Fr. Toby Collins, CR was born in Stratford, Ontario. While being raised by his parents Inga and Terry, his mother became a very gifted homemaker and artist while his father was a dedicated bank manager and family man. Fr. Toby lived most of his life in Kitchener with one move to St Catharines from Kindergarten until grade 7.
Fr. Toby is the third oldest of seven children with 4 sisters and 2 brothers. He met the Resurrectionists when he was asked to re-landscape the grounds at St. Louis parish in Waterloo and immediately liked who they were and what they did. The timing was right for him in his mid 20’s to begin to discern a life-long commitment and he desired, more than anything, to give himself in service to the Church as a religious. Drawn to living community life with the Resurrectionists he discovered that ongoing personal transformation is the key to growing in relationship with Jesus and leading others to the vibrant hope his companionship brings. Fr. Toby sees all vocations as precious gifts to the Church that grow best when prayerfully discerned within a supportive faith community.
Education:
High School Diploma – St. Jerome’s then St. Mary’s, Kitchener, ON 1993
B.A. Philosophy and Geography – Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON 1997
M.Div. – Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO 2007
Ministry:
2006 – 2007 – Transitional Deacon at St. Patrick Church, Bermuda
2007 – 2011 – Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Hamilton, ON
2011 – 2018 – Vocation Director, Congregation of the Resurrection, Waterloo, ON
2015 – 2018 – National Religious Vocation Conference Board Member/Vice Chair
2016 – 2018 – Spiritual Animator, Waterloo Catholic District School Board
2018 – Present – Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Kitchener, ON
