Register
10 Oct 09:30 am Sat
St Thomas - Rosary (after Mass)
10 Oct 11:00 am Sat
St Thomas - Marian Chant
15 Oct 10:00 am Thu
St Thomas - Coffee morning to 11:45
15 Oct 12:30 pm Thu
St Thomas - Divine Mercy Chaplet, after Noon Mass
15 Oct 12:45 pm Thu
St Thomas - Mothers Prayer
17 Oct 09:30 am Sat
St Thomas - Rosary (after Mass)
20 Oct 7:30 pm Tue
St Thomas - Padre Pio Prayer Group
21 Oct 7:30 pm Wed
St Thomas - Bible Study
30 Oct 07:15 am Fri
St Thomas - Fathers prayers
03 Nov 7:30 pm Tue
St Thomas - Padre Pio Prayer Group
07 Nov 10:00 am Sat
Most Holy Trinity - garden tidy
12 Nov 2026
Poland Pilgrimage - last day to book 12 Nov
05 Dec 7:30 pm Sat
Otford Village Hall - Wine tasting evening
11 Dec 11:00 am Sat
St Thomas - Marian Chant
The Parish Priest writes:
11TH OCTOBER 2026 - TWENTY EIGTH SUNDAY
Dear Friends,
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus constantly invites people: “Come and follow me,” “Come and see,” “Come to me,” “Come, have something to eat.” At the heart of these invitations is his desire to draw us into friendship with him.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to the wedding feast through the parable of the wedding banquet. A king prepares a feast for his son and sends his servants to invite the guests. Yet some refuse to come. They are busy with their own lives: one goes to his farm, another to his business. The invitation is good, and the feast is ready, but they are too busy to come. Perhaps this is one of the greatest challenges for us today. Sometimes we are simply too busy. Without realising it, we can gradually leave less space for God.
Yet the Lord continues to say to us: “Come to my feast.” Every Sunday, this invitation becomes real in the Eucharist. The altar is the table of the Lord. We gather as his family, listen to his Word and receive Christ himself in Holy Communion. The Lord does not merely give us something; he gives us himself. Let us not allow busyness to make us miss the Lord’s invitation. Each time we gather around the Eucharistic table, Christ welcomes us to the feast of his love, nourishes us with his Body and Blood, and strengthens us to be his disciples in the world.
This Sunday 11th October is Prisoners’ Sunday. On this day, the Gospel reminds us that God's invitation is extended to everyone. We remember men and women in prison, people leaving prison, families carrying the pain of separation, children missing a parent, victims and survivors of crime, prison staff, chaplains, probation workers and volunteers. Through prison ministry, the Church brings Christ's message of hope, mercy and reconciliation to all who often feel abandoned and isolated.
As we encounter Christ in the Eucharist, may our hearts be opened to those who are forgotten, especially our brothers and sisters in prison. Let us pray for prisoners, their families, prison staff, and all involved in prison ministry, that they may experience the healing and transforming love of Christ. In this way, we help to extend God's invitation to the great banquet where all are called to share in his joy and peace.
Fr Shaiju - Assistant Priest
Registration for FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
The registration for the First Holy Communion and Reconciliation programme is now open. To register your child online, click HERE. Children can apply as long as they are in Academic Year 3 or above in September 2026 or were born before 31st August 2019. Parents will attend sessions with Fr Peter, while the catechists will lead sessions with the children. It will also require parents to complete sessions at home. There will be an initial meeting for parents on Thursday 15th October at 7:00pm. The programme begins on Thursday 12th November. All sessions are from 4:00pm to 5:00pm at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Sevenoaks. All dates are listed at the end of the registration form. There is a charge of £20 towards the cost of the materials. For information, email sevenoaksfhc@rcaos.org.uk.
Are you a Gift Aider?
If you are a taxpayer and gift to the parish, you can boost your gift by 25% at no extra cost to you. You only need to register for Gift Aid ONCE. So, if you are new to the parish or have not registered yet, please do so. Whenever you donate and we can identify the donor, the Diocese can claim the tax you have already paid back from HMRC. This means that, for every £1 you give, the parish can receive an additional 25p through Gift Aid. It costs you nothing extra, but makes a significant difference to the amount the parish receives over the course of the year.
Whether you donate by Standing Order, Bank Transfer, on the Contactless machine in the porch or using a Mass offering envelope, the parish can benefit from your Gift Aid registration for years. It is a simple way of making your regular giving go further and helping us to meet the costs of maintaining our churches and supporting the many activities and ministries of our parish.
A very big thank you to everyone who already uses Gift Aid. Your regular support makes a real difference, and we are grateful for the additional income that your Gift Aid declaration brings to the parish.
If you are a UK taxpayer and haven’t registered yet, please consider doing so today. You can complete a form available in the porch, or text Sean Corrigan (sevenoaksgac@rcaos.org.uk) on call / text 07771 945321 and he will send you a digital form. It takes only a few minutes, but the benefit to the parish can continue for many years.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS (RCIA)
YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO JOIN! Do you, or someone you know, desire to become a Catholic? We would love to hear from you. Everyone is welcome.
Our RCIA sessions are on Sundays, starting with the 9:15am Mass followed by a group meeting until 10:45am. Come and begin your journey of faith with us!
Contact the RCIA coordinators, Paul Boyle and Andrew Wilkinson or call the parish office at 01732 454 177 or click here or here for information.
If you are a Baptised Catholic and want to be Confirmed, this is for you.
