History

On April 16, 1838, Father (Bishop) Blanchet received ‘Letters of Appointment’, designating him as ‘Vicar General’ of the Columbia Territory, all the lands and settlements between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Fr. (Bishop) Demers had a particular gift for languages, and arrived in his See knowing French, English, and Latin.  He then learned (and spoke fluently) seven Indigenous dialects, and had good word comprehension in eight others.

Bishop Demers is entombed at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Victoria, and there is a headstone in his honour located on the southeast lawn beside the Cathedral. 

Archbishop Charles J. Seghers was the second and also fourth Bishop of Victoria.

From humble beginnings as pastor and choir director, to missionary known as the Apostle of Alaska, Archbishop Seghers lives on in history as personification of the quote by Tertullian…”Sanguis martyrum semen Christianorum – The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.”

Archbishop Seghers sometimes found it difficult to balance his love of learning with his missionary zeal.  In his diaries, he writes that he lived on a diet of roasted crows, because he had packed so many books, it cut down on the amount of food he could carry.

Archbishop Sergers is entombed at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Victoria, and there is a headstone in his honour located on the southeast lawn beside the Cathedral. 

Bishop Brondel notes in his diaries that he was particularly delighted to be called upon to bless the bells at Our Lady of Assumption Churchon Saanich Peninsula.  He promptly named them: “Maria Rosa’.

The builder of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Bishop Lemmens tragically perished while on a missionary trip to South America with the intent of raising funds to pay off the debt owed on the building.