The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria administers the parishes in its region. The Diocese of Victoria was founded in 1846 as the Diocese of Vancouver Island. Before this, it was part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Oregon. After the Oregon Treaty in 1846 in which the Americans and the British agreed to the border between what is now British Columbia and Washington State, the Vancouver Island Diocese was created to serve the Canadian side of the border. Upon its creation, the new Diocese consisted of Vancouver Island and its surrounding Islands, as well as mainland British Columbia and Alaska. In 1863, the Diocese’s area in mainland British Columbia was transferred to the newly created Apostolic Vicariate of British Columbia. In 1894, its Alaskan area was transferred to the newly created Apostolic Prefecture (below an Apostolic Vicariate) of Alaska and it as well transferred some of its territory to the Archdiocese of Oregon City. In 1903, the Diocese became an Archdiocese, but in 1908, it was changed back to a Diocese. The Diocese’s name was changed from Vancouver Island to Victoria in 1904.
1846-1982
2012-04-13 - 2012-04-14