Register
18 Jun 11:40 am Thu
St Thomas -Divine Mercy Chaplet
18 Jun 10:00 am Thu
St Thomas - Coffee morning to 11:45
18 Jun Noon Thu
St Thomas - Mothers Prayer, after noon Mass
19- 21 Jun Fri -Sun
Aylesford - Women's Parish retreat
19 Jun 07:00 pm Sat
St Thomas - The Sixteen
23 Jun 7:30 pm Tue
St Thomas - Padre Pio Prayer Group
26 Jun 07:15 am Fri
Fathers Prayers
12 Jul Noon Sun
Parish Summer Party
The Parish Priest writes:
14 JUNE 2026 -
Dear Friends,
"When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
This beautiful image from Sunday's Gospel reveals something important about God. Jesus does not look upon people with judgement or indifference. He looks upon them with compassion. He sees our worries, burdens, disappointments and hopes. He sees each person as precious and loved.
The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This devotion reminds us that at the centre of our faith is Christ Himself, whose Heart never ceases to seek us, forgive us and draw us closer to Him. The Sacred Heart is a sign of God's faithful love, a love that remains constant even when we struggle, fail or drift away.
One of the most beautiful traditions connected with the Sacred Heart is the consecration of our families to Jesus. To consecrate a family means to place Christ at the centre of our home and our lives. It means recognising that He is not simply a guest whom we occasionally invite in, but the true King of our family, the Lord of our decisions, our joys, our difficulties and our future.
When we consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart, we are saying: "Jesus, this home belongs to You. Guide us, protect us, teach us to love, and help us to follow Your will."
In a world that often pulls families in many different directions, the Sacred Heart reminds us where our true centre lies. Christ does not wish to rule by force, but by love. He invites us to entrust ourselves to Him and discover that His Heart is the safest place for our own.
May this month of June be an opportunity to renew our trust in the Lord and to place our homes, our families and our parish under the loving protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
With blessings upon you and your families,
Fr Peter (Parish Priest)
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
Gracious and loving God, we thank You for the gift of our priests, help them to be strong in their vocation and become instruments of Your love and grace. Send Your Holy Spirit to give courage and guidance to all You are calling to the Priesthood, Diaconate and Religious Life in our Archdiocese. May those called, hear Your voice, and respond wholeheartedly to become the person You have created them to be. Heavenly Father, form us all in the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd, so that we may love You more deeply and serve You more faithfully. We ask this through Christ Your Son, the Eternal High Priest. AMEN
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SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK is for Day of Life, when the Church celebrates the sacredness of life and raise awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage, from conception to natural death. The Day for Life Fund provides grants to support pro-life advocacy, education, pastoral outreach and end-of-life care initiatives.
QUIET DAY. You are invited to a Quiet Day of Reflection on Saturday 13th July at The Barn ( TN11 9QU) from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Through the use of poetry, prayer, music and nature, the day will be an opportunity for quiet contemplation of scripture and how it speaks to us today. The theme will be the Prodigal Son. The day will be led by Gilly Fenner who has worked as a spiritual director for over 23 years. Please bring a bible, a packed lunch and a change of shoes. Suggested contribution is £5. If you would like to attend email Gilly .
AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST ONLINE. A group of parishioners is gathering for 40 minutes online this coming Monday 15th June at 8:00pm (and/or at the same time on either 22nd and 29th June), to watch and discuss an episode from the recently released Southwark Dioceses’ Ambassadors for Christ apologetics series. Contact Andrew at andrew.latrobe@gmail.com or 07775 738485 for information and to receive a meeting link. The first topic will be on “Why do Catholics believe in the Trinity?”. To watch the videos and take part in this exciting project, please click here. All are welcome.
WALK FROM DARTFORD RAILWAY STATION TO OTFORD. Join us on Saturday 20th June, start from Dartford railway station at 9:15am for 11.5 miles/18.5 km, 193m of ascent, 132m of descent. Maximum altitude reached is 90m. Bring water (2 litres), snacks and lunch. Toilets and refreshments at Lullingstone. For information, contact Margaret (01732 885295) or Brother David (07821 049827).
