// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Barry Collins? A collins-ional figure.
His Excellency Barry Francis Collins | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Wilcannia–Forbes | |
| Metropolis | Sydney |
| Appointed | 30 March 1994 |
| Installed | 3 June 1994 |
| Term ended | 15 November 2000 |
| Predecessor | Douglas Warren |
| Successor | Christopher Henry Toohey |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 15 July 1961 at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney by Norman Gilroy |
| Consecration | 3 June 1994 Holy Family Church, Parkes by Edward Clancy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 November 1938 |
| Died | 15 November 2000 (aged 62) |
| Buried | Forbes, New South Wales |
| Motto | Gaudium et spes |
Barry Francis Collins (10 November 1938 – 15 November 2000) was an Australian Roman Catholic prelate.
Early life
[edit]Collins was born on 10 November 1938 to Arthur and Mary Collins. He was raised in Waitara, New South Wales and attended St Pius X College in Chatswood, where he was educated alongside Michael Malone and Peter Ingham, who would also go on to be bishops.[1] After graduating, he entered St Columba's College, Springwood before moving to St Patrick's Seminary, Manly where he completed his studies for the priesthood.
Priesthood
[edit]Collins was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Sydney on 15 July 1961 at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney by Cardinal Norman Thomas Gilroy.[2] He was one of 28 in his ordination class.[3] His first appointment was as assistant priest in Central Bankstown.[4]
In 1965, when the Randwick North parish was created, Collins was appointed assistant priest. In 1981, he became assistant priest of Maroubra, while also working for the Catholic Education Office.[5]
In 1986, he was appointed Moderator of Mortlake, alongside Fr John Usher. In 1993, he became parish priest of the same parish.[6]
Episcopacy
[edit]On 30 March 1994, Collins was appointed Bishop of Wilcannia–Forbes by Pope John Paul II, following the retirement of Bishop Douglas Warren. He was consecrated on 3 June 1994 at Holy Family Church, Parkes by Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy.[7]
In 1998, he attended the first ever Synod of Bishops Special Assembly for Oceania in Rome, along with all the bishops of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Island nations.[8]
During is episcopacy, he always made time to visit the parishes of his vast Diocese, which took in more than half the geographic area of New South Wales.[9] He was forced to implement new pastoral strategies due to the limited number of priests available to minister in such a vast diocese. He granted approval for appointed people to be ministers for funeral in special circumstances.[10]
He also established CatholicCare Wilcannia–Forbes on 23 January 1996, opening offices in Forbes, Narromine and Bourke.[11][12]
Death
[edit]Collins died suddenly in Forbes, New South Wales, on 15 November 2000 while still in office, at the age of 62. He was buried in Forbes Cemetery.[13][14][15]
References
[edit]- ↑ Annual Report 2021 (PDF). St Pius X College, Chatswood. 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Bishop Barry Francis Collins †". catholic-hierachy.org. Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "ORDINATION CLASS - 1961" (PDF). Manly. 9 (5). 1963. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ THE OFFICIAL YEAR BOOK OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND OCEANIA 1963-1964. Sydney: E. J. Dwyer. 1962.
- ↑ "Maroubra, NSW - Holy Family Catholic". churchhistories.net.au. Australian Christian Church Histories. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ Gleeson, D J (February 2005). A HISTORY OF ST PATRICK'S MORTLAKE TO MARK THE CHURCH'S 110TH ANNIVERSARY (PDF). St Patrick's Parish Mortlake. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Bishop Barry Francis Collins †". catholic-hierachy.org. Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Bishop in Rome for inaugural Oceania synod". The Riverine Herald. 30 November 1998. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Funeral today for bishop". The Riverine Herald. 22 November 2000. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Bishops letter tells of change in the church". The Riverine Herald. 17 December 1999. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "History Hub". wf.catholic.edu.au. Catholic Education Wilcannia-Forbes. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Our Story". ccwf.org.au. CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ Bishop Barry Francis Collins †
- ↑ History Hub: A brief history of the formation of the Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese and the development of Catholic Education - Bishop Barry Collins
- ↑ Our History - Bishop Barry Collins