Concerned parishioners were handed a newsletter outlining the ideas on Sunday, January 5, and have since expressed their despair at the possible threat to the future of Our Lady of Lourdes in Mountain Ash, St Joseph’s in Aberdare and St Therese of Lisieux in Hirwaun.
Worshipper Diane Cowdry, of Aberdare, said: “It came as a great shock to find out that there is a possibility that all three Catholic churches in the Upper Cynon Valley could close. There is a meeting in a few weeks time to discuss the options but my fear is that the decision has already taken place. Hopefully I will be proved wrong.”
The first option is that the priest in Mountain Ash is withdrawn and the parish priest in Abercynon would then look after masses in each church in the Upper Cynon Valley as well as Abercynon and Bargoed.
The Presbyteries in Mountain Ash and Aberdare would be rented out.
The second option is to close one or two churches in the area, and the third option is to close three churches in the Upper Cynon Valley and have Sunday mass celebrated in St Margaret’s Primary School Hall.
The fourth and final option is to close all three churches and celebrate mass in the Anglican church in each area.
Diane added: “The provision for mass to be held at the local primary school is both inadequate and totally unsuitable. These three churches provide for the needs of all our community – not just for Catholics. Our town would be a much poorer place without them.”
However, Monsignor Robert Reardon, diocesan communications officer, said: “The Cynon Valley like the rest of the country is experiencing fewer people coming to mass and fewer priests. Therefore when looking at pastoral and financial provisions we must look for new ways to run our parishes in order to fulfil its mission. However no decisions have been made yet.”