The Parish Priest writes:

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2 NOVEMBER 2025  - SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS

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Dear Friends,

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This weekend we celebrate one of the most joyful and hope-filled feasts of the liturgical year: the Solemnity of All Saints, followed by the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day). Together, these two days form the heart of what the Church calls the Communion of Saints — that deep and living bond between the Church on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven.

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On All Saints’ Day (this Sunday), we give thanks for that “great multitude that no one could number” — men and women of every age and nation who allowed God’s grace to transform them. They were ordinary people who lived extraordinary holiness: parents who loved faithfully, workers who lived honestly, children who prayed simply, martyrs who stood firm in truth. They remind us that holiness is not beyond our reach; it is our vocation. The Beatitudes proclaimed in today’s Gospel describe not unreachable ideals but the path to heaven — the way of humility, mercy, purity of heart, and peace.

The next day, All Souls’ Day, we pray for those who have died and are still being purified in God’s mercy. We do not forget them, because love never forgets. To remember, in the Christian sense, means to bring the person before God — to commend them to His mercy. It is not simply recalling the past but lifting the departed into the light of eternity. Every prayer, every Mass offered for the dead, is a beautiful act of love that unites heaven and earth.

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It is worth noting that Halloween, which originally meant “All Hallows’ Eve”, once pointed to this very celebration — the evening before the feast of All Saints. Sadly, in our times, it has often lost its Christian meaning and turned into a glorification of fear and darkness. As Catholics, we are invited not to reject joy or creativity, but to rediscover the true spirit of these days: to honour the saints, not the sinister; to celebrate light, not darkness; and to teach our children that holiness, not horror, is what truly conquers the world.

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Throughout the month of November, the Church invites us to pray in a special way for the holy souls in purgatory. From 1–8 November, a plenary indulgence may be gained each day for one departed soul, under the usual conditions: visiting a cemetery and praying for the faithful departed, receiving Holy Communion, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, and making a sacramental confession within about a week before or after. The indulgence is not a “magical” act, but a sign of the Church’s deep belief in God’s mercy and in the solidarity of all His children — those living and those gone before us. Our prayers assist those who are still being purified, as one day, others will pray for us.

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So, as the leaves fall and the year draws toward its end, let us look not with gloom but with hope. Heaven is not far. It is the home prepared for us by the Lord who says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” May these holy days renew our desire for heaven, deepen our love for the departed, and remind us that, in Christ, life is changed — not ended.

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

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ALL SAINTS and ALL SOULS. All Saints day (holy day of obligation) this year falls on Sunday 2nd November. Mass times are as usual on the weekends. All Souls is on Monday November 3rd. That is when we pray for deceased relatives and friends. Priests can say up to three Masses on that day: for a particular intention, for the Holy Souls and for the intentions of the Holy Father. Mass times in our Parish are below:

Sevenoaks: 8:00am, 12:00noon and 7:00pm

Otford: 10:00am

West Kingsdown: 11:00am

Borough Green: 7:00pm

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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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DECEASED CLERGY MASS. Join us for the Mass for the Deceased Clergy of the Parishes of our Deanery on Tuesday 11th November at 12:00noon at St Augustine’s Church in Tunbridge Wells. All are welcome.

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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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CONFESSION. Our Confirmation candidates will have their Confession from 10:00am onwards on Saturday 8th November. If you are planning to come on that day, expect to wait or you may choose another time. Our priests also hear confessions on Saturdays from 5:15pm onwards, till just before the 6:00pm Mass.

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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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CATECHETICAL WORK. Ingrid La Trobe from our Parish was recognised by Pope Leo XIV for her Catechetical work, as the first person from England being instituted to the Ministry of Catechist. It s a great privilege and responsibility. Congratulations both to Ingrid and the Archdiocese of Southwark. Details can be found here.

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ELECTRICAL WORKS will take place in St Thomas’ church the week starting on Monday October 27th, outside of the normal Masses. If you need access for any reason, please let the parish office know in advance to ensure health and safety arrangements.

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SAVE THE DATE. 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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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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POETRY. In our Thursday Coffee morning, parishioner and poet Gilly Fenner spoke about and read from her poetry. Gilly has been writing poetry for 20 years and her work is used at weddings, funerals, in sermons, prayer groups, Quiet Days and retreats. Her poems are, at once, accessible and spiritually deep. Her fifth, self-published, collection, Lung, is available from the Repository, as is her 2020 collection Benedicite and her 2022 collection Dreams and songs to sing. Gilly donated her books to be sold in aid of the Parish Maintenance Fund. She has a presence on Facebook, Instagram and Substack.​

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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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SITE MANAGER JOB. St Thomas' Primary School is looking for a new site manager. Taking care of our environment is of great importance to our school community. The School Council run 'Environment Afternoons' when all the children are involved in taking care of the school grounds. We are in desperate need of a school site manager to help us keep our school safe and beautiful. If you are interested in joining our team email office@st-thomas- sevenoaks.kcsp.org.uk​​​​​​​​​​​

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MAINTENANCE FUND. The Parish fundraising has raised about £40,000 to date towards a target of £100,000 for 2025. Our sincere appreciation for all contributions made to help facilitate the current maintenance and repair work on St Thomas’ church and the presbytery. Check the website for details on how to donate. Every little help is appreciated as we care for the heart of our parish together.​​

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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 1st November: Repository NOT open after 6:00pm Mass

Sunday 2nd November: after 8:00am Mass; after 11:15am Mass; after 6:00pm Mass

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

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

Shop open after any weekday Masses attended by Esther Ford

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We are ordering Advent and Christmas items, so please watch this space. Do feel free to come and browse our books for Christmas gifts. Thank you, as always, for your support.

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VOLUNTEER IN THE REPOSITORY SHOP. We are still looking for a Repository Shop presence at St Bernadette's (West Kingsdown). The Repository Shop team is likewise keen to open the shop at more weekday Masses and after each Sunday Mass at St Thomas'. The commitment is 10-15 minutes after the end of the Mass. Speak to Esther, email her, call 01732451588 or WhatsApp 07846671335 if you can help.​​​​​​​​​​

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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PRAYER. A Day With Mary is taking place at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 8 November 2025 (9.45am to 5.00pm). Further information is available at www.adaywithmary.org/ or https://eventcatholic.com/

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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.​​​​​​​​​​​​

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BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE (BABM) – Jubilee 2025 Pilgrims of Hope. To celebrate Jubilee 2025 a one day Building a Better Marriage opportunity will be held in the following 9 Southwark deaneries during 2025. The day starts at 9.30am and finishes at 4.30pm and is free to attend. The day will be open to other deaneries in 2026 who have not experienced the event. To join one of these day’s please contact Carole on 07983 524 727 or email 

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1st November – St James the Great, Petts Wood​

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’

MAY SHE 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