At 104, oldest priest in the archdiocese shares his wisdom (Video)

Monsignor James C. Turro will turn 104 years old on Jan. 26. The oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Newark, he also holds the distinction of being the oldest living alumnus of Seton Hall University.

Ordained on May 22, 1948, Father Turro was one of 23 men to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders that day from Archbishop Thomas J. Walsh at Saint Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral in Newark. The city’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart was still under construction at the time and would not be completed for another six years.

Monsignor Turro served the archdiocese for decades in numerous roles, most significantly as a teacher at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall, where he was on staff for 60 years. The Turro Seminary Library there is named for him.

As an author, he wrote several books, including Reflections: Paths to Prayer; he was also a contributor to the Jerome Biblical Commentary and various scholarly journals, as well as a regular columnist in the magazine Magnificat.

A wise and humble priest

On Jan. 20, Jersey Catholic spoke with Monsignor Turro at the rectory of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Park Ridge, NJ, where he served as a weekend assistant for more than 50 years and is now in residence. Though retired, Monsignor Turro remains active in his priesthood, continuing to say Mass and offer his time to those who come to the parish seeking his counsel.

Over the years, the monsignor has offered countless Masses and enriched the lives of untold numbers of people in ways large and small. It would be understandable if, in his more than 77 years of ministry, Monsignor Turro had occasionally grown weary of his job or questioned his vocation. Such was never the case, however.

“In every profession there’s — how shall I put it? — the routine moments, days even,” Monsignor Turro said. “That has never put me off. There must be some priests who get up and say, ‘Oh, it’s another day, another Mass…’ But I’ve got to say, it’s never been a cross for me where I have to force myself to do these things, thank God.”

As is clear in our interview, Monsignor Turro is not only deeply wise but has also been gifted by God with a humble heart, full of generosity and gratitude. We wish him a very happy and blessed birthday.

Note: Below is a transcript of the interview, edited slightly for clarity.

Do you remember when you first realized that you might have a vocation to the priesthood?

Monsignor Turro: Oh, yes, yes.

The fact was that I came from a very religious family. At about the time that I began to look around me and find out what it’s all about, I had two aunts, my father’s sister and my mother’s sister, who went off to be Sisters of Charity.

So, it was a big thing in the family, like visiting days at the convent and hearing about their own experience as religious.

That was an influence on my life as well. It seemed like a great thing to do, to go and devote your life to our Lord.

How old were you when you first felt this call?

Monsignor Turro: I don’t know; I would say very young. I was in this atmosphere from my babyhood onward, as far as I know. Even when I was still a small child, my aunts who were in the convent would come on visiting days or around the holidays for a short visit with the family.

They were very much a factor in my formation. That seemed to be the thing, you know, to become a religious.

And from the time you entered the seminary until you were ordained, did you ever have any doubts about your vocation?

Monsignor Turro: No, I really must say I didn’t. I was very much in touch with classmates from high school who went off in different directions and with different careers. But I never reached a point where I stopped to think, wait a minute, am I doing the right thing?

This is a lifelong commitment. I was never put off by that. I felt as though God wanted me to be a priest, so I went ahead with it.

You couldn’t count the number of people that you’ve touched as a priest. Do you ever stop and think about that?

Monsignor Turro: No, strangely.

I just do what’s expected of me and let the good wealth result from my activity. But I never stopped to doubt, could I be doing something better than I am right now?

What’s your favorite thing about being a priest?

Monsignor Turro: Oh, that’s interesting. I never stopped to think about that.

Surely, the high moment in any day is my celebrating Mass. And you stop to think, what am I doing here? You can’t beat this! This is the tops!

So, the celebration of Mass is that, and it confronts me every day.

It’s not once a month or something — I go to Mass every day, and say Mass very, very often.

Do you have any advice for newly-ordained priests?

Monsignor Turro: You’ll get more than you’re asking for, I’d put it that way.

I thought I’d like being a priest, but I didn’t know I would like it as much as I did when I actually put my hands to it.

And I think that’s what happens to most Catholic laymen or laywomen. They may wonder beforehand whether they’re going to make it, or whether they will take to [a religious vocation] or not. But when they get there, they find that there’s more than they bargained for, more than they realized they would have.

You’ve lived through many changes as a priest. What would you say today to people who are afraid or are losing hope?

Monsignor Turro: Yeah, it’s hard because some of those people seem determined to be negative, to be doubtful, rather than simply to give themselves over to God.

“Here I am, Lord, do with me what thou wilt.”

That should be the maxim that we go by. You can’t beat that. That’s the winning formula:

“Here I am, Lord, do with me what thou wilt.”

Featured image: Monsignor James Turro will turn 104 years old on Jan. 26. He is pictured here at the rectory of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Park Ridge, NJ, where he sat down with Jersey Catholic for an interview. (Photo by Shania Mosquera / Archdiocese of Newark)