The Parish Priest writes:

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15 MARCH 2026  - THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - LAETARE SUNDAY

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 THIS WEEK is for the Easter flowers.
 

SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK is for Poor Parishes. It enables the Archbishop to make grants to the smaller parishes in the Diocese.
 

CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME 2026. For all those currently in Year 7 or above, the registration for the Confirmation Programme is now open. Register online at sevrcparish.org.uk. A welcome meeting for parents, candidates and catechists will be held on Thursday May 21st from 7:30pm-9:00pm at St Thomas’ church. Closing date for registration is on Friday April 24th.
 

CATECHISTS. We are also looking for catechists to help with the delivery of the Confirmation Programme. If you can help, email Gabrielle Ellis 
 

THURSDAY COFFEE MORNING. There is a series of events scheduled during the Thursday Coffee Mornings (10:00am to 11:45am), in the parish centre at St Thomas’ church. All events start at 10:30am.

19th March - Celebrating St Patrick’s day, with songs led by Aidan Kiely

23rd April - A little magic on St George’s day, Janet Clare (a magic circle magician)

28th May: Bradbourne Lakes, John Ingram

25th June: Talk about Racet (The rural Africa children’s education trust), Deirdre Trapp and Adetunji Adeleye

23rd July - Poetry as prayer, led by Gilly Fenner
 

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 
 

SICK AND HOUSEBOUND. In order to prepare for Holy Week, if you want a priest to visit you, someone in your family or a friend for Confession and/or Holy Communion, speak to the priest after Mass or email or call the parish office.

ALTAR SERVERS. To assist with Easter celebrations we are seeking Altar Servers for the Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday Masses at St Thomas’. We need a minimum of 3 Servers per Mass. The times are:

8:00pm - Maundy Thursday

3:00pm - Good Friday service

8:00pm - Easter Vigil

8:00am; 9:15am; 11:15am - Easter Sunday

Email Catherine if your child can serve and confirming which Mass and time.

PARISH SUMMER PARTY. Save the date of Sunday 12th July, from 12:00noon onwards for the Parish Summer Party. You won’t want to miss it!

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CONFESSIONS at St Thomas’ are available on Saturdays 10am and 5.15pm for 30 mins. During Lent we will also be available before the evening Mass on Sundays 5.30pm. In the chapels of ease please ask the priest before/after the weekday Mass. Our Lenten Reconciliation Service will be on Wednesday 1st April at 7:00pm.

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HOSPITALITY VOLUNTEERS. As part of our Lenten talks, scheduled for Wednesday, March 11th and 18th, and Monday, March 23rd, at 7:30pm, we are looking for volunteers who can provide dinner for our speaker at 5:30pm on any of those dates. A warm welcome and a simple meal would be greatly appreciated. If you’re able to help, please email Ben Andradi. Thank you for making our Lenten season more meaningful.​

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TRUTH SEEKERS. The next meeting is in the parish centre on Saturday 14th March after the 6:00pm Mass. We are running The Search series until 28th March. Click here for details. We are watching and discussing the content together over supper and finish by 8:00pm. We ask parents interested in their teenagers to participate to join a WhatsApp group to facilitate planning by emailing the parish office at parish office, informing the name of your teenager, your name and phone number.

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.

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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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TRAINING FOR BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY. The next day of formation for Bereavement Support Groups will be on Saturday May 9th, in the Walden Room, Aylesford Priory. For information, email mflbereavement@rcaos.org.uk.

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MEN’S RETREAT - Who do you say that I am? Our Parish Retreat for men will be in Aylesford from 1st to 3rd May. It will be a weekend of exploration, prayer and encouragement. Clare Cameron, who facilitated our women’s retreat last year, will lead us again. She is a spiritual director and retreat facilitator working at the Jesuit Centre St Beuno’s in North Wales. The cost, including full board, is £250. If interested, please fill up a registration form available in the back of the church or download it from 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 8th March.

