For 100 years, Our Lady of Victory has been more than a building—it’s been a heartbeat of faith on Gabriola Island. On July 20, 2025, Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church marked a remarkable milestone: a century of worship, witness, and welcome in the island community.
It was a joyful and sacred occasion. The celebration began with a full-to-overflowing Mass, presided over by Bishop Gary Gordon, who travelled from Victoria to mark the centennial. He was joined by Father Harrison Ayre, pastor of St. Peter’s in Nanaimo, whose parishioners came in strong numbers to support and celebrate alongside Gabriola’s faithful.
With nearly 100 people in attendance, every seat inside the small wooden church was filled, and chairs were set up on the porch for the many who didn’t mind a summer breeze with their prayers. The close quarters only added to the spirit of intimacy and reverence that defined the day.
The celebration opened with a welcome from Geraldine Manson, C’tasi:a, an elder of the Snuneymuxw Nation. She greeted the congregation with prayer and song in her own language, grounding the gathering in the truth that the church stands on the traditional lands of her people. Her presence and words set a solemn and respectful tone that carried through the entire liturgy.
Bishop Gary offered a thoughtful homily, reflecting on the enduring presence of faith in the island community over the past century. Accompanied by the violin and piano of Pat Armstrong and Marilyn Smith, the Mass became not only a moment of prayer but a tapestry of sound, spirit, and story.
Following the liturgy, the celebration continued outdoors under bright blue skies. Guests were treated to a catered reception and the toe-tapping tunes of Tangled Roots, a beloved Gabriola band whose music added a festive flair to the historic day. Conversations buzzed as neighbours, friends, and visitors mingled, united by faith and community.
Father Ayre shared a brief but poignant history of the church—how a simple log structure became a place of deep significance to so many over the decades. Our Lady of Victory has been a steady spiritual presence in the lives of island residents for 100 years.
The festivities carried on into the early evening, with laughter and music echoing beneath the trees. The editor of the Gabriola Sounder, the local newspaper, was on hand to capture the moment, later publishing a piece to commemorate the day.
As the sun began to dip and guests began to make their way home, they left with full hearts and a renewed sense of gratitude for the enduring faithfulness of their little island church. For a century, Our Lady of Victory has stood as a place of peace and prayer—welcoming all who enter, and bearing witness to God’s quiet presence in this corner of creation.
Here’s to the next hundred years.
Visit Our Lady of Victory's webpage and learn more about the church and community here: https://www.stpetersnanaimo.ca/gabriola-our-lady-of-victory.html
Photos kindly provided by Rebecca Duarte and Daniela Guevara
Write-up created with information provided by Andrzej and Yvonne Kabata, and St. Peter's Nanaimo