Victoria, BC — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria is pleased to announce the completion of the solar panel installation at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, which officially went online on September 19, 2025. The project was completed ahead of schedule, on budget, and is already generating clean energy savings for the parish.
The new solar system is designed to generate approximately 44,000 kWh per year, covering nearly 90% of the parish’s electrical needs based on historical energy use. The installation, completed by Besolar, the solar division of Brewis Electric Company, features all-black solar modules and colour-matched conduits, creating a visually striking design that complements the church’s architecture. One section of the roof has panels arranged in a cross formation and illuminated from underneath, allowing the design to shine at night and serve as a visible symbol of faith in the community.
“We are very pleased to see this project come to life,” said Fr. Alfredo Monacelli, Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. “Not only will the solar system provide significant long-term savings for our parish, but it also reflects our call to care for creation. This project will stand as a beacon in our community for decades to come, reminding us that stewardship of the Earth is an essential part of our faith.”
The project reflects the parish’s commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible energy use, and smart financial planning. As Andy Kyfiuk, a member of the parish building commission, explains: “If you say you’re going to interact with God’s creation constructively, well, you better show it.” By taking advantage of BC Hydro’s net metering program, excess energy generated by the system is stored as credit for later use, helping to insulate the church from future electricity price increases.
The initiative was warmly received by the parish council and the wider community, demonstrating that sustainability and responsible stewardship can go hand in hand with practicality and smart investment. Inspired by a desire to care for the Earth and explore innovative technologies, the Diocese of Victoria hopes this project encourages others to consider renewable energy solutions for their own communities.
The completion date of this initiative is especially meaningful, aligning with the 2025 Season of Creation, which ran from September 1st (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) to October 4th (the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecologists and ecology). It also coincides with the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, which renewed the Catholic Church’s call to ecological responsibility. On October 1, Pope Leo XIV reflected on this milestone, noting: “The challenges identified in Laudato Si’ are in fact even more relevant today than they were ten years ago. These challenges are of a social and political nature, but first and foremost of a spiritual nature: they call for conversion.”
The Diocese of Victoria sees the installation of these solar panels as one way of living out that call to ecological conversion—demonstrating practical stewardship of creation, caring for the environment, and embracing sustainable energy in a way that benefits both the parish and the wider community.
In addition to the parish, the Diocese is incorporating solar technology into the new Early Learning Centre at St. Joseph’s Elementary School, currently under construction on the same property. This will provide sustainable energy solutions while also serving as a daily example for students of how faith and care for the environment go hand in hand.
“The installation of solar panels at both the parish and the school is a tangible way for us to live out Pope Francis’ vision in Laudato si’,” said Bishop Gary Gordon. “It is a concrete answer to our shared responsibility to care for the world God has entrusted to us.”
Cover photo provided by Besolar
View this press release as a PDF here.
Photos above provided by Besolar and Bishop Gary Gordon
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