Reverend James R. Collins died on Friday, August 5, 2022, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on July 8, 1942, in Cincinnati. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood. He was ordained on May 25, 1968, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati by Auxiliary Bishop Edward A. McCarthy.
Father Collins received his first assignment on June 21, 1968, as assistant at St. Luke Parish, Dayton and to teach full time at Archbishop Alter High School, Dayton. On August 26, 1971, he was appointed assistant at Immaculate Conception Parish, Dayton, and to continue teaching at Archbishop Alter High School. On June 19, 1974, he was appointed assistant at St. Raphael Parish, Springfield and Principal of Catholic Central High School, Springfield. On June 15, 1977, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Reading. He was appointed pastor of St. Dominic Parish, Cincinnati on July 1, 1986. On November 30, 1994, Father Collins was appointed Dean of the St. Lawrence Deanery for a four-year term. He was appointed pastor of St. James of the Valley Parish, Cincinnati, effective July 27, 1998, and appointed to another six-year term as pastor of St. James of the Valley Parish, commencing on July 28, 2004. Father Collins retired from active ministry on July 1, 2007.
