Rev. Christine Benoit became the first Anglican woman to be ordained a priest in the diocese of Seychelles during a consecration service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Victoria on Nov. 26, the Seychelles Nation has reported. The sermon at the service was delivered by a Canadian priest.

The province of the Indian Ocean, to which the diocese belongs, has permitted dioceses to ordain women to the priesthood since January 2006.

The bishop of Seychelles, Santosh Marray, led the ordination service, while Rev. Jody Medicoff of the Anglican diocese of Montreal, preached. (Shortly before her ordination, Ms. Benoit served three months assisting and understudying Ms. Medicoff at St. Barnabas Church in St. Lambert, Montreal.)