Father Collins Ifeanyichukwu Anaeche came to
the Sacred Heart in January 2012. Asked to described his
family, Fr. Collins said he is one of eight children (six boys
and two girls) born in the West African country of Nigeria. He
described his family situation as typical middle class
Nigerian, "not too rich but not all that poor either." Then he
added quickly, " growing up in the family we had working
parents but we were all close to each other and I always felt
loved." He explained that it was that loving family experience
and the family’s active role in church activities that led the
foundation for his vocation to the priesthood.
He served as an altar boy in his local parish and always looked
forward to the opportunity to serve. He explained that the love and
desire to serve (at Mass) helped in sowing the seed of priestly
vocation in him. "That desire increased after High School", he
explained. This according to him was the time that he gave serious
consideration to a life of ministry.
His interest in missionary work led him to become part of St.
Joseph’s Society of Sacred Heart popularly known as "the
Josephites". He did his undergraduate studies in philosophy and
humanities at National Missionary Seminary of St. Paul Gwagwalada –
Abuja Nigeria.
In August 2003, he started his graduate studies in theology at
the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington
D.C. Fr. Collins said he appreciated his time with the Josephites
but explained, "I did not feel called to the society." Transferring
to the Archdiocese of Hartford, he was sent by the Archbishop to
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg Maryland. The Mount St.
Mary’s Seminary has the reputation of being the second oldest
catholic theologate in the United States. While at the Mount St.
Mary’s Fr. Collins played in the seminary soccer team. He graduated
in May 2008 with two graduate degrees in theology namely, Masters in
Divinity (M.Div) and graduate Baccalaureate in Sacred theology
(S.T.B). Fr. Collins was the first in the history of Mount St.
Mary’s Seminary to receive the graduate Baccalaureate in Sacred
theology (S.T.B). He was ordained to the priesthood for the
Archdiocese of Hartford on May 17, 2008 at the Cathedral of St.
Joseph Hartford by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell, D.D. Fr. Collins has
not been a stranger to Connecticut. He has worked in different
parishes within the archdiocese like St. Martha in Enfield, and St.
Mary’s in Newington. Following his priestly ordination, he was
assigned to St. Joseph’s Cathedral where he served for three years.
In August of 2011, he was assigned to Sacred Heart Southbury
Connecticut while the pastor was away on a sabbatical.
At the core of his life and ministry Fr. Collins believes that
"it is the love of God and witnessing to the truth of that love that
make the difference"