THE SIXTEEN. An exciting date not to be missed: the world-renowned vocal ensemble The Sixteen, will return to St Thomas’ church to present a programme of choral music and poetry, Enduring Love, on Friday 19th June at 7:00pm. The concert will include pieces by Thomas Tallis, Thomas Morley and music by Arvo Part and Stanford. There will be readings of poetry performed by actors Antonia Christophers and Noel Byrne and the concert will be conducted by The Sixteen’s founder Harry Christophers. To purchase tickets (£45; £40; £35; £20), email june19tickets@gmail.com. You can also stop by the parish office and get the tickets from there, paying either by cheque or cash. Cheques should be made payable to RCAOS CIO – Holy Trinity 1173050. There is the option of mailing the cheque to St Thomas RC Church (The Sixteen), 12 Granville Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1ER. This is a fundraising event for Most Holy Trinity, Otford.
TRUTH SEEKERS. We are inviting all Truth Seekers (teenagers who completed their Confirmation) to join us for a fun evening of Ten Pin bowling on Saturday 13th June. Depart from St Thomas’ is after the 6:00pm Mass and we should be back at St Thomas’ by approximately 9:30pm. Those interested should please email sevenoaks@rcaos.org.uk by 5th June. Each child is asked to bring £5 contribution towards costs of the bowling.
SITE MANAGER. St Thomas’ Primary School is looking for a Site Manager to join our friendly and supportive team. We would encourage applicants who are interested in continually improving our school environment and happy to work as a team. This is a part time position, 20 hours/week, Mon-Fri 7:30am to 11:30am, term time only with an additional 3 weeks during school holidays at mutually convenient times arranged in advance.
TEACHING ASSISTANT FOR NURSERY. St Thomas’ School is looking for a Teaching Assistant in the Nursery. This is a full time position, Mon-Fri 08:30am ti 15:30am, term time only.
For both positions, applicants are encouraged to contact the school to arrange a visit to discover our wonderful friendly school. Please contact the school directly on 01732 453921.
ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN. Trinity School is recruiting for an Assistant Chaplain from September. It is a wonderful opportunity for a committed Christian who has a heart for sharing the Gospel with young people and supporting the Christian ethos of the school. The role would suit someone with a strong faith, a passion for ministry, and a desire to help students explore and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Click here for information.
BIBLE QUIZ COMPETITION. We are delighted to invite altar servers aged 7–14 from across the Tunbridge Wells Deanery to take part in a joyful and engaging Bible Quiz Competition on Saturday 4th July at St Lawrence the Martyr Church. The quiz will focus on the Gospel of Mark, chapters 9–16. Each parish may enter a team of FOUR members. Prizes for the winners include tickets to play golf and go bowling. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to share their knowledge of the Bible and Jesus with friends while growing in faith and fellowship. Families and parishioners may come to support the participants. Email sevenoaks@rcaos.org.uk if your child is interested.
REPOSITORY SHOP TIMES THIS WEEK.
Saturday 13th June: Repository NOT OPEN after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 14th June: after 8:00am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass
Saturday 20th June: after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 21st June: after all Masses
Cards, gifts and reading materials available, including from the baskets at the entrance into the church. Feel free to purchase using either of the SumUp machines or cash in the receptacle in the wall next to the Sacristy door. Thank you.
SUPPORTING SEVENOAKS (LOAVES AND FISHES) FOODBANK. The foodbank is very grateful for your continued support. They have really noticed the difference! 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: tinned meat (e.g. chicken korma, stewed steak, Fray Bentos), pot noodles, biscuits and squash drinks. Just an extra item or two in your shopping trolley on a regular basis is so worthwhile. Thank you.
BIBLE STUDY. It has started, but there is still time to join. Meetings are on Wednesdays from 7:30pm to 9:00pm in the St Thomas's parish centre. Next session is on the 24th June. After that it will be a fortnightly schedule. For information, email Paul Boyle .
