St Joseph

Introduction

St Joseph's parish in Neath, within the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, also serves the parish of St John Kemble in Glynneath. Lead was stolen from the church roof, with the theft reported on 5 May 2024.

Music and liturgy

Children's Liturgy is offered at the Sunday Mass to present the Gospel at a child's level. Altar servers prepare to make Sunday celebrations more prayerful and dignified. Readers prepare the Holy Scripture presented each Sunday. Ministers of Holy Communion assist at Mass and take the Blessed Sacrament to the sick at home.

Parish life

The SVP conference helped settle a Ukrainian family and provides financial support to twinned SVP conferences in South Sudan and India. The Parish Guild is an organisation aimed at caring for needs that arise in the parish. Traidcraft promotes fairly traded goods from developing countries, available in the Piety Shop and the Hall. The parish has a local contact group for CAFOD, the Bishops' organisation for assisting less developed nations.

The Life Group promotes the work of Pro-Life organisations at the local level. Baptism Preparation is offered to those looking forward to bringing their child for baptism. RCIA, the Journey in Faith course for adults entering full membership of the Catholic Church, meets monthly on a Tuesday evening at Neath.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Six months notice is normally required by the Church from those wishing to be married. The Parish SVP group's main work is supporting housebound fellow parishioners.