Members of the Anglican communion turned out in their numbers Monday evening to welcome a new priest into the fold.

At the St George’s Cathedral in Kingstown, the Reverend Father Hanif Johnson was ordained into the Holy Order {{more}}of Priests by the Right Reverend Leopold Friday, Bishop of the Diocese of the Windward Islands.

Delivering the sermon, the Venerable Everton Weekes said to Johnson: “Christ Jesus has appointed you His ambassador in and of the world… You will stand first before God, and then men.”

Weekes further pressed upon Johnson the importance of leading his congregation on the right path, even though there will be those who attempt to detract him from his duties.

He also told Johnson that as a priest, he will have a “prophetic role” within the Church.

“People are literally hungering for the truth!”

Son of Dalton and Valgina Johnson, the newly ordained priest thanked God for bestowing grace upon him, and Bishop Friday for “offering the gift of ordination” into the priesthood.

He also expressed deep gratitude to his family, his wife Camille McIntosh Johnson, his friends, other members of the clergy, his in-laws and various parishioners for supporting and encouraging him throughout his journey.

Johnson will celebrate his first mass on Wednesday, December 10 at St Mark’s Anglican Church at Greiggs.

Johnson, who is also a police constable, is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. Additionally, he holds an Associate of Science Degree from the UWI Open Campus, SVG.(JSV)