Tony Gosgnach
Assistant Editor

They came from far and wide, more than 500 of them, to pay tribute to a man who truly epitomized what the Catholic priesthood – in particular, the pro-life priesthood – is all about.

At Toronto’s Spirale Banquet Centre on August 9, virtually everybody who is somebody in the Canadian pro-life movement was present to bid a fond farewell at a “Feast for the Lion” dinner for Father Ted Colleton, who is finally taking a respite from a lifetime of unwavering, faithful service to God, the church, his congregations, his mission fields, the unborn and the world at large.

At the ripe age of 94, Colleton is retiring and departing Canada to live out his final years at Kimmage Manor in his native Ireland. But, even though he will be an ocean away, those carrying on the pro-life battle in Canada have his assurances that he will continue to offer his prayers for the success of their efforts to protect human life in this country.

Colleton’s work has been recounted numerous times over the years – including at observances celebrating his birthdays and priestly anniversaries and, more recently, in the last issue of The Interim –so elaborate speeches and tributes were dispensed with at the dinner in favour of allowing everyone to offer a personal greeting to him. There also was a well-received, half-hour video recounting his life’s story and brief, keynote addresses from retired Toronto Bishop Pearse Lacey and Campaign Life Coalition national president Jim Hughes.

Lacey pointed to Colleton’s boldness and fearlessness as he recalled how he thought he himself had stepped out on a limb to tell a 1987 gathering of dignitaries at the annual opening of the Toronto law courts about social injustice and their moral responsibilities to combat it. “Had I been Father Colleton, I likely would have been much stronger – and probably never been invited back,” he laughed.

He added he has been inspired over the years by Colleton – so much so, that he was one of the few clergy who felt led to join a vigil outside a Toronto jail when Colleton was imprisoned for his peaceful actions against abortion sites in the 1980s. “His courage, with equally committed laity, often pricked my conscience as a priest, and later as a bishop, to do more,” said Lacey.

“The fact you’re here tonight says many things to me,” he continued. “Ted Colleton came a long time ago to know who he was. In knowing who he was, he could not exclude the author of life, God himself. And so, I praise and thank God – I do every day – but I particularly thank him for Ted Colleton.”

Lacey said the Apostle Paul observed that the kingdom of God “is of justice and peace and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit … Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God … Ted, you have served God so well.” He added that Colleton’s heavenly salvation is assured. “God bless and protect you until that final day,” he concluded.

Hughes said Canadian pro-life leaders were taken aback when Colleton announced not long ago that he would be returning to Ireland. “We said, ‘You’ve been away for 67 years. You’re not going to know anybody when you get back. You know all of us; why don’t you stay here?’ But he said, ‘No, I want to die with my own.’”

So, Hughes had several conversations with the Spiritans (Colleton’s order of priests) and all agreed that, in his best interest, they would make arrangements for Colleton to retire to Kimmage Manor.

“We, on the other hand, would scramble and try to put something together which would be a half-decent memorial to all the work that he’s done here – (but) not a memorial to him, because he’s got lots of years to go to pray for us all,” said Hughes.

Part of the “scrambling” to which Hughes referred involved preparing the video that was screened at the end of the evening. Before that was played on a large screen, those attending enjoyed a prime rib roast dinner and the music of performers including Father David Roche and Deacon Philip Allard on guitar and fiddle, as well as singers Michael Hughes and Hugo Straney. Father Louis Di Rocco with the Campaign Life Coalition choir, meanwhile, treated the crowd to a rendition of “That’s Our Father Ted,” sung to the tune of “Peggy O’Neil.”

“When to Dublin you return, our prayer go with you,” they sang. “You can pray for us in turn, our thanks go with you. We’ll remember you fondly for sure for your selfless devotion so pure. May the Lord bless you and bring peace and joy to you, our dear Father Ted.”

The video was an entertaining and often-humorous piece that inevitably featured a good dose of Colleton’s jokes taped at a number of gatherings over the years. Although many in the crowd had heard the gags many times before, they still drew peals of laughter.

The always self-effacing Colleton took the podium after the video to remark, “I just can’t say anything. I feel embarrassed … but pleased at all the wonderful things that have been said about me. Sometimes, I find it hard to recognize who the guy was that they talked about.”

But he did observe that he wished his father and mother were still alive to see the video so “they’d realize they brought up something better than they thought they ever did.”

His final words were in Swahili, as he raised his hands in blessing toward the audience “May the blessing of almighty God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, go down upon all of you and remain with you forever. That’s the best wish I can give you.”

Then, it was time for final goodbyes as throngs lined up to offer personal best wishes before leaving the hall. Despite the long evening, Colleton posed for many pictures, received many embraces and signed many programs.

The final song of the evening, playing in the background, perhaps best summed the scene up: “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”