Wednesday July 06 being The Feast of Thomas Moore, marked the historic occasion when two female Vincentian Deacons, the Rev’d Ms Keba Alicia Cuffy and the Rev’d Ms Khadisha Kelorn Kenisha Smart of the Diocese of the Windward Islands were ordained to The Holy Order of Priests.
The ceremony was witnessed by a packed congregation including attendees from the Archdeaconry of Grenada and Saint Lucia. Clergy throughout the Diocese and two from the Diocese of Barbados, including the Principal of Codrington College, Rev’d Dr Michael Clarke were also in attendance.
The Form and Order of the Ordination of a Priest was led by The Rt Rev’d Calvert Leopold Friday, Bishop of the Windward Islands, accompanied by the singing of hymns, sermon and prayers.
The sermon was delivered by The Venerable Christian Glasgow, Rector of the Parish of The Holy Trinity, Castries with St Mary La Caye and Archdeacon of Saint Lucia. The text used was, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). In addressing the Deacons, Archdeacon Glasgow exhorted them to “Look to Jesus who is the author, pioneer and perfector of our faith, in him you will find the example needed to exercise mission and ministry to which you are being ordained. Jesus Christ did it through his life and teaching; he held together three basic components; worship, teaching and healing.”
The newly ordained priests were encouraged to use the five marks of mission to guide and direct them as they exercise God’s mission and ministry among God’s people and display four character traits of Jesus – authority, compassion, humility and vision.
They would function as assistant curate in the parish in which they were trained; Rev’d Khadisha Smart in the Parish of The Holy Trinity Castries with St Mary La Caye and Rev’d Keba Cuffy in the Parish of Saint George’s, Grenada with St Vincent, St Peter, St Luke, and St Alban.
The Reading of the Certificate of Ordination and General License was done by Mr Stanley John QC, Diocesan Chancellor and the presentation of the newly ordained priests to the congregation by Bishop Friday.
At the end Bishop, other Clergy and, Lay helpers and members of the congregation knelt before the newly ordained priests for a blessing.
There was also the usual photo taking and greeting of family, relatives and friends.
