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Year for Priests: Reflecting on vocation, ministry

Name: Father Craig Collison

Birth date including year: October 10, 1952

Hometown: Boone, Iowa (Sacred Heart Parish)

Education: Ryan Catholic High School, Boone, 1970; American Institute of Business, Des Moines, Diploma, 1972; Loras College, Dubuque, B.A. – Accounting, 1974; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD, M Div. 1978; Creighton University, Omaha, M.S. Guidance and Counseling, 1984; Creighton University, Omaha, Certification in Secondary Administration, 1989; Coursework also done at Iowa State University and the University of Dayton.

Ordination date: May 6, 1978

Current assignment: Pastor, Sacred Heart Church, Sioux City

Hobbies/interests: Public address announcing, sports officiating, cooking, travel, collections (M & M dispensers; music, movies, etc) many things that I love to participate in but am the master of none!

Describe your call to the priesthood: My call to the priesthood was probably very early in life. I was a Mass server, back in the days of Latin, in 3rd grade which was unusual. I loved doing things around the church and became the Sacristan of our parish in Boone in the 8th grade. My 8th grade classmates voted me “Most Likely to Be a Priest.” I just loved being involved with everything around the church, I got involved early and it continued.

Did anyone or anything provide you with inspiration to follow the call to priesthood? Msgr. J.L. Bauer was a huge influence in my discernment of a vocation along with my parents. Fr. Fred Rudolph, a Divine Word Missionary, had a great effect as well. The Assistant Pastors while I grew up, Fr. Dick Macke, Fr. Richard Remmes, Fr. Jim McCormick, Fr. Anthony Pick, all helped me see that priests were real people you could have as friends. Msgr. Bauer always had a “job” for me to do, (training Mass Servers, Sacristan duties, cantoring, Serving Mass etc.) he kept me very “active” in the parish. My parents were also a huge influence. They worked for the church. Dad was the custodian of the church, rectory, convent, and school. My siblings and I worked for dad as our part time job so we were always doing something for the parish. My mom was one of the secretaries of the parish which in those days was a volunteer position. Our family was always doing something with the parish.

Was it a difficult decision to make? Actually it was. After high school I went to higher education with the idea that I didn’t want to be a priest, but be an accountant and eventually have a family. After working for a short period of time and two years of college, something just wasn’t right and I began to go to daily Mass once again. The desire to be a priest came roaring back to me. I quit my job went back to school and seminary and finally said “yes” completely in my third year of major seminary.

What do I most enjoy about being a priest? I love being able to celebrate the sacraments with the people of God. The sacraments allow you to be part of the lives of your people. I love to teach. The first 25 years of the priesthood were spent in full time teaching, counseling, or administration in one of our diocesan high schools along with work in the parishes. It’s awesome to see our young people grow. I love being a pastor as well. The people entrusted to you, share with you the special moments of their lives. That’s a privilege that the priesthood brings along with the freedom to be able to get involved in the lives of your people.

Devotions or prayers? My favorite time of prayer is in the study of Sacred Scripture and preparation for preaching. The power of the presence of God in His Word is so obvious once you begin to study and look to discover the Religious Truth of the Scriptures.

Why do you find priesthood to be a worthy vocation? Priesthood is the key, the tool, men can use to help people, young and old, get closer to and get to know their God more intimately.

What would you say to a young man considering a vocation to the priesthood? No matter who you are or what your interests are, always, always leave the door open to accepting the call. Give it a try, get into the program but never ask yourself, “when have I tried to discern this possible vocation long enough that I can quit and go do something else.” Ask instead, “Lord, give me the patience to discern long enough that I know that this vocation is truly calling to me.”