Monsignor Collins, noted for dedication to marriage tribunal, dies at 88 December 11, 2023By Gerry Jackson Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Monsignor William “Bill” Collins, a Baltimore native who served his home archdiocese for more than six decades, died of lung cancer Dec. 10 at St. Stephen’s Green. He was 88. Services for Monsignor Collins will be held Dec. 18 and 19 at Holy Family Church in Randallstown where he resided and served for 47 years. He was noted for his dedication, polished homilies, artwork that graced parish facilities and for serving 40 years on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Marriage Tribunal. “Sixty-two years of priestly service,” exclaimed Father Ray Harris, pastor of Holy Family since 2015. “He had a great impact on our parish and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. “I had the pleasure of living with him here at the parish for five years before he moved to Mercy Ridge,” he said. “He was a quiet man, but one you could always count for a good book or intellectual conversation.” Father Harris said Monsignor Collins enjoyed painting and discussing theology, philosophy and psychology. Monsignor Collins was dedicated to helping Catholics in need find healing through the annulment process through his work on the Marriage Tribunal, said Father Harris. He served as the tribunal’s Latin translator even after his retirement in 2009. “People appreciated him and the work that he did,” Father Harris said. After being ordained May 27, 1961, he served as associate pastor at St. Agnes in Catonsville (1961-68), and St. Francis of Assisi in Baltimore (1968-72). He moved to Holy Family in 1972 serving as associate pastor (1972-80) and temporary administrator (1980-84). He continued to reside and celebrate Mass at Holy Family after taking on full-time duties with the Marriage Tribunal. In his tribunal duties, he served as secretary (1968-70), advocate (1970-76), pro-synodal judge (1976-83) and adjutant judicial vicar (1983-2009). In retirement, he continued to live and serve at Holy Family, celebrating Mass and hearing confessions, before moving to Mercy Ridge in 2020. “Holy Family parishioners were very appreciative of the impact he had here,” Father Harris said. “And we will be showing that at the services for him. He was an only child, but he had many friends and priests who considered him family.” Father Harris said Monsignor Collins enjoyed traveling with his fellow priests and regular breakfasts at IHOP in Randallstown. He also served as the chaplain of the Saint Charles Borromeo Council of the Knights of Columbus. A viewing for Monsignor Collins will be held at Holy Family Church Dec. 18 from 2-5 p.m. with a Christian wake service at 4:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held Dec. 19 at 10:30 a.m. with Archbishop William E. Lori as celebrant and Monsignor James Farmer as homilist. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. Monsignor Collins has no surviving relatives. He attended the parish school at St. Dominic in Hamilton. As a student there, Monsignor Collins said he knew that he wanted to become a priest. He attended St. Charles College and St. Mary’s Seminary. He earned a master’s degree in psychology from what is now Loyola University Maryland. In a 2021 Catholic Review article, Monsignor Collins said: “Helping people with their problems is what I have enjoyed the most of my years as a priest.” In his retirement profile, he said he always imagined he would be a simple parish priest, but found his calling with the Marriage Tribunal after researching a marriage case involving international boundaries. “I’ve often said that I wish in my first seven years as a parish priest I knew what I learned from working on the tribunal,” Monsignor Collins said, “so that I would have been a much better help to people in their problems.” Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@catholicreview.org Read More Obituaries Mike Ditka dies at 86: A life of football, fire, and Catholic faith Bishop Dewane recalled for his ‘remarkable legacy of faithful service’ to Church Deacon Carlos Morales, who served Church in Puerto Rico and Maryland, dies at 82 Brother Vincent Joseph Vivian, former director at Shrine of St. Anthony, dies Deacon Wayne Matthews, longtime church leader and scientist, dies at 81 Betty Contino, a giant in empowering Baltimore’s Catholic school students, dies at 81 Copyright © 2023 Catholic Review Media Print
