The Diocese of Victoria 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.

Diocesan demographics

, 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 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

Greater Victoria Courtenay Campbell River Gold River Hornby Island Chemainus Duncan Lake Cowichan Ladysmith Gabriola Island Mayne Island Pender Island Salt Spring Island Mill Bay Shawnigan Lake Nanaimo Parksville Port Alberni Tofino Ucluelet Alert Bay Port Hardy Port McNeill Port Alice Sayward Tahsis

Monasteries

Education

Catholic high schools

Catholic elementary schools

Catholic universities, colleges, and seminaries

Religious institutes

Religious institutes of women

Residential schools

The Diocese managed two residential schools in British Columbia. 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