Msgr. Celsus O. Collini, former episcopal vicar, diocesan missionary and parish pastor, died July 19 at a private family residence.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Monday, July 22, at Queen of Peace Church, Kew Gardens, where he had been pastor.
A native of Trent, Italy, he attended Cathedral College, Brooklyn, and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, L.I. He was ordained May 31, 1947 by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.
He served as an assistant at Sacred Heart, Fort Greene, 1947-56; Our Lady of Miracle, Canarsie, 1956-57; and St. Brendan, Midwood, 1957-68.
In 1968, he was named the founding pastor of the diocesan mission of San Pedro, Coronel, Oveido, Paraguay, where he served until 1972.
When he returned to the diocese, he was assigned to St. Barbara’s parish, Bushwick, where he was pastor from 1973 to 1978.
From 1978 to 1984, he was the episcopal vicar for Vicariate C.
He also served as pastor at Queen of Peace, Kew Gardens, 1984-94. He then retired from active duty.
He was named a monsignor in 1981.
In the 1970s, Msgr. Collini also was a member of the Diocesan Priests’ Senate and the Diocesan Commission on Ministry at the Seminary.
Retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass. Special concelebrants included Msgrs. Steven Ferrari and Edward Wetterer and Fathers John Gildea and James L. Tighe.
In his homily, Msgr. Ferrari said, “There is so much – so many memories and stories we could all share. But let me suggest that the qualities we may remember most about Chet may perhaps all begin with the letter ‘H.’ I like to think of him as the president of the ‘6 H Club:’ humility, holiness, humor, honesty, heart and honor.
“He enjoyed telling jokes and long stories, over and over again. He had a sharp memory for details. I don’t know how he could remember all that stuff! And he knew how to laugh – even laugh at himself and make others feel comfortable.
“In 1997, as he was celebrating his 50 years of priesthood, his golden jubilee, he wrote an article in the quarterly magazine published by the churches of the Val Rendena in the diocese of Trento, Italy. He wrote lovingly in Italian of those 50 years as God’s servant, a priest. He made sure a few years ago when he asked me to preach at his funeral that I get hold of that issue of the ‘Campane di Rendena,’ which means the church bells of the Rendena Valley, to use in my homily. I was able to get the magazine from Chet’s family. I want to translate a few sentences he wrote:
“How many times must I say that God has loved me and spoiled me. He has given me the health and the capability to be of help in several parishes in the Diocese…I recognize my weakness. I am a church person; and if my bishop calls me, I respond, maybe not well and not too quickly, but he speaks for the Church, my Church, and I listen and respond.”
Msgr. Collini is survived by his sister, Constance Maffei-Kaiser of Flushing.
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.