Story of a Vocation

Today on the 1st of November we are enjoying a Feast in our community, not only remembering all the Saints but also celebrating the priestly ordination of our dear brother James McTavish.

James, was born in Scotland on the 4th of November 1968, in a family with 3 sons: Andrew, his twin brother, and their younger brother, Daniel. Their parents Jim and Christina educated them in the faith, giving testimony themselves of a living God. James participated as an altar boy from a young age. 

He always has been a person who has been searching, leading him to leave his country and look for what God had prepared for him. “I still haven’t found what I was looking for” were key words which made him search with more insistence for God at the age of 29 years old. Being a Doctor he went to Australia to specialize. There he met the Sisters in Sydney. He had a strong experience of a living God who had consecrated James from the womb of his mother to be a prophet of the nations. 

The option to be a missionary came during his work as a surgeon in the hospital. A young man of 26 years old had attempted suicide on various occasions by cutting his wrists. After his operation James went to visit him in his room and seeing the young man looking sad asked him “Why are you sad? We have fixed your hand.” The young man started to cry and said “You fixed my hand but who is going to fix my life?” This question made James think “I can heal his external wounds but the wounds in his heart I cannot heal”. Through prayer James began to understand his calling, listening to Jesus the Good Doctor saying “I am the Life” (Jn 14,6) and realizing that the Word of God is sharp enough to enter deeply into the mystery of man and heal him in his very depths. 

James has always had a strong love for the Lord, a love which led him to consecrate his life totally, as a missionary in the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, professing perpetual vows on the 28th October 2006. Two months later, on the 9th December, he was ordained Deacon in Rome through the imposition of the hands of Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, Primate of Spain. Then followed two years of preparation during which James finished a License in Moral Theology which helped to deepen his desire for the priestly ministry.

Some days before his ordination James felt very calm – a fruit he said of the many people praying for him which reflected the reality of a community united in prayer and interceding for him. The day prior to the ordination we held a moment of prayer in the community of the Sisters in Fulham, London, where many Italians from our community in Nepi (Italy) were also present having made the journey to London for the special day. James shared to us how God had given him the community like a familiar womb where he had been able to grow as a person and mature his faith and consecration to God. “I received my vocation through the hands of Mother Mary” were the words which came from his heart, moved by the moment. 

James, with an indefatigable spirit arrived to the day of his ordination, despite the mild flu which accompanied him. The place of the celebration was in the Parish of St Thomas of Canterbury in Fulham, London. The ceremony was presided by the Right Reverend Alan Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, a man truly friendly and humble. With heartfelt words he welcomed James in the priestly ministry “My dear Son, by the grace of God I welcome you as a member of the priestly ministry, a ministry transmitted through the Apostles” and with a strong invitation to live the mysteries of Christ- “Know what you are doing and imitate the mystery which you celebrate.” Various members of the community concelebrated amongst whom were Greg Morgan, Vice-Superior of the male missionary branch, who presented James; Antonio Velasco, President of the Fraternity, the Parish priest Paul McGinn and various priestly friends.

After the ceremony we had a great fiesta where the community, with the family of James, offered some lovely food and various musical numbers and a video of the story of the life of our new priest James. 

We give thanks to God for the life and vocation of our dear brother James, which has been a gift for our community and for the whole Church. And he asks that we continue to pray for him that he can always maintain his love for Jesus.