The Parish Priest writes:

25TH OCTOBER 2026  - THIRTIETH SUNDAY

​Notices:​​

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CAFOD. The total collected was £1,535.40.

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ALL SAINTS and ALL SOULS. All Saints day (holy day of obligation) falls on Sunday 1st November. Mass times are as usual on the weekends. All Souls is on Monday November 2nd. That is when we pray for deceased relatives and friends. Priests can say up to three Masses on that day: for a particular intention, the Holy Souls and the intentions of the Holy Father. Mass times in our Parish are below:

Sevenoaks: 8:00am, 12:00noon and 8:00pm

Borough Green: 7:00pm

Parishioners from Otford and West Kingsdown are asked to join the closest available Mass centre.

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BLESSING OF THE GRAVES will be on Sunday 15th November at 3:00pm, at Greatness Cemetery.

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A PLENARY INDULGENCE, applicable only to the Holy Souls, may be gained once a day in any church or cemetery between 1st and 8th November on the usual conditions (Our Father, Creed, state of grace, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Holy Father’s Intention).

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HOLY SOULS ENVELOPES. In November, we are invited to recall those we love who have gone before us and bring them into our prayer. In our faith, remembrance is more than preserving names in a book. A written record can keep a name, but it cannot replace the act of prayer. This is why it is appropriate, each year, to write the names of our deceased loved ones on our November Holy Souls prayer card. The simple act of writing a name invites us to stop for a moment, recall the person behind it, remember the love we shared, and place them once more into God's hands. Our remembrance finds its deepest expression in the offering of the Holy Mass. We pray for them year after year, trusting that our lives and theirs remain united in Christ, who has conquered death and opened for us the way to eternal life. Please take a Holy Souls prayer card and envelope, available at the back of the church. Write down the names of your deceased loved ones and return the card with your offering (if you wish). In November and during the year these names will be remembered in our parish Masses and prayers.

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DECEASED CLERGY MASS. Join us for the Mass for the Deceased Clergy of the Parishes of our Deanery on Tuesday 10th November at 12:00noon at St Augustine’s Church in Tunbridge Wells. All are welcome.

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REMEMBRANCE DAY. In Sevenoaks, the Remembrance Parade will be at the Vine War Memorial on Sunday, November 8th at 10:40am. The Otford service will take place on the Village Green at 10:50am. Please walk up after 9.30am Mass to join in this prayerful occasion

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The ST PADRE PIO prayer group invites you to join them on Tuesday 27th October at 7:30pm. We will start with some quiet time in the church in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and then at 8:00pm move into the parish room for a time of prayer. All are welcome.

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The FINANCE COMMITTEE meeting is on Thursday 29th October at 6:00pm in the Upper Parish room.

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MOST HOLY TRINITY GARDEN. There will be a garden tidy-up session at MHT, Otford, on Saturday November 7th from 10:00am to 12:00noon. Every pair of hands appreciated. Come along to help, no skills needed. Refreshments will be provided.

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FR JOHN EYIKE’s Induction Mass at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Deal, will take place on Friday 11th December 2026 at 6:00pm. Fr John has kindly invited all parishioners to join him for this joyful occasion, which will also mark the 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination. All are warmly invited to attend and share in this special celebration.

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CALLING ALL SINGERS. Come and sing at the Confirmation Mass on 14th November at St George’s Cathedral. Join us on this joyous day for our young people. A group will head up to the Cathedral together in the morning to lend their voices. Email gina.hartnett@hotmail.com for details.

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ADVENT QUIET DAY will be on Saturday 12th December. Details to follow.

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SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL. St Thomas’ School PTA was selected to take part in the Waitrose Green Token Scheme. The PTA is raising funds to provide students with opportunities to experience live theatre. Depending on the number of green tokens put in the boxes at Waitrose, St Thomas PTA will receive an award of either £1,500, £1,000 or £500. Members of the local community who shop at our local Waitrose are invited to support St Thomas’ PTA by allocating their green token to the school's box after the checkouts. The scheme runs from October to December.​

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THURSDAY COFFEE MORNING.

