Dictionary

Words on this page

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Holy Communion

At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.

Lent

Lent is the six-week period leading up to Easter. It is a particular time to confess sin and to seek personal and collective renewal (a ‘springtime of the spirit’). Lent has a special focus on Jesus’s journey to the cross and prepares the Church to celebrate his resurrection.

Llandaff Centre of Mission

A partnership between the Diocese of Llandaff and Church Army.

Prayer

Prayer sustains our human relationship with God and may involve words (formal or informal) or be silent. Prayer can involve adoration (‘I love you’), confession (‘sorry’), thanksgiving and supplication (‘please’).

Home News and Blogs Journeys of Faith: Debbie Orriss

Journeys of Faith: Debbie Orriss

Blog Posted: 5 March 2025

Throughout Lent we'll be hearing stories of faith from across the Diocese. First up is Sr Debbie Orriss, CA, one of our Growth Enablers.

My journey began when my Mum and Dad were invited by a neighbour, to a Family Service at the local church. We all went, and I enjoyed hearing the Bible stories, and learning about Jesus from our Sunday School teacher, who really was called Mrs Love!

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN…

I was confirmed when I was 13 - my first ‘supernatural’ experience of God, the Holy Spirit. I still remember the warmth that flooded my body when the Bishop laid his hand on my head.

We had a thriving youth group at church, and the social side of faith became increasingly important to me. As a family we appreciated the community aspect of faith all the more when in 1981, my Dad died without warning. None of us had the chance to say goodbye, and I was in a state of shock as were my Mum and younger brother. I was halfway through my first A level year, and to be honest that time was a blur of anger, deep sadness, and ‘getting on with it’.

I flipped between hating God, and deciding he wasn’t there, but as I lay awake one night waiting for my A level results, I thought back over the previous 18 months and realised that as a family we had experienced God’s love through the kindness of members of the church, as well as neighbours and family. And that without God there would be no point to Dad’s life or death, or my life.

I went off to university and into the rest of my life from that moment, having said a hesitant ‘yes’ to God, knowing that there would be questions, and highs and lows, but with Jesus as my anchor-point. My journey has led me into primary school teaching, and then full-time ministry as a Church Army Evangelist, serving in a variety of roles. My faith is still growing, through being open to different ways of encountering God and thinking about God: through prayer, the Bible, worship, learning with others, and serving. I cannot imagine my life without God in it!