Kingston Police probe $630,000 financial irregularities at St. John's Catholic Church

Kingston Police are investigating alleged financial irregularities at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, with over $630,000 reportedly unaccounted for since 2019.

Pastor stood down as police probe $630,000 missing from Kingston parish accounts

Kingston Police have opened a criminal investigation into significant financial irregularities at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church on Patrick Street in Kingston's King's Town District, kingstonist.com reports.

Archbishop Michael Mulhall of the Archdiocese of Kingston confirmed the probe in a notice to parishioners dated Monday, June 13, 2026. "A financial issue has come to light regarding Friar David's use of the accounts of St. John Parish," Mulhall wrote, referring to Friar David Collins.

Collins had served as pastor of the St. John's parish since at least 2017. He met with the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese "to explain the significant financial irregularities" related to the parish accounts, according to Mulhall's statement. Following a subsequent meeting on Friday, June 17, 2026, between the archbishop, representatives of the Provincial of the Conventual Franciscan Friars, and Collins, the friar "returned to his Franciscan community in Toronto."

Friar Tim Shea has assumed leadership of St. John's parish "for the next few months until a new Pastor is assigned in the fall," Mulhall said.

Catholic media outlet The Pillar, which first reported on the financial concerns at the church, cited a letter from Mulhall to parishioners indicating that more than $600,000 was "taken from the parish through the issuing of irregular cheques." A review of parish accounts dating back to 2019 is said to have revealed $630,000 unaccounted for. Kingstonist was unable to obtain a copy of that letter or independently verify those figures. Archbishop Mulhall and the Archdiocese did not respond to requests for comment and clarification.

Kingston Police confirmed the investigation is active. Constable Anthony Colangeli, Media Relations Officer for Kingston Police, said a detective with the Criminal Investigation Division "has been assigned to this investigation." Colangeli added that "the Archdiocese is cooperating with police to support the investigation," noting that no further information was available at this time.

"An investigation into the full scope of this matter is ongoing," Mulhall wrote in his statement to parishioners, which concluded with a request that they "keep Friar David in your prayers."

Source: Google News JM — Kingston