Enjoy company and cakes at St Thomas’ parish centre from 10:00am to 11:45am. All are welcome. We have some interesting talks coming up. They are all from 10:30am. Dates are below.​

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5th Nov: Framing and the history of picture framing by Sandie Peters

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19th Nov: Which festive wines to pick? The unofficial guide by Ben Newton

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26th Nov: Poems for Advent by Gilly Fenner

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3rd Dec: Life in the BBC world news by Madeleine Busvine

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17th Dec: Christmas Carols led by Kathleen Bouverie​​​​​

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The BIBLE STUDY group Opening up the Word meets every other Wednesday at St Thomas’ parish centre, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. The next session will be on 4th November. Email Paul with any queries.

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REPOSITORY SHOP. Get your copy from Pope Leo’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, cards and gifts for Confirmation and books on praying the rosary from the repository shop. There will be Advent calendars and Christmas cards available from the second week of November. Check opening times below. Items can be accessed independently and paid via the SumUp machines or cash in the wall box next to the Sacristy door. Thank you for your continued support.

Saturday 24th October: after 6:00pm Mass

Sunday 25th October: after 8:00am Mass; after 9:15am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass

Saturday 31st October: Repository NOT open

Sunday 1st November: after 8:00am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass​

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ROSARY MONTH. October is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary. Throughout this month, we will say it together placing ourselves and our parish community under the loving care of Our Lady. At St Thomas’ the Rosary will be prayed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays after 8:00am Mass, and on Saturdays after the 9:30am Mass (led by the Rosary Group). At Most Holy Trinity on Wednesdays after the 10:00am Mass and during the Holy Hours. At St Joseph’s on Thursdays after the 10:00am Mass with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. At St Bernadette’s after the 10:00am Mass on Fridays. I encourage our parish groups, ministries and communities to make the Rosary part of your gatherings during October. It does not need to be a whole Rosary; even praying one decade together is a beautiful way of turning our hearts towards Christ.

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PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND 2027. Join us for a 7-day pilgrimage to Poland, 8–14 June 2027, led by Fr Piotr. We will visit Kraków, Częstochowa, the Shrine of Divine Mercy, Wadowice, Przemyśl and the beautiful Bieszczady region, with Masses and opportunities for prayer at some of Poland’s most important Catholic shrines. The pilgrimage also includes visits to the Wieliczka Salt Mine and optional Auschwitz- Birkenau. £1,097 per person sharing a twin/double room. Single-room supplement: £325. The price includes flights, accommodation, half board, coach travel, guided visits and entrance fees as detailed in the pilgrimage programme. Book directly with All Saints Travel at www.allsaintstravel.co.uk/PL1194 (a £400 deposit is required). Please book by 12 November 2026 to allow the best possible price to be secured.​​​

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CAN YOU HELP? We are preparing a programme to raise awareness among parishioners of the benefits of leaving a legacy to the Parish. We are looking for one or two volunteers with relevant legal or will-writing experience to join our team. If you may be able to help, contact Alan Davies 

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SECRETARY POSITION at Corpus Christi church, Tonbridge parish. Location: Tonbridge, Kent | Hours: Part-time, 12 hours per week Salary: £15-20 per hour. You'll manage the parish office and the Parish diary, maintain parish registers and sacramental records, and administer bookings for baptisms, weddings and funerals. The role also involves producing the weekly newsletter and maintaining the parish website and social media, alongside supporting collections, Gift Aid and safeguarding administration.

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About you: You'll bring proven administrative or secretarial experience, strong communication and organisational skills, and confidence with Microsoft Office. Experience with minute-taking, website or social media administration, and AIQ accounting (or willingness to learn) would be an advantage. A warm, welcoming manner, discretion and sympathy with the ethos and values of the Catholic Church are essential. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK, as the Archdiocese is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. To apply, to this role, please send your CV and cover letter to recruitment@rcaos.org.uk

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A DAY WITH MARY is taking place at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 7 November 2026 (9.45am to 5.00pm). The Most Reverend Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster will be the Celebrant & Preacher at 10:30am Cathedral Mass on that day. Further information is available here.

