Thomas Collins was born in the San Francisco, California, and was one of seven children.
[1] He was educated at Sacred Heart School and studied for the priesthood at seminaries in Mountain View, California, and Venard before being ordained a priest on June 21, 1942.
Pope John XXIII appointed Collins as the Titular Bishop of Sufetula and Vicar Apostolic of Pando on November 15, 1960.
His resignation for health reasons was accepted by Pope Paul VI in November 1968.
Bishop Collins became a resident at the Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, New York.