Since their Ordination as Deacons in June last year, the curates of Llandaff Diocese give an update on their journey as they prepare for their Ordination as Priests on 29th June 2024.James LawsonFr. James serves as assistant curate in the Rhondda Ministry Area.He has very much enjoyed being in the valleys and has discovered, with gratitude, that ‘you don’t choose the valleys, the valleys choose you!’ He recently wrote, ‘Now more than ever I have begun to see the various threads of my life come together; to see how God has been leading me – sometimes willingly but, if I’m honest, more often in spite of myself – towards a call to be here, ministering among you, today.’Heather Temple-WilliamsRev’d Heather is currently serving as Assistant Curate in St John the Baptist Church in Cardiff city centre. She said, “St John's is a diverse, liberal and inclusive church with a heart for social justice, which is why I'm so happy there. We also have a ministry to the many members of the street community who live in Cardiff, running Grace Cafe in the church with people from Llandaff Cathedral.”Heather is self-supporting so she also has a full-time job writing speeches and dealing with government business for Welsh Government, based in Cathays Park.She lives with her husband Alex, a retired priest. Between them they have three children and two cats.Jeremy Heuslein and Natalie JonesJeremy writes, “I remember sitting down to write this short biography when approaching the deaconing nearly a year ago. The last year feels as if it has been an entire lifetime and that it has been the blink of an eye! Managing two curacies in our clerical household, an infant who is quickly becoming a toddler, the finish line of a PhD, and two children in two different Welsh-medium schools does do funny things with time.But one of the absolute joys over the past year has been being able to serve God’s people in the Pontypridd Ministry Area, as truly an across-all-the-locations-curate. I’ve been privileged to experience the vast diversity of worshiping traditions even in our microcosm of the larger Body of Christ. I am looking forward to continuing serving God’s people in this place.”Ali and Pete OakleyRev’d Ali writes, "Pete and I have both been having a great time serving at Urban Crofters. So far this year we have been involved in 'Rounders in Roath' - inviting people to join us for rounders and a drink in the local park, launching the new Men's ministry with a wild in camp in November and most recently a surf trip followed by pub hangouts. We've also begun some events for our neighbours; from BBQ's to 'Carols in the Garage', and all this alongside the many other streams of ministry already being done by Urban Crofters like our Welsh Arts festival 'Hadau' & beach baptisms. Can't wait see what the year ahead holds!"James Wragg-SmithRev’d James is spending his curacy at Citizen Church in Cathays.He said, “I have enjoyed my commute through Caerau, Ely and Llandaff fields on my bicycle - come rain or shine! My wife and I have had a second daughter this year, Hazel and she has brought much joy to her older sister Pearl.We have enjoyed getting to know the communities we are part of. I have loved joining Citizen church who are such a fun and welcoming people. I am looking forward to celebrating Communion with them!”Ross PillinerRoss was born in Neath and has lived in Cardiff for the past 10 years. Having spent three years training at St Padarn’s, he is now serving his curacy in the North Cardiff Ministry area, primarily at St Denys Church in Lisvane.He said, “I feel very blessed to have spent the last year as a deacon in such a welcoming and supportive church. It's been a real learning curve, but St Denys is a church that has a real heart for knowing Jesus and making him known to the wider community. It's been a joy to be part of this community as we've grown in trust and faith together.St Denys has also been generous in welcoming my family: my wife, Georgiana, our son, Henry, and the newest member, Clara, who was born in May. We are thankful to God for all his blessings and our prayer is that as we move to the next step, we will grow in our trust in God's good purposes for us.Please do pray for St Denys Church, that it will continue to grow in its love for God and the wider community of Lisvane.”Alison DummerAlison Dummer was ordained as Deacon last Autumn and will join the other Deacons to be priested on the 29th.She said, "I was raised a member of the Exclusive Plymouth Brethren, in Merthyr Tydfil where the Gospel Hall was very much a family affair, my grandfather, leading worship most Sundays. Women were not allowed to preach, but to be fair they did some key things - sing hymns, put money in the collection box and paint the chapel! After the Gospel Hall was demolished, I joined a Baptist church which had a large and vibrant Youth Fellowship. Feeling the need to deepen my understanding of the faith, I studied for a BD at Cardiff and began to do what I would never have done in the Gospel Hall - preach.After Cardiff I moved to Manchester and eventually to Pembrokeshire, as the wife of a Baptist Minister, Revd Dr Marc Dummer. It was there that I felt a call to ministry and, although I did my accreditation within the Baptist Union of Wales, because my husband and I moved to the United Reformed Church, it was in that Denomination that I was ordained in 1990. I served in Churches in Sheffield and in Cardiff, retiring in 2016. During my Cardiff ministry, Marc and I became regular attenders at the Friday Eucharist at St Luke’s, Canton and it seemed a natural progression after retirement to worship at Llandaff Cathedral which is our nearest Church and where I am a Deacon.I was unwell when I retired and stopped leading services. Then while spending Christmas at Tymawr Convent, where Marc and I are Associates, I was asked to deliver the Boxing Day sermon. Almost indiscernibly I found I had crossed a bridge and the possibility of leading worship was re-kindled within me. I felt the call to give what I am and what I have been for so many years – one who ministers the Word and Sacraments - but this time within the fold of the Church-in-Wales. Commitment and sense of call does not disappear because of retirement or illness, and by the grace of God – and the support fellow Christians – I pray that I will be given strength to continue that call."