Register
05 Feb 10:00 am Thu
St Thomas - Coffee morning to 11:45
05 Feb Noon Thu
St Thomas - Mothers Prayer
10 Feb 7:30 pm Tue
St Thomas - Padre Pio Prayer Group
12 Feb 10:00 am Thu
St Thomas - Coffee morning to 11:45
12 Feb Noon Thu
St Thomas - Mothers Prayer (after Mass)
18 Feb
Ash Wednesday
24 Feb 7:30 pm Tue
St Thomas - Padre Pio Prayer Group
14 Mar 7:30 pm Sat
St Joseph's - Quiz Night
21 Mar 10:00 am Sat
Poult Farm - Lent Quiet Day
22 Mar time tbc
St Thomas - Taize Evening
The Parish Priest writes:
​​
2 FEBRUARY 2026 - THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear Friends,
​
This Sunday we observe Racial Justice Sunday, and it sets a fitting tone for the Word of God we hear at Mass. At its heart, racial justice is not first about slogans or statements, but about how we see one another before God. The prophet Zephaniah speaks of a people who are “humble and lowly,” a people who do not rely on power or deceit, but who “seek refuge in the name of the Lord.” Justice, in the biblical sense, begins with humility—knowing who we are, and who we are not.
​
Saint Paul makes the same point when writing to the Corinthians. God does not build His Kingdom according to worldly measures. “Not many of you were wise… not many were powerful.” God chooses what is weak and overlooked, so that no one may boast except in Him. Any sense of superiority—racial, cultural, or spiritual—has no place before God. That prepares us for the Gospel. Jesus goes up the mountain and opens His teaching with words that still challenge us: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Not blessed are the self-sufficient or the confident, but those who know their need of God. To be poor in spirit is about truth. It is the freedom of standing before God without masks or claims to superiority. Where poverty of spirit is present, there is room for listening, compassion, and genuine encounter. This is where justice begins.
​
This coming Monday (2nd February), we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord. Mary and Joseph bring the child Jesus to the Temple quietly and obediently, offering what the poor could afford. Simeon recognises in that child the Light for all nations. Then on Tuesday, we celebrate Saint Blaise, and at Mass there will be the traditional Blessing of Throats—a simple prayer placing our vulnerability and health into God’s hands. Finally, In just over two weeks, we will begin Lent. Lent is not about proving our strength, but about making space —space for prayer, space for truth, space for God to act.
​
Perhaps this week we might carry one simple question in our hearts: Where am I being invited to let go of pride, so that God’s justice and mercy can grow? The Beatitudes are a quiet path for ordinary believers, preparing us—together—for the journey ahead.
​
With prayers and blessings.
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
​
*******************************​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​
SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEK is for Racial Justice, which supports the work of the Church towards the promotion of racial justice in our schools, parishes and wider society.​
​
RACIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY. Archbishop John Wilson will celebrate Mass for Racial Justice Sunday at St George’s Cathedral on Sunday 1st February 2026, at 10:00am. This is a time for the Church to pray, reflect and take action against racism, while celebrating the diversity of our Archdiocese.
​​
CHURCH MAINTENANCE. As you will have noticed, the old carpet in the sanctuary at St Thomas’ has now been removed. It had deteriorated significantly and was beyond repair. This forms part of our ongoing care for the fabric and beauty of our church. Following the launch of our building fund fundraising appeal last year, we are now in a position to consider the next steps. Thank you for your ongoing support. The removal of the carpet has also revealed the original floor beneath, which had been covered for many decades and is itself an important part of the church’s history. At this stage, there are two possible directions to be considered: either the exact replacement of the carpet, or the restoration of the original floor, with or without certain aesthetic or practical adaptations. Any restoration or alteration of the original floor would require careful consideration and approval from the Diocesan Art and Architecture Committee and the Finance Committee. At this point, no decisions have been made and you are warmly invited to share your reflections on whether they favour the restoration of the original floor or the replacement of the carpet, and to express any general comments they may have. There will also be opportunities to support future developments through the building fund. If you would like to share your thoughts, please submit them to Fr Piotr (piotrkucharski@rcaos.org.uk) or to Ben (ben.andradi@gmail.com).
​​
QUIZ NIGHT. There will be a quiz night at St Joseph’s on Saturday 14th March from 7.30pm. The tickets is £12.50 per person and it includes ploughman’s supper and tea/ coffee, with tables of 6 people. Bring own drinks, glasses and nibbles and cash for the raffle. Contact Margaret at 01732 885295 for tickets.