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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.​

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LENTEN QUIET DAY. You are invited to a Lenten Quiet Day of Reflection on Saturday 21st March 2026 at The Barn, Poult Farm, Ashes Lane, Hadlow, TN11 9QU (entrance opposite North Frith Farm) from 10:00 to 16:00. Through the use of poetry, prayer, music, scripture and nature, it will be a day for quiet contemplation of the Stations of the Cross. As we journey through Lent, you will be able to walk at your own pace with Jesus along the road to Golgotha. There will be an opportunity to walk the labyrinth. The day will be led by Gilly Fenner who has worked as a spiritual director for over 22 years. Please bring a packed lunch and a change of shoes as part of the day can be spent outside. Numbers are limited to 20 so please book early. Suggested contribution is £5. If you would like to attend, please email Gilly ​​​

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PRAY THE ROSARY WITH THE ARCHBISHOP. Every Friday at 5:00pm during Lent, we will pray the Romero Rosary at the National Shrine of St Oscar Romero in St George’s Cathedral. Archbishop John will personally lead the devotion on Ash Wednesday and again on Friday 6th March and Friday 27th March. On all other Fridays, the Cathedral clergy will lead the Rosary, followed by the Stations of the Cross at 6:00pm.

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AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST. The Archdiocese of Southwark has launched an exciting apologetics project to provide evidence-based answers to questions such as "Is Jesus God?" or “Does prayer work?”. Ambassadors for Christ is designed to equip you with a deeper understanding of your faith, so you can confidently answer questions and be a joyful witness for the Lord Jesus and his Church. Every Monday, a new video will be posted on YouTube, along with a worksheet to enable parishes, schools, youth groups and families to use them as part of their faith formation. To watch the videos and take part in this exciting project, please click here.

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SAVE THE DATE. The renowned choir, The Sixteen will be returning to St Thomas Church to perform on the evening of Friday 19th June. Make sure to include the event in your diaries.

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A DAY WITH MARY is taking place at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 14th March from 9:45am to 5:00pm. For information click here.

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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. CALLED TO LOVE is a retreat for singles, dating and engaged young adults who want to think more deeply about relationships and the call to marriage. A relaxed weekend with input, prayer, discussion and social, as well as the opportunity to meet like-minded others! This year's retreat will have as its theme masculinity and femininity. Runs from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd May, with the option of staying Friday night.For information, click here.

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YOUNG ADULTS. The Easter retreat for young adults at Worth Abbey is from Maundy Thursday 2nd April to Easter Sunday 5th April. Plus optional walking pilgrimage from Brighton, leaving on Palm Sunday. Come and celebrate together the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the greatest Feast of the year and of our faith. There will be talks from monks, space for personal reflection, group discussion, social time and beautiful liturgy. The cost is £200 (£100 places available - please enquire at retreats@worth.org.uk for more details). To book your place click here.

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TRAINING FOR BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY. The next day of formation for Bereavement Support Groups will be on Saturday May 9th, in the Walden Room, Aylesford Priory. For information, email mflbereavement@rcaos.org.uk.

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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.

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REPOSITORY SHOP TIMES THIS WEEK
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Saturday 14th March: after 6:00pm Mass

Sunday 15th March: after 8:00am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass

Saturday 21st March: after 6:00pm Mass

Sunday 22nd March: after all Masses

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Cards for Mothering Sunday, St Patrick's Day and Easter are available for sale in the Tom Quinn porch. Remember to get yours!

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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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MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE 2026. After two most fruitful trips to Medjugorje in 2024 and 2025, we have booked a week’s pilgrimage to Medjugorje from 13th to 20th May 2026, where we expect Fr Piotr to be joining us. The cost is £768 per person which will include travel from London Gatwick, transfers from Split to Medjugorje, half board shared hotel accommodation, and a local guide to suggest a daily itinerary. The emphasis will be on daily Masses, Confession, Adoration, and an opportunity for the more physically able to climb Prdbdo and Krizevac. Our Lady Queen of Peace will show us what we must do to get closer to Our Lord. Please contact Barry Authers if you would like to join our group: 07773 658469.

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ST PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP. You are invited to join us on Tuesdays at 7:30 with refreshments, praise and worship, followed by reflection and prayer. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month in the Parish Centre for an evening of fellowship and spiritual enrichment. For any queries, please contact Deacon Neil. We look forward to welcoming you.

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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.

We are also looking for new trustees. If interested, email rev.annebourne@gmail.com.​​

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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​​​​​​

Marietta Allen

Funeral on Friday 13th March at 10:45am, St Thomas'

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Marie Humphries

Funeral on Tuesday 7th April at 12:00noon at MHT, Otford

Donald Morgan

Funeral on Monday 13th April at 10:30am at St Joseph’s, Borough Green

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

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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