Five new Deacons Ordained

Friends, loved ones and members of the community of the Archdeaconry of St Vincent and the Grenadines gathered on Wednesday, January 25, to witness the rite of ordination of five men and women to the Diaconate, at the St George’s Cathedral, Kingstown.{{more}}

Shermin Rosemarie Alleyne, Verbina Coroletha Gonsalves, Lennox Lancelot John, Kenwyck Elliot Lewis and Inglis Flemming John O’Garro professed their final rites which will see them serve as non-stipendiary Deacons in the Anglican Church.

It is not up to man alone to become transformed, but by God’s Grace, and according to Reverend Canon Wayne Isaacs, in his sermon, it was the responsibility of the ministry to bring God’s people so that they can transform their lives.

As in the story of the woman at the well, he explained, Christ offered the woman the water of life and so, too, the clergy must assist in this aspect of the lay community.

“Those ordained must see ministry as one with a relationship with the lay people,” he said.

“We must work side by side as we carry out our ministry,” he continued.

This, he said, was to ensure that the ordained look at their functions within the church on the same level as that of the lay people.

“Ordination does not make you superior to those you serve,” Rev. Isaacs said, adding that the only difference between the clergy and the people was their function.

He warned the five, saying that if they were to look at their new appointments as positions of power, then that will cause conflict.

“It is not my parish, or your parish. It is God’s parish, and we are His servants.”

At the same time, the lay people have a responsibility to cooperate with the ministers in carrying out the Word of God, and they must learn to accept the difference in function.

Very often parishes experience problems, and these, he reasoned, can be avoided once mutual respect existed.

“Ordained ministers must not rely on strength, but must be faithful ministers of the Gospel of life,” he said.

Rev. Isaacs further contended that there was the mistaken notion that the only aspect of the ministry is to preach. However, this was a false concept, he said, but rather for the ministers to address the needs of the people.

“Make sure what you do as a deacon is to bring hope,” he said.

The five bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, and Rev. Isaacs encouraged them to ensure that they bring these skills to their new challenge.

Alleyne is a retired Deputy Headteacher of the Kingstown Anglican School. She is the Mother’s Union Diocesan Presidents and has served as a Lay Reader at the St. George’s Cathedral and for many years as Diocesan and Provincial Synod representative.

Gonsalves served as a teacher prior to her migration to Canada, where she worked at Sunlife Assurance Company of Canada for 35 years. Upon retirement in 2000, she returned to SVG and has been serving as a Lay Reader and Eucharistic Assistant in the Parish of St. Paul, Calliaqua.

John is renowned Educator and Sports Administrator, former principal of Bishop’s College Kingstown and headmaster of the St Vincent Grammar School. He has served as Lay Minister in the Cathedral Church for over 20 years and as a representative to Diocesan synod. John has participated in the life and governance of the Church for as many years.

Lewis is a retired senior civil servant in charge of the Information Technology Service Division. He was involved in athletics and played football and cricket. He is a past president of the Men’s Fellowship and Anglican Youth Movement. Lewis served as an acolyte at the Cathedral Church from 1957 to 1976, when he migrated to pursue studies abroad, and upon his return continued to be quite involved in the life and governance of the Church and has also served as a Lay Reader.

O’Garro has worked at Barclays Bank since he left school in 1987 and is now a Sales Specialist at the Bank, now renamed- CIBC First Caribbean. He has ten years of ministry as a Lay Reader in the St. Mathews Parish.

It is expected that the newly ordained Deacons will assist the Bishop and priests in public worship and in the carrying out of God’s Word and sacraments.

The rite of ordination was performed by Bishop of the Windward Islands C. Leopold Friday. (DD)