Collins grateful for his 10 years in Alberta

People, places events will stay in his heart

- photo supplied Archbishop Thomas Collins says he loved having his picture taken with young people who have just been confirmed.

By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Edmonton

Archbishop Thomas Collins leaves Edmonton with no regrets.

But he says he will miss the vibrant local Church, the beauty of the city and having his picture taken with newly-confirmed children.

"I have loved being archbishop of Edmonton, and of St. Paul before that," Collins said in an interview shortly before he left for Toronto. "I feel totally at home and I am so grateful for all the people I have come to know and love.

"I also will miss the visual beauty of the place. This is an incredibly beautiful city.

"I am grateful to Pope John Paul for sending me here 10 years ago and I am grateful to Pope Benedict for sending me to another portion of the vineyard of the Lord."

Collins said that while many projects were in progress when he was appointed become archbishop of Toronto Dec. 16, he has no feeling of having left things undone in Edmonton.

"I tried over the years to be as intensely involved as I possibly could be, focusing on one thing then on another," he said. "I've done all I can do."

Numerous initiatives

His numerous initiatives in seven and a half years as archbishop include launching a perpetual adoration chapel, opening St. Benedict's Chapel in a downtown shopping mall, bringing the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to the archdiocese and starting the archdiocesan stewardship program.

- WCR file photo Archbishop Thomas Collins blesses the hands of Father Gary Lee at Lee's 2006 ordination.

"Those were all I could do in the time I was here," he said. "Over time, (if I had stayed,) I'm sure there would have been more things I could have done."

But he views those accomplishments with a spirit of detachment.

"If anything I've done or encouraged, if it is really of God, it will flourish; if it's not, it won't.

"If there are any things that people have found helpful, it's up to them to make them flourish."

Collins continued his ministry as head of the Edmonton Archdiocese until leaving the city Jan. 18 to attend the funeral of Kingston Archbishop Anthony Meagher. After that, he took up residence in Toronto.

While it was his groundbreaking initiatives that drew headlines, Collins had great enthusiasm for the day-to-day activities of a bishop - visiting schools, meeting with various groups and confirming young people.

"I love Confirmations," he said. "I always love the part at the end where there are all those photographs - you see such love in the families. I always find that a beautiful thing."

He said he might remember dramatic events, such as the Corpus Christi processions in downtown Edmonton and the visit of the World Youth Day cross to the archdiocese in 2001, more than others. "Some things are more dramatic than others, but they're not necessarily more important."

From the day he became archbishop of Edmonton, Collins promoted vocations to the family, priesthood and consecrated life. But it was his trademark call for anyone interested in the priesthood to phone him at 469-1010 that many will remember.

"I love ordinations. I'd like to do one every day," he said.

Seminary enrollment has grown sharply and he's even had the privilege of ordaining some of the men who have responded to his call.

"I'm happy with the quantity and quality of seminarians. There are good people coming forward. I'd obviously like to see even more. But I'm quite happy with the trend."

The stewardship program was also close to his heart. Stewardship, he emphasized, is not "sacred fundraising," but "deep engagement of all people to thank God for all the gifts of their lives.

"We are entrusted by God with our life and we need to thank God for that gift by generously using the gifts we have been given."

If more and more people had that perspective, the archdiocese "would glow with that engagement" and more people would be drawn to the life of the Church.

Collins will remember the archdiocese as "the heartland of Catholic experience" in the West. It is a complex diocese with many institutions, but also a rich history.

On the map of Alberta, one can see names such as Leduc, Morinville, Legal and even the Grandin LRT station.

"The visible presence of the Church on the map is a token of the deep presence of the Church in history."

Now Archbishop Thomas Collins is a part of that history. Gone to Canada's largest city, but never to be forgotten by those who knew him during his 10 years in Alberta.

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