The Parish Priest writes:

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9 NOVEMBER 2025  - REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

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This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, known as the Mother and Head of all Churches of the City and of the World. The Lateran Basilica is the Pope’s cathedral — the seat of the Bishop of Rome — and therefore the most ancient and important church in Christendom. It was originally built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century on land belonging to the Laterani family. For over a thousand years the Popes lived there, and it was the centre of the Church’s life, long before St Peter’s Basilica was built.

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The dedication of a church is a sign of something far deeper — it points to the mystery of the Church herself. The walls of stone remind us that we, too, are “living stones built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). The feast does not honour a building alone, but the people of God who, through faith and baptism, become the true dwelling-place of the Lord. Each time we enter our parish church, we continue the meaning of that ancient dedication — for we step into the living temple of God, where heaven touches earth. This feast also reminds us of unity. The Lateran Basilica stands as a visible symbol that every local parish is connected to the one universal Church. However small or large, every church shares in the same foundation — Christ Himself. In a time when the world often builds walls of division, the Church is called to build bridges of faith, love, and reconciliation.

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Today is also Remembrance Sunday, when we bow our heads in gratitude for all who gave their lives in war so that others might live in peace. The silence we keep is sacred — a moment when the noise of the world gives way to the quiet voice of God, calling humanity to remember not only the cost of war, but the preciousness of peace.

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In addition, this weekend we take the second collection for the Archbishop’s Appeal of the Archdiocese of Southwark. This appeal supports three key areas of diocesan mission and ministry: Youth and Evangelisation, Our Faith in Action (social outreach and charity), and Clergy Care and Formation. Every gift, whatever its size, helps our Archdiocese to support parishes and schools in South London and Kent, enabling us to live out our mission with Faith, Hope and Love. Please give generously and in thanksgiving.

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May the Lord renew in us the desire to be true builders of peace — living stones in His temple, bound together by love, firm upon the foundation of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

With every blessing,

Fr Peter
Parish Priest

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PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS​

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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 WEEKEND is for the Archbishop’s Appeal. Funds are invested in Youth and Evangelisation, Social Outreach and Clergy Care.

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REMEMBRANCE DAY. In Sevenoaks, the Remembrance Parade will be at the Vine War Memorial on Sunday, November 9th at 10:40am. The Otford service will take place on the Village Green at 10:50am as well. Please walk up after 9.30am Mass to join in this prayerful occasion.

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BLESSING OF THE GRAVES this year will be on Sunday 16th November at 3:00pm, at Greatness Cemetery.

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MAINTENANCE FUND. In 2025, our budget of £60,000 allowed us to undertake various urgent repairs at St Thomas’ Church and the presbytery. So far, we have carried out significant maintenance on the church roof, almost completed the electrical works, and replaced most of the presbytery windows. The refurbishment of both the presbytery and the church is well underway. All these costs have been covered by donations made to the Parish Maintenance Fund, for which we are extremely grateful.

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In addition to the ongoing refurbishment of the presbytery, the focus will now shift to flooring the sanctuary, sacristy, and porch of St Thomas’ Church, as well as fitting acoustic panels in the downstairs room of the parish centre. The anticipated 2026 budget is around £125,000. For details, descriptions of the works, cost breakdowns, and information on how to contribute, check the website or contact the parish office. We are very grateful for all contributions made so far. Every little helps as we care for the heart of our parish together.

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ST THOMAS’ SCHOOL. Be Part of the Fun – PTA Raffle Tickets! Help out our school and join the excitement! The PTA will be selling raffle tickets after Mass on the weekends of November 15th–16th, 22nd–23rd, and 29th–30th. Don’t miss your chance to support St Thomas' Catholic School.​

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COAT APPEAL. SVP is holding an appeal for coats for the refugees in Northern France on the weekend of 15th and 16th of November. The Care4Calais warehouse is nearly empty and winter approaches. We are collecting ONLY COATS this time and mainly men’s please: new or in good condition. For details, contact Paul at 07918808222 or Frances Smith ​

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MOST HOLY TRINITY. Starting on Thursday 6th November, 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.

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COFFEE and CAKE. Join us for coffee, tea, cake and company every Thursday from 10:00am to 11:45am at the St Thomas’s parish centre. On 6th November, Fiona Newton will give a presentation on the recent parish pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. All are welcome.​​

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TAIZE. The TAIZE - Advent Service will be on Sunday 30th November at 7:00pm, at St Thomas’s. Join un for an hour of stillness to reflect and pray with the option to join in singing. There will be refreshments afterwards. Donations are in aid of our parish building maintenance (recommended minimum of £ 5). All welcome.

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A NEW VISION FOR RUNNING YOUR HOME. SMART Home Management is a practical programme looking at how we can better run our homes and help our children to be positively involved too. It covers topics such as decluttering, meal planning, laundry, communication, roles and relationships within the home. Sessions will run on Mondays from 10:00am to 11:30am in the St Thomas’s parish centre. Come along on November 3rd to find out more. For details, email Mary Hunt  or 07890 229794.​

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ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA. Please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia on Monday 17th November. See attached poster. These days seem quite dark, what with Parliament voting to partly decriminalise abortion and voting to legalise euthanasia. Please invite others to join us in praying and fasting for life, you can do so with this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/828656872884422

