Rev. James B. Collins was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 2004 at St. Patrick's Cathedral, in New York City by Edward Cardinal Egan, from St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, where he earned an M.Div. and a Master’s degree in Dogmatic Theology.      Since ordination, he has served in the Archdiocese of New York at The Church of St. Teresa, Staten Island, and the Archdiocese for the Military Services in the chaplain corps of the United States Army Reserves. He currently serves The Church of St. Benedict, in the Bronx and as chaplain for the New York Army National Guard and is also a Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus.      Prior to entering the seminary, Fr. Collins worked as an investigator for the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was during that period when he uncovered, that the greatest treasure is the Mass and that it is a Real, True, and Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself.

	I first must thank Almighty God in His amazing mercy and unfathomable mystery and love for calling me to Holy Orders, the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. I thank my parents, Jim and Mary Collins, for their love and support and guidance through the years and thier constant devotion and love of the Mass. I thank all of my family, especially my sister, Maryrose, and my brother, John, their spouses, Silvana and Bart, and my nieces and nephews, Meghan, Veronica, John and James. I also thank my godparents, my aunt Marian Claffy and Thomas Klimuc.       A special thanks to Fr. James M. Sullivan, O.P., who directed my original thesis, along with Msgr. William B. Smith and Fr. Andrew King, at St. Joseph's Seminary. I thank them for their patience, their support of this thesis, and their love of the priesthood. I thank the Archbishop Corrigan Library staff for their help with my research and finding the resources needed to complete this work, especially Sr. Monica Wood, S.C., I thank them for their generosity, gentleness, and encouraging words. I also thank all of the seminarians and faculty involved with the editing, production, and publishing of this thesis in The Dunwoodie Review, Volume 30, 2007, especially Fr. Douglas Crawford, the editor, and Fr. Gerard Rafferty, the publications moderator.      I thank all of my classmates of 2004 without whom I don't think I would have made it through my seminary years, especially, Fr. Joseph Franco, Fr. Matthew Ernest, Fr. John Palatucci, Fr. Mike Sullivan, Fr. Pat Buckley, Fr. Peter Pomposello, Fr. Daniel D'Alliessi, Fr. Nicholas Callaghan, Fr. Bill Cleary, Fr. Michael Cedro, Fr. Mike Moon, Fr. Bob Morris, and so many who never completed the seminary but went on to the vocation of married life, especially Mr. William Kener.       I want to thank all the priests who helped in my formation, especially my mentor and friend, Msgr. Thomas Modugno, and John Cardinal O'Connor who encouraged me to give the seminary a try and pursue my calling to the priesthood. I thank all the priests who served as faculty for St. Joseph's Seminary and the St. John Neumann Residence, especially Msgr. Peter Finn, Msgr. Francis McAree, Msgr. Joseph Giandurco, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., Fr. Mariusz Koch, C.F.R., Msgr. James Turro, Fr. Joseph Koterski, S.J., Fr. Kenneth F. Slatterry, C.M., Fr. Peter J. Cameron, O.P., Msgr. Kevin O'Brien, Fr. Donald Haggerty, Fr. Robert McKeon, Msgr. Daniel Peake, Msgr. Charles McManus, Fr. Thomas Madden, Msgr. James White, and Msgr. Edmund Whalen who taught me the method of research that I used to write my master's thesis which is the basis for this book.  I also wish to remember my first seminary faculty advisor Fr. Ed Warnken, may he rest in peace.      My thanks to all the priests, friends, and mentors throughout my life especially, Fr. Richard Baker, who taught me to love and sing the sacred liturgy, former pastor of St. Teresa, Fr. William Boldt, Fr. John McCarthy, Fr. Michael Sepp, Fr. Tom Burns, Fr. George Rutler, Msgr. Anthony Marchitelli, Msgr. Desmond O'Connor, Fr. Sylvester Mann, C.F.R., Fr. Fernando Hernandez, Fr. Mike McLoughlin, Msgr. Bernard Corrigan, Fr. Robert Lynam, Fr. Tom Mulvanerty, Fr. Richard Arold, Fr. Jeff Maurer, Fr. Matthew Newcomb, Fr. Sahayaraj S. Santiago, O.F.M. Cap., Fr. Kazimierz Kowalski, Msgr. Donald Sakano, Fr. Peter Pilsner and his brother Fr. James Pilsner, may he rest in peace. I also thank my Deacon friends, Deacon Donald Quigley, Deacon Victor Taylor, Deacon Tom MacDougall.       A special thanks to Fr. Edmund Lane from the Society of St. Paul, who approved my work for publishing and Mr. John Seguin who encouraged me to submit it. I thank my cousin, Mr. Mark Maher, and my friends, Mr. John Ramos, Mr. John Dolan and Mr. Ray Tahir, for helping to guide me back to the faith.      I would also like to thank my pastor where I serve the people of God, Fr. Richard Smith and my first pastor, Fr. John O'Hara for his friendship, his love of the Church and her liturgy along with his deep love for his priesthood, the parish and the Eucharist.      I would also like to thank all who supported this work, especially my ordaining Archbishop, Edward Cardinal Egan for his kind leadership of our class during our seminary years, constantly teaching and reminding us that the primary function and duty as a priest is to offer sacrifice, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is the primary reason I desired to become a priest.

Or Order Online at: www.stpauls.us