Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Canada

The Diocese of Victoria (Latin: Dioecesis Victoriensis in Insula Vancouver) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its episcopal see is in Victoria. The diocese encompasses all of Vancouver Island and several nearby British Columbia islands. A suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Vancouver, the diocese's cathedral is St. Andrew's Cathedral and its present diocesan bishop is Gary Gordon.

This article is about the diocese in British Columbia. For the diocese in Texas, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas.
Diocese of Victoria

Dioecesis Victoriensis in Insula Vancouver
St. Andrew's Cathedral, Victoria, BC, Canada
Coat of Arms
Location
CountryCanada
Ecclesiastical provinceArchdiocese of Vancouver
Metropolitan1-4044 Nelthorpe St.
Victoria, BC
V8X 2A1
Statistics
Area95,275 km2 (36,786 sq mi)
Population
- Catholics
96,000 (13.6%)
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedJuly 24, 1846
CathedralSt Andrew's Cathedral
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopGary Gordon
Metropolitan ArchbishopJ. Michael Miller
Archbishop of Vancouver
Website
rcdvictoria.org

Diocesan demographics

As of 2004, the diocese had 94,465 Catholics, 22 diocesan Priests, 15 religious Priests, 1 Deacon. The diocese is also helped by 19 Brothers, and 91 Sisters servicing 30 parishes.

History

The diocese was created on 24 July 1846 as the Diocese of Vancouver Island, one of three dioceses in the Pacific Northwest created out of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Oregon Territory. It was elevated to an archdiocese on 19 June 1903 and renamed Archdiocese of Victoria in 1904. It was then lowered to a diocese in 1908, when the metropolitan see was moved to Vancouver.

The territory included Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, New Caledonia (mainland British Columbia), the Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska. Modeste Demers became the new diocese's first bishop.

Territorial losses

Yearterritory lost to form:
1863Vicariate Apostolic of British Columbia
1894Diocese of New Westminster
Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska

On June 19, 1903, the diocese became an Archdiocese of Victoria. It was returned to the status of a diocese on October 1, 1908, and became a suffragan diocese to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Bishops

The following are the lists of Bishops and their years of service:

Ordinaries

Coadjutor bishops

Auxiliary bishop

Churches

Monasteries

Education

Catholic high schools
St. Ann's Academy, is now a heritage site
School City Est. Website Enrolment
St. Andrew's Regional High School Victoria http://www.standrewshigh.ca/ ~475 (co-ed)

Catholic elementary schools
School City Est. Website
St. Joseph’s Victoria http://www.stjosephschool.ca/
St. Patrick's Victoria http://www.stpatrickselem.ca/
Queen of Angels Duncan http://www.queenofangels.ca/
John Paul II Port Alberni 1951 http://www.jp2nd.ca/
  • St. Ann's Academy for Boys, of Duncan, was erected in 1864 and closed in 1969.
  • St. Mary's School, of Ladysmith, was established 1909 and closed in 1913.

Catholic universities, colleges, and seminaries
  • St. Joseph's School for Nursing, of Victoria, was erected in 1900 and closed in 1981.
  • St. John Fisher / Thomas More College 1953 and closed in 1993.

Religious institutes

Religious institutes of women

Residential schools

The Diocese managed two residential schools in British Columbia.[16] Upon the discovery of the remains of 215 children at Kamloops Indian Residential School, the diocese released a statement of apology and commitment.

Charities

Health Care

  • Lourdes Hospital, of Campbell River, was erected in 1926 and closed in 1957.
  • St. Joseph's Hospital, of Victoria, was erected in 1876 and closed in 1972.

Notes
  • The diocese produces the Diocesan Messenger which is a Catholic newspaper for its community.

References
  1. "St Andrew's Cathedral". www.standrewscathedral.com.
  2. "Holy Cross Catholic Parish". www.holycrossvictoria.org.
  3. "Our Lady of the Rosary - A Family Friendly Church".
  4. "Home". www.qop.ca.
  5. "Home". www.spparish.com.
  6. "Sacred Heart Catholic Church - Victoria, BC". www.sacredheartvictoria.com.
  7. "Catholic Church - St. Joseph The Worker Parish, Victoria, BC". stjosephtheworkerparish.com.
  8. "St. Patrick's Parish > Home". www.stpats-vic.ca.
  9. "St Rose of Lima, Sooke". www.strose.shawbiz.ca.
  10. "Christ The King Parish Serving Parishioners of the Comox Valley". www.ctkparish.ca.
  11. "Home". www.stedwardsduncan.com.
  12. "Home". www.stpetersnanaimo.ca.
  13. "Ascension Parish Parksville". www.ascensionparish.org.
  14. "tigerwoods-golfmaster".
  15. "Timbos Blog für Studenten". ukeeparish.blogspot.com.
  16. Gordon, Bishop Gary. "Statement of Apology and Commitment". www.rcdvictoria.org. Retrieved 2021-07-10.

Bibliography
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