A Brief Chronological History

Diocese Of Victoria

Legal Title: Bishop of Victoria Corporation Sole
Incorporated: 1892

The Diocese of Victoria comprises Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and adjacent islands. The Oregon Mission was raised to an Apostolic Vicariate on December 1, 1843, and Bishop Francis Norbert Blanchet was the first Vicar Apostolic. On July 24, 1846, the Diocese of Vancouver Island was erected, including Vancouver Island, the adjacent islands, New Caledonia (i.e. the BC Mainland), the Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska, with the bishop residing in Victoria. The Diocese was raised to the status of an archdiocese on June 19, 1903. The name was changed to Victoria on September 6, 1904. It was returned to the status of a diocese on October 1, 1908.

Former Bishops

Rt. Rev. Modeste Demers, 1847-1871 Most Rev. Charles John Seghers, 1873-1878 Rt. Rev. Jean Baptiste Brondel, 1879-1883 Most Rev. Charles John Seghers, 1885-1886 Rt. Rev. J.N. Lemmens, 1888-1897 Most Rev. Alexander Christie, 1898-1899 Most Rev. Bertram Orth, 1900-1908 Rt. Rev. Alexander MacDonald, 1909-1923

Rt. Rev. Thomas O'Donnell, 1924-1929 Most Rev. Gerald Murray, CSsR, 1930-1933 Most Rev. John Hugh MacDonald, 1934-1936 Most Rev. John C. Cody, 1937-1946 Most Rev. James M. Hill, 1946-1962 Most Rev. Remi J. De Roo, 1962-1999 Most Rev. Raymond Roussin, SM, 1999-2004

Current Bishop

Most Rev. Richard Gagnon
Ordained Priest June 24, 1983; Appointed Bishop of Victoria May 14, 2004;
Episcopal ordination and Installation as Bishop of Victoria July 20, 2004