TAIZÉ. We will hold our Taizé Lenten service on Sunday 22nd. March. Please hold it in your diaries. It will be a special time to reflect and pray with beautiful chants surrounding you, as we approach the end of Lent.​
ST JOSEPH’S CONSECRATION ANNIVERSARY. Our February coffee morning coincides with the 6th anniversary of the Consecration of our church to St Joseph and we would like to celebrate this occasion with lots of food. Sign up on the sheet to bring a plate of food to share.
​
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. We will organise practice walks from April onwards.
​
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.
​
THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL. Following the Parish Mission, some parishioners may be thinking about how they can grow in their Christian discipleship and exercise of charity in more concrete ways. The Society of St Vincent de Paul (which was set up in the parish following the 1992 Mission) could offer a way forward. The SVP is not just about raising funds and providing financial help. We also carry out a monthly shop for the Loaves & Fishes foodbank and, importantly, visit and phone the sick, the lonely and those otherwise in need of befriending. The demands on members time aren’t excessive. If anyone would like to know more and decide whether this might be for you, text or call 07918 808222. Paul Boyle​
​
THURSDAY COFFEE MORNINGS. Join us for the Thursday coffee mornings at St Thomas’s parish centre between 10:00am - 11:45am. All are welcome.
​​
JOB OPPORTUNITY. St Thomas’ Primary School is looking for a Site Manager. We would encourage applicants who are interested in developing and improving our school environment and happy to work in a team. The position requires 20 hours/week, Mon-Fri 07:30-11:30 (term time only), with an additional 3 weeks during the holidays at mutually convenient times arranged in advance with the Headteacher. Applicants are invited to visit us prior to application to discover our friendly school. Contact us directly on 01732 453 921.
​
REPOSITORY SHOP TIMES THIS WEEK​
Saturday 31st January: after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 1st February: after 8:00am Mass; after 9:15am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass
Saturday 7th February: Repository NOT open after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 8th February: after 8:00am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass
​
Make a detour via the Shop in the Tom Quinn porch on your way out after Mass, or have look in the basket on the table near the doors. Come, have a chat and a browse.
​
TRUTH SEEKERS. Our Youth Ministry programme has sessions on Saturdays, from 7pm to 8pm, in the St Thomas’ parish centre. Teens (aged 13 to 17 years old) are welcome to bring a friend. Come and join us for a meal and lots of fun. Watch this space to find out about the next dates.
​​
ST THOMAS' CHURCH CLEANING. We are in desperate need for more parishioners to offer themselves for this important church ministry. Due to various reasons half of the cleaning team had to step back at the end of 2025 so we are now reliant on only six parishioners to maintain the standards of cleanliness at St Thomas'. The commitment is just one hour a month either during a weekday, an evening or a Saturday. You'll be part of a small team and full instruction would be given. Please contact James by calling/texting 07917032024 or by email at jamesmcsharry@hotmail.com if you can help.
​
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.​
​
PARISH RETREATS 2026. Save the date for the Men’s retreat, from 1st to 3rd May, which will be facilitated by spiritual director Clare Cameron. The Women’s retreat will be from 19th to 21st June, led by Canon Luke Smith, who has held many significant roles in our Diocese and some will remember him from his time as an assistant priest in our parish. For information, contact Catherine ​
​
UKRAINIAN CANDLE APPEAL. In recent years, we had a wonderful response to our request for candles for Ukraine. The candles, unused or used, are melted down and reconstituted in tins to be sent to the Ukrainian troops to heat their food during winter. Candles are still needed and contributions will be gratefully received. There is a box in each church. Thank you.
​
MOST HOLY TRINITY. Adoration at Most Holy Trinity (Otford) during the winter will be from 7:00pm to 8:00pm, which is half an hour earlier than usual.
​
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.
​
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.
​
BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE DAY. On Saturday 7th March 2026 couples are invited to a day where they can privately explore their relationship more deeply and gain valuable insights into the communication and the call of the Church to be married at Corpus Christi church ‘Fisher hall’, at Lyons Crescent, TONBRIDGE, Kent, TN9 1FB (for parking). The one- day course (9.00am till 4.30pm) 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 - Marriage Care and Retrouvaille do a brilliant job at this! 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.
