Monsignor James C. Turro

Dedication of the Msgr. James C. Turro Library

At the dedication of the Msgr. James C. Turro Library on October 28, 2007, then-Library Director Rev. Lawrence B. Porter remarked:

"Monsignor James Turro has had a paramount role in the history of this seminary library. Among the five priests who have held the title of director over its 150-year history, no one served as long or during such challenging times as Monsignor Turro. James Cyril Turro led this library for 45 remarkable years, from 1959 to 2004."

It is indeed fitting that the Seminary Library bears the name of the priest and scholar who guided it for nearly a third of its history, shaping its growth and development in lasting ways.

Originally from Jersey City, Monsignor Turro attended St. Paul of the Cross Grammar School and St. Peter’s Prep before earning a bachelor's degree in classical languages. He studied theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary, then located in Mahwah, where he was first introduced to the small but growing library that would become a central focus of his priestly life. He was ordained a priest on May 22, 1948, in St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral, as the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark was still under construction.

Following ordination, Father Turro earned a licentiate in theology from The Catholic University of America. He then pursued further studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. As the American College was under renovation post–World War II, he resided at the Anima, a German college, where he developed a lifelong love for the German language. Upon returning to the United States, he began teaching at Immaculate Conception Seminary—a commitment that would span more than five decades. In 1959, he was appointed Director of the Seminary Library, conducting a comprehensive inventory and implementing an ambitious development plan to build a robust and accessible theological collection for faculty and students.

Despite his many academic and administrative responsibilities, Father Turro remained deeply pastoral. He began his parish ministry at Holy Trinity Church in Hackensack and, for over 50 years, has served as a weekend assistant at Our Lady of Mercy in Park Ridge. His homilies—both at the parish and seminary—are renowned for their clarity, brevity, and spiritual depth.

He also became a noted retreat master, offering spiritual guidance to thousands of priests, religious, and laypersons. A seasoned pilgrimage leader, Monsignor Turro has guided groups through the Holy Land, Greece, and Turkey. His expertise as a biblical scholar and spiritual guide has made him a sought-after speaker both nationally and internationally.

As “a priest’s priest,” Monsignor Turro poured himself into his work at the seminary. An engaging and gifted lecturer, he was beloved by generations of seminarians, many of whom sought him as their spiritual director and confessor. Especially during the turbulent years following the Second Vatican Council, his presence as Scripture professor and library director was a beacon of priestly integrity and joy.

Monsignor Turro brought together rigorous scholarship and a deep love of the Word of God. His contributions to the Jerome Biblical Commentary, scholarly reviews, and academic articles display remarkable erudition, discernment, and grace of expression. He also translated his scholarship for broader audiences through parish talks, popular articles, and regular columns in publications like The Catholic Advocate. Today, his column, "Your Word is a Lamp," is among the most beloved features of Magnificat magazine.

His academic teaching extended beyond the Archdiocese of Newark to institutions such as Fordham University, Fairfield University, LaSalle University, St. John’s University, and Immaculata College. In addition to teaching at Immaculate Conception Seminary, he has served on the faculties of St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie), St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook), and Holy Apostles Seminary (Cromwell), where he continues to teach.

Monsignor Turro earned both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in addition to his pontifical degrees and became a prolific contributor to theological scholarship. He has been an active member of the Catholic Biblical Association, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Mariological Society, and the Catholic Theological Society of America. He also served as an evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and was a long-standing member of the international Anglican–Roman Catholic Dialogue. Within the Archdiocese of Newark, he has served on the editorial board of the Advocate, the Presbyteral Council, the Priest Personnel Board, and the Continuing Education Committee.

In 1989, Pope John Paul II named him a Prelate of Honor, recognizing his outstanding service to the Church.

Though retired from full-time teaching and his role as Library Director, Monsignor Turro remains an active member of the seminary community. He continues to teach, research, write, speak, and serve in parish ministry. In honor of his decades of priestly and scholarly service, the Seminary Library was named in his honor in 2007.

 
A Partial Bibliography:

Books
Prayer (Glen Rock: Paulist Press 1962).
Ezekiel (Collegeville: Liturgical Press 1967).
Reflections: A Path to Prayer (Mahwah: Paulist Press 1972).
Conversion: Reflections on Life and Faith (Brookline, MA: Tabor Press 1993).

