Thomas Collins (cardinal) explained

Type:cardinal
Honorific-Prefix:His Eminence
Thomas Christopher Collins
Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto
Motto:Latin: Deum adora
('Worship God'; 22:9 )
See:Toronto
Term Start:January 30, 2007
Ended:February 11, 2023
Appointed:December 16, 2006
Predecessor:Aloysius Ambrozic
Successor:Francis Leo
Other Post:Cardinal-Priest of San Patrizio
Ordination:May 5, 1973
Ordained By:Paul Francis Reding
Consecration:May 14, 1997
Consecrated By:Anthony Frederick Tonnos
Cardinal:February 18, 2012
Created Cardinal By:Benedict XVI
Rank:Cardinal-Priest
Birth Name:Thomas Christopher Collins
Birth Date:16 January 1947
Birth Place:Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Religion:Roman Catholic
Education:Bishop Macdonell High School (OSSD)
Alma Mater:
Cardinal Name:Thomas Christopher Collins
Dipstyle:His Eminence
Offstyle:Your Eminence
Relstyle:His Eminence
See:Toronto

Thomas Christopher Collins (born January 16, 1947) is a Canadian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was the Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto from 2007 to 2023, the Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta from 1997 to 1999, and Archbishop of Edmonton from 1999 to 2006. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on February 18, 2012.

Early life and education

Collins was born in Guelph, Ontario, the son of George Collins, circulation manager of The Guelph Mercury, and his wife, Juliana (Keen), a legal secretary.[1] He has two older sisters. As a child, he was an altar server at the Our Lady Immaculate Church. He attended St. Stanislaw's Elementary School and Bishop Macdonell High School,[2] where he was inspired by one of his English teachers to join the priesthood.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. Jerome College, Waterloo in 1969, Collins was ordained to the diaconate on May 14, 1972. In 1973, he received a Master of Arts in English from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Theology degree from St. Peter's Seminary, London.[3]

Priesthood

Collins was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario, by Bishop Paul Reding on May 5, 1973.[4] He then served as associate pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Burlington and at Christ the King Cathedral, as well as an English teacher and chaplain at Cathedral Boys' High School.[2] He furthered his studies in Rome, specializing in sacred scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, from which he obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture in 1978.[5]

Upon his return to Ontario in 1978, Collins served as a lecturer in English at King's College and in Scripture at St. Peter's Seminary, where he later became spiritual director (1981) and associate professor of Scripture (1985). Returning to Rome, he completed a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1986. His doctoral dissertation was entitled: "Apocalypse 22:6–21 as the Focal Point of Moral Teaching and Exhortation in the Apocalypse."

After becoming associate editor of Discover the Bible in 1989, Collins returned to St. Peter's Seminary as Dean of Theology and vice-rector in 1992. He later served as rector of St. Peter's from 1995 to 1997.

Episcopal ministry

Diocese of Saint Paul, Alberta

On March 25, 1997, Collins was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 14, from Bishop Anthony Tonnos, with Bishops Raymond Roy and John Sherlock serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton, Ontario.[6] He selected as his episcopal motto: "Deum Adora", meaning, "Worship God" (Revelation 22:9).

Collins succeeded Bishop Roy as the fifth Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta upon the latter's retirement on June 30, 1997.[4] He became a member of the National Commission of Theology of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) that same year.

Archdiocese of Edmonton

Collins was promoted to Coadjutor Archbishop of Edmonton on February 18, 1999, and later succeeded Archbishop Joseph MacNeil as the sixth Archbishop of Edmonton on the following June 7. He served as president of the Conference of Bishops of Alberta.[7]

In Edmonton Collins initiated monthly lectio divina sessions at St. Joseph's Cathedral Basilica. He also established St. Benedict's Chapel in a vacant store in Edmonton's City Centre Mall for ministry to downtown shoppers and office workers.[2]

Within the CCCB, he served as Chairman of the National Commission of Theology (1999–2001) and Chairman of the National Commission on Christian Unity (2001–2003). He was also a member of the organizing committee for World Youth Day 2002, which was held in Toronto. From 1999 to 2007, he was President of the Alberta Conference of Catholic Bishops. In addition to his duties as ordinary of the Edmonton Archdiocese, he was Apostolic Administrator of Saint Paul in Alberta from March 16 to September 8, 2001.

Archbishop of Toronto

Collins was named the tenth Archbishop of Toronto by Pope Benedict XVI on December 16, 2006.[8] He succeeded Aloysius Ambrozic there and was installed at St. Michael's Cathedral on January 30, 2007. He served as Chancellor of the University of St. Michael's College and the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto. He is heavily involved in the pro-life movement. Collins was elected president of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2008.[7] Collins was the apostolic visitor to the Archdiocese of Cashel in Ireland following the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Reports in 2009.

Collins is a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He has also served as the Delegate of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for Anglicanorum Coetibus (providing for personal ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church).[7]

On February 18, 2012, he was created Cardinal-Priest of San Patrizio.[4] In addition to his other duties in the Roman Curia, Collins was appointed a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.

On February 11, 2023, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as archbishop of Toronto.[9] Collins remains a cardinal and eligible to vote in a papal conclave until the age of 80.

Honours

Scholastic

Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector and fellowships
Honorary degrees
LocationDateSchoolDegreeGave Commencement Address
June 21, 2007 Doctor of Divinity (DD)[11] [12]
Doctorate

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/insight/2012/02/10/toronto_archbishop_thomas_collins_being_a_christian_isnt_for_sissies.html "Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins: 'Being a Christian isn't for sissies'"
  2. News: Swan . Michael . From humble beginnings Collins will rise to cardinal . The Catholic Register . February 12, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512181330/https://www.catholicregister.org/item/13845-from-humble-beginnings-thomas-collins-rises-to-cardinal . May 12, 2021 .
  3. News: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. His Grace, Archbishop Thomas Collins. 8 April 2015. 20 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170620235119/https://www.archtoronto.org/about-us/bishops/cardinal-collins. dead.
  4. Web site: "Thomas Cardinal Collins", Archdiocese of Edmonton . 19 May 2020 . 18 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200518175943/https://caedm.ca/AboutUs/OurHistory/OurBishops/ThomasCardinalCollins . dead .
  5. News: Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins. 8 April 2015. 20 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170620235119/https://www.archtoronto.org/about-us/bishops/cardinal-collins. dead.
  6. News: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins.
  7. Web site: Collins Card. Thomas Christopher. Holy See Press Office. December 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150617/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_collins_tc.html. October 15, 2017. live.
  8. Rinunce e Nomine, 12.16.2006. it . Holy See Press Office . December 16, 2006 . May 13, 2021 .
  9. Appointments and Resignations, 11.02.2023. February 11, 2023 . February 11, 2023 . Holy See Press Office .
  10. Web site: Chancellor . The University of St. Michael’s College . September 22, 2021 . en.
  11. Web site: Archbishop Collins awarded St. Mike's honorary degree . The Catholic Register . September 22, 2021 . en.
  12. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients of the University of St. Michael's College . The University of St. Michael’s College . September 22, 2021 . en.