Register
27 Jan 7:30 pm Tue
St Thomas - Padre Pio Prayer Group
29 Jan 10:00 am Thu
St Thomas - Coffee morning to 11:45
29 Jan Noon Thu
St Thomas - Mothers Prayer (after Mass)
31 Jan 7:00 pm Sat
St Thomas - Truth Seekers
03 Feb 7:30 pm Tue
St Thomas - Padre Pio Prayer Group
05 Feb 10:00 am Thu
St Thomas - Coffee morning to 11:45 (Pat Harman WW2)
05 Feb Noon Thu
St Thomas - Mothers Prayer
07 Feb 7:00 pm Sat
St Thomas - Truth Seekers
14 Mar 7:30 pm Sat
St Joseph's - Quiz Night
The Parish Priest writes:
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25 JANUARY 2026 - THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear Friends,
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This Sunday the Church celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God — a day set aside to renew our love for Sacred Scripture and to rediscover how God speaks to us today. It was established in 2019 by Pope Francis, to be observed each year on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, reminding us that the Bible is not simply a book from the past, but a living word addressed to the Church now.
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Today’s readings are beautifully united by one strong image: light.
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The prophet Isaiah speaks of people walking in darkness who suddenly see a great light, when the Word of God enters darkness, not from a distance, but from within. It is about real places, real people, real history — Galilee, Zebulun, Naphtali — lands often overlooked and wounded. God chooses precisely these places to begin something new.
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In the Gospel, we see this prophecy fulfilled. Jesus begins His public ministry not in Jerusalem, but in Galilee. He speaks a simple, demanding word: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That word changes lives. Fishermen leave their nets. Ordinary people become disciples. The Word does not just inform — it calls, disturbs, and sends.
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St Paul, in the second reading, reminds us that the Word also unites. Division begins when we listen selectively. Unity grows when we allow Christ’s word — not personal preference or party spirit — to be the centre. The Word gathers the Church around one voice, one Lord, one Gospel.
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Let us give the Word of God a place of honour in one small, practical way. Maybe by opening the Sunday Gospel again during the week to read it slowly; asking one simple question: What is the Lord saying to me today? Not to others — but to me.
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The Bible does not remove all darkness at once. But it gives enough light for the next step. And that is how God usually works.
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With prayers and blessings.
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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 THIS WEEK is for the maintenance of St George’s Cathedral, the mother church of our Diocese. It helps to meet the cost of the upkeep of the Cathedral.
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SECOND COLLECTION NEXT 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.
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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.
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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).
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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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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.
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.
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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. We will organise practice walks from April onwards.
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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​
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THURSDAY COFFEE MORNINGS. Join us for the Thursday coffee mornings at St Thomas’s parish centre between 10:00am - 11:45am. All are welcome.
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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.
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REPOSITORY SHOP TIMES THIS WEEK​
Saturday 24th January: after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 25th January: after all masses
Saturday 31st January: after 6:00pm Mass
Sunday 1st February: after 8:00am Mass; after 9:15am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass
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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.
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TRUTH SEEKERS. Our Youth Ministry programme resumed on Saturday 17th January. The sessions run 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.
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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.
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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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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 ​
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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 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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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
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Anthony Murphy
Funeral on Friday 6th March at 11:00am, Most Holy Trintiy, Otford
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE
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Proclamation of the Word of God at Mass
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Many people notice that the readings at Mass change every day and every Sunday, yet they are never chosen at random. The Church follows a carefully structured system called the Lectionary, which ensures that the Word of God is proclaimed faithfully, richly, and systematically over time. But how the readings are chosen, and how the different liturgical years work?
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At Mass we do not simply “read the Bible”. The Church proclaims the Word of God as part of the liturgy, believing that God speaks to His people here and now. That is why the readings are arranged in advance and shared by the whole Church throughout the world. In England and Wales, we currently use the English Standard Version (Catholic Edition) for the scripture readings and the Psalms and Canticles for the Responsorial Psalms as the new Lectionary approved for liturgical use. This translation is faithful to the original biblical languages and designed specifically for proclamation—meant to be heard, not just read silently.
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The Sunday A, B and C. On Sundays and major feast days, the Church follows a three-year cycle, known as Years A, B, and C. Year A focuses mainly on the Gospel according to Matthew. Year B focuses mainly on Mark. Year C focuses mainly on Luke. The Gospel according to John is used in all three years at special moments, particularly during Christmas, Lent, and Easter. This three-year cycle allows us, over time, to hear a very broad and balanced selection of the Gospels, without repeating the same passages every year.
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The First Reading on Sundays is usually chosen to relate closely to the Gospel. This helps us see how the Old Testament prepares for and points towards Christ. The Responsorial Psalm allows us to respond prayerfully to what we have heard.
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The Second Reading is often read semi-continuously from the letters of the Apostles, helping us to grow steadily in Christian teaching and practice.
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Weekday Readings. During weekdays, the Church uses a two-year cycle, known as Year I and Year II. Year I is used in odd-numbered years (e.g. 2025, 2027), and Year II is used in even-numbered years (e.g. 2026, 2028). Unlike Sundays, weekday readings are arranged so that large sections of Scripture are read continuously, day by day. This allows those who attend weekday Mass regularly to hear much more of the Bible over time. The Gospel readings during weekdays often follow a continuous sequence, helping us to walk step by step with Christ through His teaching and ministry.
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Why This Matters? Through this structure, the Church ensures that:
Þ The whole mystery of Christ is proclaimed
Þ The Old and New Testaments are clearly connected
Þ No single priest or parish chooses readings according to preference
Þ Over the years, we hear a substantial portion of Sacred Scripture
In other words, the Church allows the Word of God to shape us, rather than shaping the Word to suit ourselves.
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The Word of God Forms Us Slowly. The Lectionary teaches us something important: faith grows over time. Scripture is not meant to be rushed or consumed selectively. By listening week after week, year after year, we allow God’s Word to form our minds, our conscience, and our hearts. Even when a reading seems familiar, the Church trusts that today it is being proclaimed for a reason—because God knows what His people need to hear now.
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When we come to Mass, we are not just attending a service; we are entering into a dialogue. God speaks first. Our task is to listen—attentively, humbly, and faithfully—and to allow that Word to take root in our daily lives.
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May our love for the Scriptures deepen, and may we always recognise the living Christ who speaks to us through His Word.
​​​​​​​​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