Why I became a seminarian
James Somerville-Meikle shares his experience of seminary life
Before going to seminary, James Somerville-Meikle worked in politics and public affairs. But he left that behind to become a seminarian in the Archdiocese of Southwark.
When asked what called him to begin his ongoing journey to the Sacred Priesthood, James said “at the heart of it, there was something quite mysterious as to why God has called me and what he wants me to do in the Church”. But this mystery fills him with excitement as he continues his journey.
James spoke how his love for the Lord Jesus has grown over the past year in the seminary. What seminary gives you, he said, “is time and space to develop that relationship” with the Lord. This is because daily life in the seminary is grounded in prayer, “we pray morning and evening prayer together. We have daily Lectio Divina, where we meditate on the Word of God”, he said.
This deep prayer life, centred around daily Mass, means “there is that time and space for the Lord Jesus, which you don't necessarily get in day to day life”, James explains.
Offering words of encouragement for those who are discerning the Priesthood, James said:
“I would say go for it. One of the best bits of advice that I ever got when I was discerning was that God can't move a car with the handbrake on.
“In other words, you need to explore and see, and you have nothing to lose if it is for you.
“If God is calling you to be a priest it will satisfy you more than anything else in the world. And if not, then through good and honest discernment, you will find where your vocation lies”.
You can watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.
If you want to support seminarians in our Archdiocese, like James, please consider donating to the Priest Training Fund.
If you live in the Archdiocese of Southwark and feel God calling you to the Priesthood, visit our vocations page.
Please pray for James and all the seminarians in our Archdiocese, as well as those discerning a vocation in the Church.
