Our Lady of Victory Mission

History

In the 1920s the priests from Kuper Island visited Gabriola Island and offered Mass at private homes. In 1925 the Demontfor Fathers undertook to build a church under the direction of Fr. DeWeerts SMM. The site was donated by John Silva, who had lived on Gabriola Island for forty years.

Silva also donated the logs to build the 40' x 20' church. Dan McConvey donated his labours to build the church. Mr. deLong donated money and the pews for the new church. The Women's auxiliary provided altar linens and other essentials for the celebration of the Mass. Paintings, money and labor were donated by the Catholic community members on Gabriola Island. In 1926 a half acre of land was formally purchased from John Silva for $1.00 and the Log Church had its home completed.

On Sunday, July 19, 1926, the new Catholic mission-boat, "Maris Stella" (Star of the Sea), after the liturgical blessing, left on her maiden trip along the East coast of Vancouver Island. On board was the Right Reverend Bishop O'Donnell, of Victoria. Under a stiff north-westerly headwind, she gallantly cut her way through the waves in the direction of Gabriola Island, where a landing was made at 9am.

A new church had been erected at the south end of the island, and the object of the Bishop's visit was to bless and open the new building. In the presence of the Catholic population of the island, his lordship read the prayers of the blessing, sprinkled the walls both inside and outside with Holy Water, knelt at the foot of the altar to recite the litanies of the saints and blessed the tabernacle, after which the church and the altar were dedicated to the service of God.

The Bishop afterwards offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, during which the choir sang appropriate hymns. After reading the Epistle and Gospel of the Sunday, the Bishop congratulated the people of Gabriola on their new church and thanked them for their generosity in the matter.

After mentioning the advantages of the building material, he went on to show the great benefits of the Catholic Church and her influence on the life of her true members. During the Bishop's Mass six children approached the Holy table and received, for the first time, Holy Communion. They also received afterwards from the hand of the Bishop the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The new church at Gabriola Island is 40 feet long and 20 feet wide. It is built of logs and fits perfectly in the surroundings. It is not only a solid building, but very pleasing to the eye, the right church for the place. The generosity of the Women's Auxiliary of the Catholic Canadian Extension Society, together with the support and active help of the Catholics of Gabriola Island, made the building of the church possible.

The same Society also furnished the altar linen and other necessary articles for the celebration of Mass. The site of the church and the logs used for the building were given by Mr. John Silva, a 40-year resident of the island. Mr. Dan McConvey undertook the building of the church, giving his own work gratuitously.