Sacred Heart, Flitwick

Introduction

Sacred Heart Church in Flitwick, within the Diocese of Northampton, was designed and built by Hilson Builders and consecrated in 1983. Since the founding of the parish, there have been seven parish priests of the Sacred Heart Order.

Architecture and furnishings

One of the main features is the compilation of windows depicting St Joseph, St Willibrord, St George and St John. Saint Willibrord’s window depicts the church at Woodcote in the left-hand corner and Utrecht Cathedral in the right-hand corner.

The church is equipped with an induction loop for the hearing impaired. The church will comfortably seat 160 people and has room for wheelchair access. The church has a stained glass window depicting Our Lord, a baptismal font, and a tabernacle to the left of the altar. The church has a shrine dedicated to Our Lady the Virgin Mary where the congregation pray and light candles.

Music and liturgy

The church seeks musicians, especially organ or keyboard players, and singers for its services. Each month the parish prays for an intention taken from the liturgical calendar of the Liturgical Office of England and Wales.

Parish life

The parish has a conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society, whose members meet weekly to plan activities and discuss their work. The parish holds a men's breakfast two or three times a year on a Saturday morning.

The parish has a welcome ministry that welcomes at Sunday Mass, offers hospitality after Mass and assists at baptisms, weddings and funerals. The parish has a baptism preparation programme held five times a year over two Saturday mornings.

The parish has a post-Communion programme leading older children towards the Sacrament of Confirmation. The parish has a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for those interested in becoming Catholic at any age. The parish has altar servers, boys and girls who have received their first Holy Communion, with full training and a rota. The parish has readers who read the first and second readings and the bidding prayers at weekends, scheduled by rota and required to take part in an annual retreat.

The parish has a small group of volunteers who clean the church on a rota. The parish has a funeral and bereavement support that includes spiritual, emotional, and practical assistance to individuals and families experiencing loss.

The parish has a prayer bag initiative to help children understand the Bible and learn to pray. Every two years the parish plans a pilgrimage to a holy site.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish has a pre-Communion group for the youngest children in Reception and Year One to explore the environment of the church, the symbols and signs of the faith, and to learn about the Mass. The parish prepares children for their First Reconciliation before receiving Communion for the first time.

The parish has a confirmation programme requiring children to be in a minimum of Year 8 at the time of the Confirmation date to enrol. The parish has a marriage preparation requiring contact at least six months before the planned wedding date.

The parish has a ministry of extraordinary ministers of communion with an annual retreat day for all those taking part. The parish has a ministry of extraordinary ministers of communion who can be asked to take the Holy Eucharist to sick parishioners or lead a service of the Word and Communion on weekdays.