PARISH TEAM RAISING FUNDS FOR HOSPICE IN THE WEALD. A number of parishioners are taking part in the Hospice in the Weald Moonlight Walk (8 miles) on the evening of Saturday 27th June. Please consider sponsoring Fiona, Anne, Maureen or Esther by clicking here or get in touch with Esther if you'd like to join us.
TRIP TO POLAND. Save the date for our Parish trip to Poland with Fr Peter in June 2027. Details to follow.
ADORATION. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a quiet meeting with Christ truly present — a time to rest with Him, to speak, or simply to be. It is a moment where faith becomes personal. It is heartbreaking to see some of our Holy Hours so lightly attended, especially on Tuesday evenings at St Thomas. Please consider coming, even for a short time, each Tuesday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. More Holy Hour times across our churches can be found at the back of the Newsletter.
THURSDAY COFFEE MORNING. Enjoy company and cakes at St Thomas’ parish centre from 10:00am to 11:45am. On Thursday the 18th June at 10:30am, Isabelle Mercer will give a talk on Mar Elias: a school for peace in Galilee. All are welcome.
Dates for your diary: 25th June: A talk about Racet (The rural Africa children’s education trust) by Deirdre Trapp and Adetunji Adeleye;
23rd July: Poetry as prayer led by Gilly Fenner.
DISCERNMENT RETREAT. For single Roman Catholic women aged 18-35 who are open to discerning a Monastic vocation. It will be at Minster Abbey Benedictine Monastery from 7th to 9th August and 9th to 11th October. For information, contact Sister Walburga at minstervocations@gmail.com.
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
PARISH SUMMER PARTY. Save the date of Sunday 12th July, from 12:30pm onwards for the Parish Summer Party. Make sure to include it in your diaries.
DIVINE MERCY. Pray the Divine Mercy chaplet every Thursday, starting at 11:40am, just before the 12:00noon Mass, at St Thomas’ church. All are welcome.
YOUTH MINISTRY GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITY. Do you know anyone aged 18-25 who is looking for a new challenge? The Diocese of Lancaster has a Youth Ministry team based in Keswick in the Lake District. They run retreats at Castlerigg Manor and also work in Churches and schools around the area. The ‘Youth Ministry Internship’ scheme comes with high quality training, experience, and recognised qualifications and gives young people the chance to join a welcoming community and a vibrant team doing some amazing work. Interested? Contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk or click here and on "join the team".
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.
WOMEN’S RETREAT - “Rejoicing and hearing the voice of the bridegroom” John 3:2. Our Parish Retreat for Women will be in Aylesford from 19th to 21st June. If you have never been on a retreat before, maybe this is the time? We are fortunate to be led by Canon Luke Smith. He is currently based in Rochester as well as teaching at Allen Hall. Canon Luke is well versed in spiritual accompaniment and some years ago he was a priest in our parish. The cost, including full board and lodging, is £250. If you would like to attend, pick up a registration form from the back of your church or download it form the parish website Retreats page. Lift shares to Aylesford will be organised. Any questions, email Catherine Rodger or at 01732458852. The registration form and non refundable deposit of £20 must be returned to the Parish Office in an envelope marked PARISH RETREATS by the 30th April.
FORMING CATHOLIC STUDENT LEADERS (YEARS 12 AND 13). Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst is offering two summer courses exploring faith, ethics and leadership for sixth form students. Join us for 6 days in the beautiful Ribble Valley to explore themes linked to The Common Good (Year 12, 10th to 15th August) and to The Human Ecology (Year 13, 5th to 10th July). Meet new friends, discuss and share with peers, tutors and academics, learn new skills, develop your relationship with Christ, build your character. For information click here.
PORTUGUESE CAMINO to Santiago de Compostela. We are planning another walking pilgrimage for 10 days towards the end of September. We plan to fly to Porto, Portugal, then walk the last 120 or so km to Santiago. If you are interested, please contact Margaret on 01732 885295 or Brother David on 07821 049827.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
RECENTLY DIED
Edward Southey
Funeral on Tuesday 16th June at 12:00noon at St Bernadette’s
MAY HE REST IN PEACE
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Get ready for our Summer Party
Children receive their First Holy Communion
A few tickets left for The Sixteen
Magnifica Humanitas — Pope Leo XIV
the Soul of the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
With his first encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV addresses one of the defining questions of our age: what happens to humanity when technology develops faster than moral wisdom?
