Women of the Word Toronto
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Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, where his father was the circulation manager of the Guelph Mercury and his mother was a legal secretary. He is the only son and the youngest of three siblings. His childhood home was situated behind The Church of Our Lady, where he attended and served morning Mass.

Cardinal Collins considered being a teacher or a lawyer but was profoundly inspired by his Grade 11 English teacher, Father Newstead, at Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School, who knowing him, suggested that he should consider the priesthood. In 1969 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (English) from St. Jerome College in Waterloo. In 1973 he obtained two degrees, a M.A. (English) from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Theology from St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario. That same year he was ordained to the priesthood on May 5, 1973 in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Hamilton, by Most Reverend Paul Reding.

While studying in Rome, specializing in sacred scripture and the Book of Revelation, he received his Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in 1978 and a Doctorate in Theology from the Gregorian University in 1986.

After holding various academic appointments, in 1997 he was appointed as Bishop of Saint Paul, Alberta. Two years later, he was named the Archbishop of Edmonton. In 2001, while in Edmonton he was named Apostolic Administrator of Saint Paul. In December 2006, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Toronto, and installed in January 2007.

In 2007 Cardinal Collins became a ex-officio member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Permanent Council, the Chancellor of the University of St. Michael's College and the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, in Toronto. He is the Chair of the Board of Governors of St. Augustine's Seminary, and the Chair of the Board of Directors of Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, Catholic Charities and Catholic Cemeteries and is a Trustee of ShareLife's Advisory Board. In 2008, Cardinal Collins was elected President of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario.

During his time thus far in Toronto, Cardinal Collins has served the global church through his membership with the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Congregation for Catholic Education and Commission of Cardinals for oversight of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR). He has participated in the Synod on the Eucharist, and the Synod on the Middle East, served as an Apostolic Visitor in Ireland and also as the Delegate of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for Anglicanorum Coetibus.

On January 6, 2012, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of Cardinal Collins to the College of Cardinals. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals as Cardinal Priest of San Patrizio on February 18, 2012.

Hedellaine is a wife and mother from Vaughan. Her experience working with youth in various parish programs has lead her to pursue a career in education. She is an Intermediate teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, but is currently enjoying raising their 3-month old daughter Catarina with her husband Stephen. The death of her sister in 2013 and, shortly after, her cousin in 2015 left their family shaken, yet unmoved and she attributes this to their fervent faith in Christ. Later in 2020, it was her firm foundation in Jesus that carried Hedellaine through a diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Even through grief, loss, and heartache, Hedellaine finds her strength and joy in the Lord.

Roy’s spiritual journey began in 1989 like a small mustard seed.  In 1991 he joined the RCIA program and entered into the Catholic faith.  Roy and his wife Gladys entered into the covenant of marriage that same year.  Roy continued with his professional career and was licensed as an Ontario Land Surveyor in 1994.  Roy and Gladys were blessed with three beautiful children.

As the mustard seed continued to grow, Roy felt the call to the Diaconate in 2015.  After a discernment and appraisal process, he entered the formation program in 2018.  During the 4-year formation program, Roy and Gladys attended monthly formation weekends at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto, as well as weekly home meetings guided by a Deacon Mentor Couple.  Roy was ordained as a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Toronto on June 18, 2022, by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins.  In addition to his professional degree, Roy also received a Diploma in Theological Studies from the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto. However, Roy’s formation was not just academic.  Roy faced many challenges over the years but as his faith increased, he learnt to trust in God’s will allowing those challenges to turn into unimaginable graces!

Roy is the Deacon Assistant at Saint Clare of Assisi Parish in Woodbridge where he serves at Mass, preaches, teaches RCIA and baptism class, presides at baptisms and assists at funerals and weddings.

Roy is also involved with the Dismas Fellowship Network which helps to create a safe and welcoming space for ex-prisoners and their friends to find community support and follow Christ.

Roy’s journey shows us that God has a plan for each and every one of us.  God reveals His plan in small increments like the growth of a mustard seed which begins as the smallest of seeds but has the potential to grow into a beautiful tree.  With God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26)  

          WOW-T/MC

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I am extremely grateful for my Catholic faith which sustains me in all areas of my life. I am blessed to be a wife, mother and grandmother of an amazing gang of individuals, both big and little. I am thankful to work as a full-time administrative assistant and delighted to be an active volunteer for the Women of the Word - Toronto ministry. Being called to serve on the WOW-T Board of Directors has been a tremendous privilege! It has allowed me to work with incredible, faith-filled women who are passionate about sharing the message of hope, healing and restoration with other women. More still, it has provided me with an opportunity to use my own personal experience of the healing, liberating, merciful power of Christ for the good of others, in gratitude for all that I have received.