Articles
“Luke: Witness among the Gentiles” in The Bible Today 2 (1962): 120-126.
“Our Lady’s Holiness in the New Testament” in Marian Studies 14 (1963): 62-74.
“The Author of the Third Gospel” in The Bible Today 1965
“His Word is Life” in Sign Magazine 46 (1967): 44-46.
In the New Catholic Encyclopedia, W.J. McDonnell et al., eds., (New York: McGraw Hill 1967):
    *“Bar Mitzvah” vol. 2, pg. 83.
    *“Bible, III (Canon), 2. History of the Old Testament Canon” vol. 2, pp. 387-391.
    “Bible, IV (Texts and Versions), 24. German Versions” vol. 2, 476-479.
    “Lulav” vol. 8, pp. 1073-1074.
    *“Menorah” vol. 9, pp. 654-655.
    *“Mezuzah” vol. 9, pp. 790-791.
    *“Rabbi” vol. 12, pp. 39-40.
    *“Synagogue” vol. 13, pp. 879-880.
Those articles marked with an * were updated and published in  the second edition of the New Catholic Encyclopedia, B.L. Marthaler et al., eds., (Washington: Catholic University of     America 2003).
“1-2 Samuel” in The Jerome Biblical Commentary, I, R.E. Brown, J.A. Fitzmyer, R.E. Murphy, eds. (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall 1968): 163-178.
With R.E. Brown, “Canonicity” in The Jerome Biblical Commentary, II, R.E. Brown, J.A. Fitzmyer, R.E. Murphy, eds. (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall 1968): 515-534.
“Contemporary Understandings of Revelation” in Sign Magazine 48 (1969).
“Conscience in the Bible” in Conscience: Its Freedom and Limitations, W.C. Bier, ed., (New York: Fordham University Press 1971) pp. 3-8.
“The Use of Literature in Preaching” in The New Catholic World 228 (1985): 181-183.
“Jesus and Prayer” in The New Catholic World  219 (1976): 287-292.
“Preaching and Literature” in Preaching Better, F.J. McNulty, ed., (New York: Paulist Press 1986) pp. 45-50.
“Jesus the Messiah” in Social Justice Review 79 (1988): 164-169.
Numerous unsigned articles for Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia, P.M.J. Stravinskas, ed., (Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor 1991, 1998).
“Mary in Ordinary Time.  Biblical References” in Marian Studies 43 (1992): 60-71.

Book Reviews
Review of The Epistle to the Romans, by John Murray.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 23 (1961): 347-349.
Review of The Birth of the New Testament by C.F.D. Moule.  In Theological Studies 24 (1963): 125-127.
Review of Pelagius, der irische Paulustext, Sedulius Scottus, by Hermann Frede.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 24 (1964): 69-70.
Review of L’évangile selon Saint Matthieu by Pierre Bonnard.  In Theological Studies 26 (1965): 436-438.
Review of Two Biblical Faiths: Protestant and Catholic, by Franz Leenhardt. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 28 (1966): 75-76.
Review of The Homilies of Saint Jerome, volume 2 (Homilies 60-96), M.L. Ewald, trans. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 29 (1967): 263-264.
Review of Bread and the Liturgy: The Symbolism of Early Christian and Byzantine Bread Stamps by George Galavaris.  In Theological Studies 31 (1970): 787-788.
Review of Der Priesterliche Dienst: Ursprung und Frühgeschichte by Alfons Deissler.  In Theological Studies 32 (1971): 557-558.
Review of Acts, by Harry Smith. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 35 (1973): 276-277.
Review of Luke and the People of God by Jacob Jervell.  In Theological Studies 35 (1974): 182-184.
Review of Path of Biblical Theology, by Wilfred Harrington. In Theological Studies 35 (1974): 363-364.
Review of Studies in Paul’s Technique and Theology, by Anthony Hanson. In Theological Studies 37 (1976):  362-363.
Review of El imperativo cristiano en san Pablo, by L. Alvares Verdes. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 45 (1983): 125-126.
Review of Bezugs- und Kommantarworte in der synoptischen Evangelien, by Joachim Wanke.  In. Catholic Biblical Quarterly 45 (1983): 714-715.
Review of A Synopsis of the Four Gospels in New Translation, by Bernard Orchard.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 46 (1984): 588.
Review of The Shape of Scriptural Authority, by David Bartlett. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 47 (1985): 508-509.
Review of Baptisés dans l’esprit, by Michel Quesnell. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 48 (1986): 755-756.
Review of Biblical Exegesis and Church Doctrine, by Raymond Brown. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 49 (1987): 333-334
Review of Jesus of Nazareth: Yesterday and Today, vol. 3, by Juan Segundo. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 50 (1988): 146-147.
Review of Esta salvación de Dios (Hech 28:28): Análisis narrativo estructuralista de Hechos, by Manuel Benéitez.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 51 (1989): 362-363.
Review of Menschwerdung Gottes – Vergöttlichung von Menschen, by Dieter Zeller.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 53 (1991): 167-168.
Review of El origen divino del poder, by Angel Urban.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 54 (1992): 384-385.
Review of Paul and the Jewish Law, by Peter Tomson. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 54 (1992): 805-806.
Review of Paul, Antioch, and Jerusalem, by Nicholas Taylor. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 55 (1993) 616-617.
Review of Der Zweite Petrusbrief under der Judasbrief by Henning Paulsen. In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 56 (1994): 381-382.
Review of Images de Pierre aux deux premiers siècles, by Christian Grappe.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 58 (1996): 749-750.
Review of Paul the Apostle, vol. 2, by Romano Penna.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 59 (1997):  610-611-612.
Review of Die Endredaktion des Neuen Testaments. By David Trobisch.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 60 (1998): 591-592.
Review of Simon “le magicien”. By Florent Heintz.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 61 (1999): 588-589.
Review of Paul, Judaism, and Judgment according to Deeds by Kent Yinger  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 62 (2000): 572-573.
Review of Homosexuality, Science, and the “Plain Sense” of Scripture. By David Balch.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 63 (2001): 370-372.
Review of Les actes des deux Apôtres, vol. 4, by Justin Taylor.  In Catholic Biblical Quarterly 64 (2002): 184-185.