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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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AFTER SCHOOL ASSISTANT. St Thomas Catholic Primary School is looking for a person to assist the After School Club leader in supervising children attending After School Club, providing activities, encouraging co-operation, securing safety, monitoring well-being and behaviour. This role is from Tuesday to Thursday, 3:00pm to 6:00pm term time only. Starting date: ASAP. If you are interested please e-mail office@st-thomas- sevenoaks.kcsp.org.uk

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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.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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ARCHDIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK WHATSAPP CHANNEL. For the latest updates in the Archdiocese of Southwark, including reflections and homilies from Archbishop John Wilson, as well as prayers and music, join our WhatsApp channel. Our channel aims to help you draw closer to the Lord Jesus through engaging and prayerful content, so please subscribe and share. Join via this link​​​​​​​

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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. Over the coming months, we’ll reflect on the lives of Blessed Carlo Acutis, St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and St John Henry Newman. If you have a favourite Saint and would like to lead a reflection, please contact Deacon Neil. We look forward to welcoming you.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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REPOSITORY SHOP OPENING TIMES THIS WEEK

Saturday 8th November: Repository NOT open after 6:00pm Mass

Sunday 9th November: after 8:00am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass

Saturday 15th November: after 6:00pm Mass

Sunday 16th November: after 8:00am Mass; after 11:15am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass

Shop open after any weekday Masses attended by Esther Ford

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​HELP. We are looking for people who would be interested in joining the Repository Team at St Thomas', particularly for any of the Sunday morning Masses. Please get in touch with Esther, email her, or the parish office​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

ALPHA YOUTH. Our Parish Truth Seekers (TS) programme for teens aged 13 to 17 is on Saturdays from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. The weekly meetings are social, engaging, fun and include games, quizzes, great films, challenging series, interesting speakers, BBQs, refreshments and more. It's a space to share food, friendship and faith. If you have a friend that is new to the faith, he or she is most welcome to join us. We are currently running the Alpha Youth series. For information contact the parish office.​​

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CHRISTMAS. We are looking for 2 or 3 more helpers to distribute Parish cribs to local shops & businesses. Email Pat Harman or 01732 453902.

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QUIET EVANGELISATION: send Christian cards rather than snowmen and reindeer. Buy Christian stamps at the post office: you may have to ask for them. Add parishioners in our local care homes to your card list to make them feel cherished and remembered this Christmas.

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MARRIAGE HELP. Alone or bored in your marriage? Considering separation or already divorced? If you are open to try again, Retrouvaille could be the solution. We have helped thousands of couples get back on track. Retrouvaille is a marriage ministry, run by Catholics, to support marriages. The programme helps couples find hope and healing in their relationship. Call to find out more: www.retrouvaille.org.uk or 0797 338 0443.​​​​​

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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 would like to make an appointment, contact the Parish Office.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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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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.

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RECENTLY DIED​​

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Ruth Taylor 

Funeral on 14th November at 11:00am, St Thomas’

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Eileen Stanley (Lynne)

Funeral on 8th December at 12:00pm, West Kingsdown

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Antony Tyler

Details to follow

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

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CALLING ALL YOUNG PEOPLE​​​

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Our Parish Truth Seekers (TS) programme for teens aged 13 to 17 have their weekly meetings from 7:00pm (right after the 6:00pm Mass) to 8:00pm. They are social, engaging, fun and include games, quizzes, great films, challenging series, interesting speakers, BBQs, refreshments and more. It's a space to share food, friendship and faith.

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Truth Seekers is a forum supported by adults motivated to offer opportunities for teens to encounter Christ in their everyday experience. It's a safe environment for networking with peers with whom you can develop friendships that go beyond the superficial. It's also a place for teens to understand their faith and be able to make up their own minds about how God seeks us out, even pursues us so that we can be happy and experience life to the full.

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Alpha - This Autumn we are offering a 9 week Alpha Youth programme starting on Saturday 4th October. Alpha explores the big questions about life and the Christian message in a relevant way for young people.

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We need your participation. Without you, there is no Truth Seekers. Come and participate, make new friends, spend time with buddies and enjoy a light meal. If you have a friend that is new to the faith, he or she is most welcome to join us. For information about Truth Seekers or the Alpha Youth programme please contact the parish office 

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WHAT IS ALPHA YOUTH

Alpha Youth is a globally recognised series of interactive and accessible sessions that introduce the basics of the Christian faith. Each one includes a short video and time for open discussion in small groups, creating a safe and respectful environment where participants can explore who Jesus is, what Catholics believe, and how faith impacts everyday life.

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The core themes include the identity of Jesus, his death and resurrection, the role of the Bible, prayer and the Holy Spirit. It's a unique programme because it offers an informal and relaxed setting where teenagers can be themselves and feel comfortable asking questions.

In a world full of uncertainty, the biggest gift religion can give is a pathway through the chaos, a light in the dark. As a participant of Alpha puts it: “Hope is the main thing I get out of my faith. You’re never alone, no matter how much you may feel it. And that’s beautiful”.

If you would like to know more about Alpha Youth, click here.

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DIOCESAN NOTICES
 

​​​​​​​​​Hope in Adoration. As part of the Jubilee Year, Archbishop John is encouraging people to turn to the Lord Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration and have their hopes “fulfilled by Christ”. The campaign, Hope in Adoration, will share testimonies from parish priests and laity throughout the year on how Eucharistic Adoration has helped them build a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus. Resources will also be made available for free and there is a comprehensive list of times of Eucharistic Adoration in parishes across the Archdiocese. Find out more about the campaign at rcaos.org.uk/hopeinadoration​​

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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