Justice and Peace Groups

'Working for Peace and Justice is central to the mission of the Church'
-Cardinal Basil Hume

The various existing groups, which come under the general description of Justice and Peace, work together and coordinate their activities in the Parish to make up a Parish Justice and Peace Group. The group and its notice board near the sacristy door at St. Thomas's have grown out of Farther Harvey's Millennium development initiatives. The Justice and Peace group meets regularly, sends its representative to the Diocesan Assembly and to the Kent Area meetings at West Malling, attended by Bishop John Hine.

The groups comprising the Justice and Peace group are:

Cafod - Catholic Fund for Overseas Development

SVP - Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Pax Christi

AoS - Apostleship of the Sea

UCM - Union of Catholic Mothers (at Borough Green)

Traidcraft Stall

Amnesty International rep (though we do not have a Parish group)

Our Franciscan Sisters in Africa (some are based in Sevenoaks)

Frugal Friday Lunch - To support developing world charities and show solidarity with the needy: last Friday of the month after midday Mass at St Thomas'. Partakers and volunteer helpers welcome.

Third World Projects - now called 'One World', see notice board in the porch for current projects, we have helped Malawi and Tanzania recently.

Christian Aid and Christian Aid Week.

Other activities include a Parish Justice and Peace newsletter, collections (e.g. AoS and Pax Christi), writing bidding prayers, organising displays, handing out literature and running the Traidcraft Stall 10 times a year after all Masses at St. Thomas's.

Father Harvey, the Parish Priest, attends the group's meetings. New members, new talents and new ideas are always welcome, please contact the Parish Office for contact details of the groups.