A journal bearing, and a method of using the same, that utilizes self-retaining bearing shoes that prohibit relative movement between an aligning ring and the bearing shoes in the axial direction. In one aspect, the invention comprises an aligning ring; at least one shoe having a rear surface and a working surface for bearing contact with the rotating shaft, the at least one shoe having a flange extending from the rear surface; and the at least one shoe positioned in the aligning ring so that surface contact between the flange and the aligning ring prohibits the at least one shoe from separating from the aligning ring in an axial direction.