If there was one lesson Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A., learned in his over 50 years serving the people of Peru, it is that those who serve others receive more than they can ever give.
The 83-year-old retired bishop was invited to speak to Merrimack’s Austin Scholars about his decades of service at the annual Augustinian of Note.
“It’s a privilege and an honor,” Bp. Turley said at the start of his talk. “I’ve always wanted to come to know Merrimack College and I’m very grateful to God to be here. It’s a beautiful place and everyone here has great spirit. You can feel it anywhere you go on campus.”
Bp. Turley was born and raised in Chicago, the same city as Pope Leo XIV.
“Probably at this point, Bishop Dan is the second most notable Augustinian from the United States,” said Br. Frank Connor, O.S.A., during his introductory remarks.
He was ordained as a priest in 1967 and, the following year, began his missionary assignment in Peru. The allotted five-year term was not enough for Bp. Turley – once his time was up, he stayed in the country for nearly 50 more years.
“I went (to Peru) with an idea that was not correct,” he said. “I thought I was going to bring Jesus to all the people of Peru. When I got there, I found out that Jesus was already there. I found Jesus in them – they brought me closer to Jesus.”
Bp. Turley spent much of his time in the Pacaipampa District, a remote area in Peru with over 3,500 parishioners spread across 120 towns. Some of the more remote areas in the district took 14 hours by horse or mule. In 1996, Bp. Turley was ordained a bishop and became bishop of the Diocese of Chulucanas in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. He retired and returned to the United States in 2020.
During his talk, Bp. Turley recalled one day when he was serving mass at one of these remote villages.
“I see a little lady coming up the middle aisle,” he said. “She was hunchbacked and walking to me very slowly. When I got to her, of course I recognized her. She was one of the poorest people in the parish. A poor widow, she lived alone in a little hut.”
The woman offered Bp. Turley a small batch of eggs wrapped in a handkerchief.
“I made a terrible mistake,” he said. “I said, ‘Please take this home, you need this for your nourishment.’ She looked into my eyes and said, “Padresito, are you going to take my happiness away from me?’ The whole Gospel came to light for me.”
At the end of his talk, Bp. Turley fielded some submitted questions written by the Austin Scholars. One question asked what his greatest accomplishment in life was.
“Just like a miracle, others and I were able to get a donor who donated a million dollars to establish a small satellite college in Chulucanas,” he responded. “It’s still going well and I’m so happy with that. I want to put it in a larger picture, though. The greatest thing is seeing the people growing in their faith and different ways. One of the biggest lessons I learned in the mission is that you have to trust in the people.”
