Rev. Msgr. Bernard G. COLLINS

COLLINS, FOLEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/5/2008 at 16:45:27

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA)
October 23, 2003

Rev. Msgr. Bernard G. Collins, 91, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003, in Mesa, Ariz. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at All Saints Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, with the Most Rev. Jerome Hanus officiating. Friends may call after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. The casket will be closed at all times. Services will also be held Saturday, Nov. 1, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Douro, Ontario. The Stewart Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, and the Duffus Funeral Home, Peterborough, are in charge of arrangements.

He was born on Aug. 22, 1912, in Indian River, Ontario, Canada, son of James and Anastasia (Foley) Collins. He attended St. Michael College, Columbia College and Sulpician Seminary in Washington, D.C. He was ordained in Dubuque on May 22, 1937, by Archbishop Beckman. He was an assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, from 1937 to 1945; chaplain at Immaculate Conception Academy and Orphanage from 1945 to 1947; pastor at the New All Saints Parish, Cedar Rapids, from 1947 to 1948; pastor in Fairbank from 1948 to 1966; Webster City, 1966 to 1969; dean of the Eagle Grove Deanery from 1966 to 1969; pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Mason City, from 1969 to 1972; pastor at St. Pius X, Cedar Rapids, from 1972 to 1982; and pastor in LaPorte City, from 1982 to 1987, when he retired.

For the past several years, he had lived in Mesa. He was very involved with the Parish of St. Bridget and the Knights of Columbus in Mesa. He was also able to celebrate Mass in his home with a faithful group of friends on most Sundays in his last years.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Anna and Mae; and two brothers, Father James Collins and Msgr. Joseph Collins.