Sacred Heart

Introduction

Sacred Heart Church in Rugby was built and its parish established in 1959. The Garden of Remembrance was dedicated at Sacred Heart Church in 2004.

History

From 1953, the Rosminians at St Marie's began celebrating Mass for Catholics in Bilton in a variety of premises. The church was dedicated by the Archbishop in April 1998. Between 2003 and 2013, the parish was served by priests from the Rosminian Order. This arrangement ceased in July 2013 when the parish returned to the direct authority of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

This led to the appointment of a new parish priest in December 2013. For six months up until February 2003, the parish managed without a resident priest, with weekend masses provided by others including St Marie's. From the early days, there was a strong move to found a Catholic primary school in Bilton, but the application was rejected by the DES in 1973. Since the baptismal rate was falling in later years, the case was dropped.

The Catholic population grew to about a thousand by the end of the 70s. A significant development affecting the parish was that of Cawston Grange, a large housing estate to the west, which is still growing. Following the Second Vatican Council, there was at first some opposition to changes in the liturgy, but supported by a number of outside speakers, a lively interest was generated and a strong tradition of participation and singing grew up. A Garden of Remembrance was blessed at the side of the church.

Architecture and furnishings

In 1993 the reordering of the whole church was completed with an immersion font, a new Blessed Sacrament Chapel, a quiet room, a youth room and a library. There was also a new narthex giving direct access to the hall extended in 1991. In the 1980s, members of the parish were involved in a temporary reordering of the sanctuary.

Music and liturgy

Three cantors work on a rota to lead singing, and a full sung Mass is provided for every Sunday of the year. The music group blends traditional hymns with more recent compositions, particularly the new Mass setting.

Parish life

Since 1983 there has been a team of Eucharistic Ministers who regularly assist at mass, take communion to the sick and lead the Ministry of the Word and distribute communion when no priest is available. The parish council, established as long ago as 1969, has been responsible over the years for a strong emphasis on adult formation, ecumenism, justice and peace, and caring in the local community. In 1994 the parish project (part of the National RE Programme) was begun leading two years later to a day involving about a third of the parish. There was therefore a concern to provide religious education for children in the parish and with the help initially of sisters at St Marie's and then of staff and students from St Paul's, regular classes were arranged.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Children's liturgy is divided into pre and post First Communion groups, staffed by nine catechists for many years. Missions for spiritual renewal were held in 1973, 1983, and 2002.