​
RETROUVAILLE. LAST CALL for online marriage programme. Does your marriage need some TLC? Need help with communication and trust? Retrouvaille helps marriages. It can bring hope and healing to relationships. Next date: 12th February 2026.For information, go to www.retrouvaille.org.uk or call 07887 296983. Check this video for more information.
​
BEREAVEMENT. The Bereavement Support 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.
We are also looking for new trustees. If interested, email rev.annebourne@gmail.com.​​
​
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
​
MOTHER’S PRAYERS every Thursday after the 12noon Mass in the Parish Centre. It is a special time for mothers to unite in faith and offer prayers for their families and the broader community. All are welcome.
RECENTLY DIED
Alexandra Harris
Funeral on 3rd February at 12:30pm, Bluebell Crematorium
​
Anthony Murphy
Funeral on Friday 6th March at 11:00am, Most Holy Trintiy, Otford
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE
​​
********************
​
​
Where Did The Bible Come From?
​
The Bible is the most widely read book in human history. It is quoted, debated, loved, rejected, and—today more than ever—easily accessible. A few taps on a phone and the whole of Scripture opens before us. Yet precisely because it is so familiar and so available, we can forget to ask a very basic question: where did the Bible actually come from?
​
Unlike other books, we cannot contact the author or the publisher. And yet the Bible did not fall from heaven ready-bound. It has a real history, shaped by God and written through human hands. To say that the Bible comes from God is entirely true—but it is also true that it was written, preserved, and recognised within history. That process is, in itself, remarkable. Strictly speaking, the Bible is not a single book. It is a library—a collection of writings composed over many centuries, in different places, cultures, and circumstances. Together, these texts tell one great story: God’s patient and faithful relationship with humanity, culminating in Jesus Christ (cf. Heb 1:1–2).
​
The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew and reflects the faith, struggle, prayer, and hope of Israel. The New Testament, written in Greek—the common language of the Mediterranean world—proclaims the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of the Church. In total, Scripture spans well over a millennium of lived history and draws on many human authors—shepherds and kings, prophets and fishermen, poets and letter-writers. God did not erase their personalities; He worked through them.
​
Scripture itself explains how this is possible. Saint Paul writes that “all Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Tim 3:16). The word inspired literally means “God-breathed”. God is the true author, yet He speaks through human voices. As Saint Peter clarifies, “men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet 1:21). The writers were not dictated to, nor placed in a trance. They wrote as real people, using their language, experience, and ability, guided and protected by the Holy Spirit. That is why the Bible contains law and poetry, narrative and prayer, sharp prophecy and gentle letters. It is living, not mechanical.
​
Over time, these writings were recognised by the believing community as authoritative— not because someone imposed a list from above, but because the Church heard in them the voice of the Shepherd (cf. Jn 10:27). This process is known as canonisation. The Church did not create the Word of God; she received it, guarded it, and handed it on (cf. Dei Verbum, 10).
​
One final step decisively shaped how the Bible is known in the English-speaking world: translation. From the earliest centuries, Scripture was translated so that God’s Word could be heard and understood—most notably in the Greek Septuagint, already widely used in the time of Jesus and the Apostles. Translation, therefore, is not a modern invention, but part of the Church’s missionary instinct from the beginning.
​
For English speakers, a historic turning point came in 1611 with the publication of the King James Bible. Commissioned to provide a dignified, accurate, and unified English text for worship and public reading, it drew on the best biblical scholarship available at the time and shaped the language, prayer, and spirituality of generations. Its influence on English literature and religious imagination cannot be overstated. Even today, many phrases familiar to us come directly from its pages. Since then, biblical scholarship has continued to develop. Earlier manuscripts have been discovered, linguistic knowledge has deepened, and our understanding of ancient cultures has grown. For this reason, modern translations have been produced—not to replace the Bible, but to help readers encounter the same Word of God with greater clarity and accuracy. Some translations aim to stay very close to the original wording; others focus more on conveying the meaning in contemporary language. This explains why translations can sound different, even though they proclaim the same truth.
​
Let be clear: the differences between translations are not differences of faith. No essential Christian doctrine depends on a disputed verse or a single translation choice. The Church evaluates translations carefully, ensuring they are faithful to the original texts and suitable for prayer, teaching, and proclamation. What changes is not the message, but the doorway through which we enter it.
​
And so, when we open the Bible today—whether a printed book or a screen—we are not simply reading ancient words. We are listening to a voice that has been carefully guarded, faithfully handed on, and thoughtfully translated, so that God may still speak now.
​​​​​​​​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