Fr. Collin Jackson
Father Collin Victor Jackson, was born to Victor and Indera Jackson on December 29, 1981 and grew up in Sangre Grande, Trinidad. We will follow his journey to the charismatic preacher, teacher and servant he has become.
The second of five siblings, he was considered a leader even at a young age. His early influence to become involved in service in the church came mainly from the parishioners of Sangre Grande. Though he attended Mass as a young boy, he began to attend more regularly in his mid teenage and young adult years. His mid teens to young adulthood was also the period when he became involved in the life of the community, beginning when he joined the confirmation class. He served in his parish as head altar server, youth leader, catechist and member of the parish pastoral council and the liturgy committee.
Growing up, Fr. Collin was exposed to with the Holy Ghost Fathers through the mentorship of Fr. Neil Rodriguez. Additionally, there followed successive appointments of four Spiritans to his parish which created a deep interest in community life. A weekend discernment retreat led to an application to discern Spiritan life, which he experienced during 2002 to 2003.
It was not all smooth sailing for Fr. Collin. Of course, in life, nothing ever is. He attended the Guaico Presbyterian School, the Sangre Grande Junior Secondary, and North Eastern College in that order, then studied for the NCC’s International Diploma in Computer Studies as well as an advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management. During this time, he was accepted at Regional Seminary but did not take up that acceptance. Four months later in August 2002 he joined the Holy Ghost Fathers as a postulant.
Having gone into religious life straight out of school, he began to yearn to experience a different kind of life. A life where he had a regular job and could just be a regular guy. So, he took some leave during which he worked at various jobs. Teaching was one of them. Thus began his teaching career. While he was experiencing the so-called normal life, the call to religious life came to his ears once more and he did not ignore it. He returned to the Holy Ghost Fathers, having been accepted again in August 2009.
Fr. Collin graduated the Regional Seminary of St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs with a BA in Theology from the University of the West Indies in 2013. In August of that same year he entered the novitiate and made his first profession a year later, on September 6, 2014 at the Holy Trinity R. C. Church. He was appointed to the Fatima College community where he taught Religious Education and on weekends, understudied Fr. Gregory Mc Lawrence in the parish of Carenage in Trinidad. The following year in September 2015, Fr. Collin began a year-long appointment in the parish of Our Lady Help of Christians Beaulieu, Grenada, under the supervision of Fr. Sean Doggett. During this time, he assisted with the Legion of Mary, Youth Ministry and catechetics. On his return to Trinidad in September 2016, he was assigned to the parish of the Holy Trinity in Arouca. He was instituted as lector on May 14, 2017 and acolyte on September 10, 2017. In May 2018, after eight years of indecision, it was time to leave them and follow another path.
After consultations with his family and Spiritual Director, he moved to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on January 2, 2019. He returned to Trinidad later that year to be ordained deacon on December 28, 2019. As a deacon, he assisted at Masses, preached homilies, and conducted services in the Catholic parishes throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He maintains his career as a teacher at the St. Martins Secondary school, the country’s Catholic secondary school for boys. He teaches Religious Studies, Health and Family Life and History. He is also a member of the Diocesan Mission Team being responsible for Formation and Catechetics.
Collin’s status changed from deacon to priest on August 6, 2020 when he was ordained alongside his fellow teacher and missionary, brother Peter Emmanuel, who was ordained deacon. Originally attached to the Cathedral parish, Fr. Collin is now assigned to St. John’s parish alongside Msgr. Michael Stewart and Rev. Peter Emmanuel, where he will continue his stirring, relevant and thought-provoking homilies.
The many sacrifices in Fr. Collin’s journey is an example of stewardship his answering the call to service in his parish, to religious life and finally to mission and priesthood.