THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502160035
SECTION: REAL LIFE PAGE: K1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
IN THE STARCHED white shirt and neatly pressed blue trousers that make up the uniform of the Nags Head Volunteer Fire Department, Terry Collins looks like any other firefighter putting in his time at the station.
But the white cross with gold trim on each lapel represents a seemingly separate vocation. Terry Collins may be ``one of the guys'' at the fire hall. But Father Terrence Collins of the Diocese of Raleigh fights fires of a different kind.
As the priest for Roman Catholic parish churches in Dare, Hyde and Currituck counties on North Carolina's Outer Banks, tourist season finds Collins celebrating five Masses on weekends, and two services per month to two Spanish-speaking migrant churches in Fairfield and New Holland, N.C.
The many emotional demands on a circuit riding priest like Collins may seem to be more than enough. But the 52-year-old Bridgeport, Conn., native sees his ministry expanding beyond the pulpit.
``We constantly ask people to become more involved both in the church and in the community,'' he said. ``The church is both job and life. I wanted to go outside the pulpit and minister to the community.''
Former Nags Head Fire Chief Doug Remaley asked Collins to become the department's chaplain in 1991. Though Collins may never fight a fire, his duties are no less important.
``The chances of me going into a live fire are like the chances of a snowball going into Hades and staying together,'' Collins said. ``But there's a chance you'll be short-handed and you need to be able to help the guys.''
But like his comrades who battle blazes, Collins has his duty. In the event of a fatality, Collins is there to take families away from wrenching scenes where loved ones may be dying and provide comfort to the grief-stricken. But all firefighters, Collins said, have a spiritual tie.
``We're dealing with a bunch of men and women who are very spiritual,'' he said. ``It could be said that firefighters are a little crazy, because they go into buildings and homes everyone else is trying to get away from. But firefighters literally face the gates of hell every time they go out to a fire or other tragedy. My job is to meet the people where they are in their lives, and to let them know that God loves them.''
And the priest, who joined the Diocese of Raleigh in 1981, serves as a reminder of a divine presence, even in less than divine circumstances. In emergency situations, profanity sometimes engulfs a firefighter's tongue. Collins takes the verbal slips in good humor.
``You can't really expect firefighters in tough situations to say `Oh golly' or `Oh gee,' '' Collins said.
Along with meeting the spiritual needs of his fellow firefighters, Collins brings light to the darkest hours of accident and fire victims.
``He's been a godsend,'' Remaley said. ``Many times, when you have an emotionally intense situation, family members who are concerned about loved ones can make it tough for emergency personnel to do their job. Father Terry takes those people away from the scene, informs them about what's going on, and tries to help them with whatever needs they have.''
For the priest who would have gone to Yale or Columbia and studied law had it not been for a ``nagging call'' on his life, the stories are numerous.
``There was a grandmother that I sat and talked with as she calmly watched her house burn to the ground. She had gotten out of the house completely dressed except she wasn't wearing any shoes. Her feet were getting cold, so I went and got her some socks that I kept in the car.
``The next Sunday at Mass, her daughter came up to me and said, `My mother was talking about a priest who talked to her during the fire. At first I just thought it was the trauma from the fire. But were you at the scene?' ''
Collins told her he was, and she responded, ``We'll bring back the socks.''
He had been a chaplain for only two months when a young man was killed in an accident.
``I had to use all my ministerial skills as a chaplain and as a priest,'' Collins said. ``I got to the scene, and they just said, `This is the situation. Handle it.' They worked on the theory that I would do what I was supposed to do . . . It was something.''
He became comforter, confidant, a shoulder for a grieving family to cry on. As he opened his heart to the family members, they shared the story of their lost loved one.
``He was getting ready to graduate from school,'' Collins recalled. ``He was a smart kid from a loving family who was well-loved in his community.''
For many, particularly out-of-town visitors, Collins can be their only friend in a time of tragedy.
``A lot of the people we end up dealing with are not from the beach communities,'' said Collins. ``As long as they understand what's going on, and that our people did everything they could for them, and that we care, then we've done our job.''
Nags Head Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Zorc is one of Collins' parishioners. He sees Collins role as chaplain a perfect complement to his duties as a priest.
``Father Terry does so much more when he arrives at a scene than say `Let's pray about this,' '' Zorc said. ``Instead, he says, `Let's work together.' It's nondenominational.''
Collins said the chaplain duties help to reaffirm his faith.
``I can use the skills I developed in the priesthood, and the counseling skills I've learned in dealing with tragedies,'' he said.
``I've gained a greater sense of His presence in dealing with the fire department.''
And he has gained an understanding of the motivation of men and women to volunteer in life-threatening situations.
In his billfold, he carries a reminder printed on both sides of a business card. The words are his credo. On one side is a prayer for firefighters and a reminder of Christ's words: ``Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.'' And on the other, the words of Tokyo Fire Chief Eiichi Harashima, on the mission of a firefighter: ``. . . the duty of a firefighter is to give protection to people in each community. In that sense, the firefighting profession is a very holy one.'' ILLUSTRATION: DREW C. WILSON/Staff color photos
Father Terrence Collins, 52, of the Diocese of Raleigh works with
parishes on the Outer Banks as well as two Spanish-speaking migrant
churches.
As a chaplain with the Nags Head Volunteer Fire Department, Collins
counsels and comforts families during tragedy.
by CNB