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FATHERS PRAYERS. Are you a father, godfather or grandfather? Are you concerned about the spiritual welfare of your children, grandchildren or godchildren? Would you like to meet like-minded men in the parish? If that's you, we are setting up a Fathers Prayers group and plan to meet on the last Friday of each month. Come when you can, bring a friend. No need to commit. Meetings will be at 7:15am in the St Thomas's parish centre. There’s the option of going to 8:00am Mass afterwards followed by coffee, croissants and fellowship for those who would like to stay. Text or WhatsApp James McBrien on 07713 152190 if you would like to join us.​​​​​

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HARVEST FESTIVAL - SEVENOAKS FOODBANK. As the harvest festival season approaches, consider putting something extra in your shopping trolley or online shop to benefit clients at the Sevenoaks Foodbank (Loaves and Fishes). Goods can be donated in the Tom Quinn porch or you can give financially (details on the Loaves and Fishes Sevenoaks Foodbank website). Current priorities are: cereal (not porridge), squash drinks, sanitary towels. No baked beans, hot dogs, meat balls, pot noodles, instant coffee, stock cubes, tinned tuna or tampons. Thank you.​​​​​​​​​​

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ROOTED IN LOVE is an opportunity for engaged and married couples to meet for one hour, once a month on ZoomIn each session we share friendship, reflect on real-life topics, and pray together as we grow in love, rooted in Christ. We will meet on the following Thursdays:  26th November at 8:30pm, 10th December at 8:30pm. Email mflkent@rcaos.org.uk to sign up or receive more information​​​​​​​​​

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MOTHERS PRAYERS. The St Thomas’ Mothers Prayers group meets on Thursdays, after the 12:00noon Mass. We start at 12:45pm, in the parish centre, and we finish by 1:30pm. Mothers Prayers is for ALL women, even if you are not a biological mother. Age is not important either or whether you have young or adult children. We have grandmothers who pray for their grandchildren too. You can check the MP website here.
For dads, there is a Fathers Prayers movement. And the one for children is called Children of Faith, which helps children to pray for anyone or something they may be concerned about. For information, email the parish office​​​​​​​​

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ROSARY. Every Saturday, after the 9:30am Mass, you are invited to pray the Rosary at St Thomas’ church. At the same time, there are also Confessions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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HOME VISITS. We would like to come closer to you by visiting your homes to chat about how we can improve our ministry. Sign-up forms are available in the porch to schedule a priest’s home visit. Think of a day and suitable time when you could receive a priest for a cup of tea or coffee and a friendly conversation (no longer than 45 minutes). If you wish, we can also bless your home. Visits will continue throughout the coming year, until next Christmas.​​​​​​

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RETROUVAILLE. Does your marriage need some TLC? Need help with communication and trust? Retrouvaille helps marriages. It can bring hope and healing to relationships.

For information, go to www.retrouvaille.org.uk or call 07887 296983.

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LISTENING TO YOU. The team welcomes anyone who would like to meet to be listened to in a safe, friendly and confidential environment, on an individual basis at a convenient time for them. If you want to make an appointment, contact the Parish Office.​

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SEVENOAKS COUNSELLING is a professional service offered by Christians to the whole community. We have provided a trusted, affordable counselling service to Sevenoaks and the surrounding district since 1983. We are welcoming and non-judgemental to everybody. We provide counselling which is professional and caring; confidential; tailored to individual needs, either short term or long term and offered by qualified and experienced therapists. Click on the website for information.​​​​

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MASS INTENTIONS - A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO PRAY. We have available spaces for Mass intentions in the coming weeks. Offering a Mass for a loved one, whether living or deceased, is a profound act of love and faith. Please contact the parish office to reserve a date. Let us continue to pray for one another through the powerful gift of the Eucharist​​​

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RECENTLY DIED​
 

Pat Craig-McFeely

Tuesday 3rd November at 11:00am at St Thomas’, Sevenoaks

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Pray for the recently died in our Parish and for God to comfort the families who mourn them.

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​​​​​​​​St Thomas of Canterbury, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
St Bernadette, pray for us.
St Edith of Kemsing, pray for us.

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Fr Peter Kucharski, Parish Priest of Sevenoaks

12 Granville Road     email

Sevenoaks               01732 454177

TN13 1ER