At first glance, the document appears to focus on artificial intelligence, digital systems, and technological ethics. But beneath the discussion of algorithms and machines lies something much deeper. The encyclical is ultimately about the human person — about whether modern civilisation still understands what a human being truly is.
The title itself, Magnificent Humanity, reveals the Pope’s concern. Humanity is not magnificent because of technological achievement, productivity, or intellectual power. Human dignity comes from something far greater: that every person is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). Pope Leo deliberately places this encyclical within the tradition of Catholic social teaching. Just as Pope Leo XIII responded to the Industrial Revolution in Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIV now responds to a new digital revolution. But this time the danger is not only exploitation of human labour. It is the gradual reduction of the human person into data, efficiency, consumption, and controllable behaviour.
One of the strongest themes running through the document is the concentration of power. The Pope repeatedly warns about systems — political, technological, and economic — that increasingly gather influence into the hands of a small number of individuals or institutions. Artificial intelligence can become a tool not only of progress, but of manipulation: shaping opinions, controlling attention, influencing behaviour, and quietly reducing human freedom. In many ways, Pope Leo identifies one of the greatest temptations of modern civilisation: the desire to maximise power, productivity, and influence by extracting more and more from others. Human attention becomes a commodity. Relationships become transactional. Even silence and rest are treated as inefficiency.
Theologically, this reflects one of the oldest patterns of sin: the desire to dominate rather than to serve. This is why the encyclical repeatedly contrasts intelligence with wisdom. Artificial intelligence may analyse information, imitate speech, and organise knowledge, but it cannot love, repent, sacrifice, worship, or possess conscience. Human beings are not machines. We possess souls. We are capable of communion with God and with one another. No algorithm can reproduce this mystery. Pope Leo also warns that society increasingly risks losing its relationship with truth itself. Synthetic media, digital manipulation, and systems designed to influence emotion create a culture where reality becomes unstable. Here the encyclical echoes Christ’s own words: “The truth will make you free” (John 8:32). When truth is weakened, freedom itself begins to disappear.
Another major theme is work. The Pope strongly rejects the idea that human worth should be measured only by productivity or usefulness. Catholic theology has always understood work as participation in God’s creative action. Human labour possesses dignity because the worker possesses dignity. Technology should assist the human person, not slowly render humanity spiritually irrelevant.
The encyclical is particularly powerful when discussing autonomous weapons and AI-driven warfare. Machines may calculate probabilities, but only human beings can make moral judgments. To delegate decisions of life and death to systems without conscience is, for Pope Leo, a deeply dangerous step for civilisation.
Yet perhaps the deepest insight of Magnifica Humanitas is its spiritual diagnosis of modern humanity. The real crisis is not technological but theological. The danger is not simply that machines become more human-like, but that human beings begin living like machines: constantly connected yet isolated, endlessly stimulated yet spiritually empty, efficient yet incapable of contemplation.
At several points the Pope recalls the image of the Tower of Babel. Humanity again seeks greatness through its own power while attempting to build a civilisation without transcendence. The result is confusion, fragmentation, and loss of meaning.
The Christian response is therefore neither fear of technology nor blind enthusiasm for it. The Church does not reject scientific progress. Rather, she insists that every development must remain ordered towards the good of the human person and ultimately towards God.
In the end, Magnifica Humanitas is far more than an encyclical about artificial intelligence. It is a warning about a civilisation that risks losing its soul. And at the same time, it is a call to rediscover what it truly means to be human.
St Thomas of Canterbury, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
St Bernadette, pray for us.
St Edith of Kemsing, pray for us.
Fr Peter Kucharski, Parish Priest of Sevenoaks
12 Granville Road email
Sevenoaks 01732 454177
TN13 1ER