough Church Sunday, 10am in Christ Church Castlebar Sunday, 12 noon in St Mary's Westport (for Holy Trinity Westport and friends) Sunday, 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill Today's gospel:  Watchful, prayerful, careful living Turlough Round Tower, Co Mayo Matthew 24:42-51 [Jesus said] Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. ‘Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I...

Today, 27 August 2025 It's Wednesday again, and you are invited to join the small group that gathers on Wednesday mornings at 11am in the Clew Bay Hotel, for coffee, friendship and conversation. You're  welcome! Next Wednesday, 2 September , our regular midweek services will reconvene, with Holy Communion at 10.30am in St Mary's Church, Westport, in the side chapel. (St Mary's Church continues to host the Holy Trinity Westport congregation during the temporary closure of HT Church, while we await repairs to the ceiling which are due to begin soon.) Then in the evening,  2 September  at 8pm, you are invited to gather for Online Prayer and Bible Reading , a short meeting of approximately 30 minutes' length, when we pray either Compline or A Late Evening Office . A link will be shared closer to the time, or you can contact us for help or details.  Today's gospel      Matthew 23:27-32 [Jesus said]  ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ...

  Matthew 23: 23-26 ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,  so that the outside also may become clean. Christian Art You will find a helpful and interesting reflection on the text here: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-23-23-26-2025/ Sacred Space You will find a helpful prayer guide and reflection  here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-08-26/ Notices Saturday 30 Aug in Turlough, and Sunday 31 August in CCC and HTW (in St Mary’s)  Back to School Services, with Bless...

  All-parishes Late Summer Afternoon Walk  A few images to remind us of a lovely  Late Summer Afternoon Walk at Turlough,  which took place on Sunday 24 August 2025, in the beautiful woods and stunning grounds of the National Museum of Ireland. It was  a special and refreshing way to end the weekend.   Hilary McInerney and Fiona Kelly Sincere thanks to Hilary McInerney and Fiona Kelly (pictured, parishioners and vestry members of Turlough Parish) for organising the event and to everyone who was able to join in. Lovely company, fun and exercise especially for children, and a welcome picnic, all enjoyed in the beautiful outdoors. “O Lord, how manifold are your works!” Psalm 104: 24- 33 O  Lord , how manifold are your works!    In wisdom you have made them all;    the earth is full of your creatures. 25  Yonder is the sea, great and wide,    creeping things innumerable are there,    liv...