The ADULT CONFIRMATION PREPARATION group is having meetings on Sunday 11th, 18th and 25th October at 7.00pm. If you have expressed a wish to be Confirmed but have not been contacted about the dates, let us know. Similarly, if you are a baptised Catholic and have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and would like to join the preparation, contact Fr Peter as soon as possible at: piotrkucharski@rcaos.org.uk.
Let Us Walk
Pilgrims on the “Let Us Walk” pilgrimage from Maidstone to Southwark passed through Otford. Some were given overnight accommodation and food by Most Holy Trinity parishioners. In the photo, they were about to head off to St Vincent’s church in Dartford.
Notices:
SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK is for Missio, which is the Church’s official organ for the support of foreign missions. The funds help churches, hospitals, schools and vocations in countries where the church is new, young or poor. To donate, use the Missio envelope, call 020 7821 9755 (office hours) or click here to give a gift, set up a Direct Debit and Gift Aid your donation if possible.
PRISONERS’ SUNDAY. This Sunday 11th October is Prisoners’ Sunday. The Church encourages everyone to pray for prisoners and their families. It's an opportunity to consider how we, as individuals and as communities, are serving our brothers and sisters affected by imprisonment. Having a mother, father, husband, wife, son or daugheter in prison can have a devastating impact. More than half of families are struggling to afford the basics for themselves and their children. Your support will help women and men in prison and their families to make a fresh start. To donate to PACT, the national Catholic prison charity, click here or use an envelope. PACT has been helping people in need for more than 125 years. It supports prisoners and their families offering them hope and the chance to turn their lives around. The work at Pact draws on the values of our faith: dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity and the belief that everyone can start again, whatever they may have done.
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.
ADVENT QUIET DAY will be on Saturday 12th December. Details to follow.
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.
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.
ADORATION IN OTFORD. With the nights closing in, the time of the Holy Hour at Most Holy Trinity on Thursday evenings is now from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
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.
22nd Oct: My life journey from Kerala to Sevenoaks by Fr Shaiju
5th Nov: Framing and the history of picture framing by Sandie Peters
19th Nov: Which festive wines to pick? The unofficial guide by Ben Newton
26th Nov: Poems for Advent by Gilly Fenner
3rd Dec: Life in the BBC world news by Madeleine Busvine
17th Dec: Christmas Carols led by Kathleen Bouverie
TEACH ME TO PRAY. How do we pray? How do we build a better, more fulfilling relationship with God? You are warmly invited to join an experiential programme called Teach Us to Pray facilitated by Southwark Diocesan Spirituality Commission. The programme will be online on Tuesdays, starting 6th October from 7:00pm to 8:15pm. Following 4 online sessions, there is an invitation for an in-person Reflection Day in a Diocesan Retreat Centre on 5th or 12th December. Join us whenever you can. For details, click here.
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 21st October. Email Paul with any queries.
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 10th October: after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 11th October: after 8:00am; after 6:00pm Mass
Saturday 17th October: Repository NOT OPEN after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 18th October: open after every Mass
ST GREGORY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL. Open Evening - Thursday 15th October – 5.00pm to 7.30pm Headteacher presentations at 5.15pm and 6.45pm. Parking available. Register for our open events here - Discover life beyond the classroom - Every child is known, loved and called to greatness. Address: Reynolds Lane, Tunbridge Wells TN4 9XLTel: 01892 527444
ACHING FOR GREATNESS. Young people are searching for meaning, identity, purpose and a life that truly satisfies. In this online Masterclass, Catholic speaker and author Tanner Kalina explores why so many young people are restless and how the timeless truths of the Catholic faith speak powerfully into that ache for greatness. This evening is especially for catechists, parents, parish leaders, youth ministers and anyone passionate about sharing the faith with the next generation. Gain fresh insight into the spiritual hunger shaping young people today & discover practical ways to accompany them with authenticity, beauty and depth. Tuesday 13th October | 7:30pm - Online Webinar | £5. Register here.
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.
ST FRANCIS. Pope Leo XIV has decreed 2026 as the Year of Saint Francis - a time when we are called to embrace this great saint’s spirit and example. The St. Padre Pio Prayer Group invites you to an evening of prayer, song and discussion as we explore ways to help us achieve this in today’s complex and modern world. Join us on Tuesday 29th September at 8:00pm (straight after adoration) in the parish room.
SAVE THE DATES. There will be a garden tidy session at Holy Trinity Otford on Saturday 7th November and a Wine Tasting Social event at Otford Village Hall on the evening of Saturday December 5th. Details for both will follow nearer the time.
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
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.
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.
BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE. On Saturday Oct 3rd 2026 couples are invited to a day where they can privately explore their relationship more deeply and gain valuable insights into the communicationand the call of the Church to be married at St Matthew church hall, 37 Norwood High St, West Norwood, London SE27 9JU, from 9.00am till 4.30pm. The one-day course is for married couples (whether married for one year, 60 years or anywhere in between). It seeks to help husbands and wives to make their marriages better and to improve their communication skills and learn how to raise issues without hurting each other. There is no group sharing and private information remains private to each couple. The unique selling point of this day is it is NOT marriage counselling. Refreshments will be provided but please bring a packed lunch. Booking is essential. To apply please contact: Carole on mflkent@rcaos.org.uk or by phone on 07983 524 727
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 meet on the following Thursdays: 24th September at 8.30pm, 22nd October at 8:30pm, 26th November at 8:30pm, 10th December at 8:30pm. Email mflkent@rcaos.org.uk to sign up or receive more information
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
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.
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
Pat Craig-McFeely
Tuesday 3rd November at 11:00am at St Thomas’, Sevenoaks
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.
Fr Peter Kucharski, Parish Priest of Sevenoaks
12 Granville Road email
Sevenoaks 01732 454177
TN13 1ER