The Sacred Heart of Jesus and St John the Evangelist

Introduction

Building began in July 1958. The parish debt was finally paid off in January 1972 with a donation of £900 from the Social Club.

Architecture and furnishings

The steeply sloping site enabled a crypt to be built, initially used as a chapel to St Philomena. The sanctuary was re-ordered with a new altar at the front; the stone from the original altar with the IHS symbol was incorporated in the new sanctuary floor. The new marble altar bears the inscription 'LC XC NIKA', Greek for 'Jesus Christ Conquers'. During the consecration, relics of St John Southworth were buried below the altar. The altar and 12 consecration crosses in brass sconces, symbolising the 12 Apostles, were anointed with chrism during the consecration.

Music and liturgy

The parish's musical tradition ranges from guitar-led worship to full choir and organ, with various instruments mostly played by young people. The Sisters from the nearby Rosary Priory have been instrumental in building and maintaining the high standards of liturgical worship achieved by the choirs. An anonymous donor gave a Livingston Burge 'Chantor' 2/61 organ to the church.

The RCIA process has been firmly established in the parish since 1990, and three of the original team members are still committed to it. First Communion preparation is carried out on Saturday mornings led by a team of Catechists. Confirmation preparation is held on a weekday evening and includes a weekend retreat at SPEC based in nearby London Colney.

The Guild of St Stephen, the altar servers, has grown with the parish, serving it with efficiency and loyalty. The Legion of Mary was started in the early forties in Bushey, with members visiting the sick and housebound and extending its census arrangements. The local Conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was formed on 31 March 1953, with its primary object the personal sanctification of its members through visiting the poor, sick, aged and others. A Saturday market was opened in the crypt in July 1971, organised by the Women's Guild, and still functioned in 1984.

The parish Social Club got off the ground in 1966 in leased premises at No. 33b Bushey High Street. The parish has a Saturday group meeting on average once a month in the Parish Centre, with particular devotion to Our Lady and praying the rosary. The Co-Workers of Mother Teresa group meets regularly to provide practical backup to missionary work in the form of bandages and other necessities.

Regular events

Each year on 24 September the parish keeps the Solemnity of the dedication of the church, marking the anniversary of the consecration and burning lights at the 12 consecration crosses. The Housebound Eucharistic Ministry visits parishioners who are unable to come to Church to receive Communion.