Diocese of Victoria
https://www.rcdvictoria.org
Diocese On-line Marriage Preparation Course
https://www.rcdvictoria.org/marriage-prep
July 17, 2025
1) Please join the Office of the Bishop in welcoming Teresa Kellendonk, who begins her role as Chancellor for the Diocese of Victoria this week. We look forward to her contributions in this vital position.
2) To honour the fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday, July 27, 2025, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Standing Committee for Family and Life has shared a commemorative video. View the video and related materials here: https://www.cccb.ca/faith-moral-issues/family-and-life/grandparents-and-the-elderly/
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July 10, 2025
1) On July 13, 2025, Catholic communities around the world—including here in the Diocese of Victoria—will mark Sea Sunday, a day to recognize, celebrate, and pray for seafarers and all who work at sea. Learn more about Sea Sunday and the Diocese of Victoria’s Stella Maris Ministry to Seafarers here: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/stella-maris-ministry
2) Our Lady of Victory Church on Gabriola Island is celebrating 100 years of faithful service on Sunday, July 20. All are welcome to join the celebration, beginning with Mass at 2:30 pm at Our Lady of Victory (3380 South Road, Gabriola Island), followed by food and music. Find more information here: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/events/our-lady-of-victory-church-100th-anniversary-gabriola-island
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July 3, 2025
The Soup Kitchen under St. Andrew’s Cathedral has launched its “Fill a Bowl” campaign—every dollar donated helps feed someone in need. Thanks to the open-hearted support of donors and volunteers, the Soup Kitchen has been welcoming the hungry with nourishing soup served without judgment for 43 years. Fill a bowl today: https://www.thesoupkitchen.ca/
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June 26, 2025
1) The deadline to nominate a recipient for the 2025 Char Deslippe Award is upcoming on July 15, 2025. Parish and school communities across the Diocese of Victoria are encouraged to submit the names of outstanding teachers or parish catechists for consideration; the award will be presented at a future Diocesan event. Learn more about this award here:
https://www.rcdvictoria.org/char-deslippe-award
2) Grief to Grace is a Christ-centered retreat program led by mental health professionals that offers healing for those who have experienced abuse or neglect in any area of life. The next Canadian retreat will take place in Kelowna in late October 2025; for more information, email grieftogracekelowna@gmail.com or call 250-808-6403 confidentially.
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June 19, 2025
1) All are welcome to celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi with St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church on Sunday, June 22 at 2:30 pm. Mass will be followed—weather permitting—by an outdoor procession of the Blessed Sacrament. St. John Henry Newman Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter and worships at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 849 Old Esquimalt Road, Victoria.
2) The Diocese of Victoria is seeking a full-time Accounting Clerk with a strong financial background and excellent organizational skills. Interested applicants are invited to submit a résumé and cover letter by June 23, 2025, to jobs@rcdvictoria.org. For more information, please visit https://www.rcdvictoria.org/employment.
3) Serra Club in formation meets every last Tuesday of the month in different Parishes. Their next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 24th at 6:00 pm at St. Patrick's Parish (2060 Haultain Street, Victoria). Mass for vocations will start at 6:00 pm, followed by an information meeting, in which Fr. Benson Asuming will be sharing his vocational journey to the priesthood. For more information, please email: victoria@serrainternational.org.
4) Amid the rising tensions and violence in the Middle East, the Catholic faithful in Canada are reminded of the urgent need to pray for peace. During this month—dedicated in the Latin Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—we have a unique opportunity to seek the Lord’s mercy, healing, and peace for our divided world. Please read the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' call to prayer for peace here: https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/a-call-to-prayer-for-peace-in-the-holy-land-and-the-middle-east-during-the-month-of-the-sacred-heart/
5) St. Teresa's Chapel on Pender Island is celebrating 25 years of faithful service to the Catholic community on Sunday, July 6. All are welcome to join Bishop Gary Gordon for Mass at 11:00 am to celebrate this milestone, followed by a casual luncheon and afternoon of fellowship.
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June 12, 2025
1) Applications are still open until June 21 for the Pastoral Administrator position at Holy Cross Parish in Victoria. This role is vital to supporting and strengthening the community and its service to the people in Gordon Head while it awaits the appointment of a Pastor. The ideal candidate will bring a grounded, spiritual life, supported by theological education and practical experience as a community leader. For more information and how to apply, please visit https://www.rcdvictoria.org/employment.
2) On June 20, Broad View United Church (3703 St Aidens Street, Victoria) will host an ecumenical prayer session in The Way of Taizé at 6:00 pm. All are invited to join in this evening of prayer and song.
3) Register for the 11th Annual Diocesan Family Camp! https://www.rcdvictoria.org/family-camp The planning committee for the Diocesan Family Camp is seeking volunteers to assist with childcare. Kindly email Kristy at familycamp@rcdvictoria.org
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May 29, 2025
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has shared a short Note on Prayer from its Episcopal Commission for Doctrine. The note offers a simple introduction to what prayer is and points to a set of helpful new resources prepared by the CCCB’s Jubilee planning committee. Please find this “Note on Prayer” here: https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Note-on-Prayer_EN-2025-04-22.pdf ​​
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May 8, 2025
We rejoice in the announcement of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, who has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church as the Successor of St. Peter.
Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, was elected the 267th pope on May 8, 2025. He now takes on the sacred responsibility of shepherding the faithful around the world.
Please keep Pope Leo XIV in your prayers as he begins his ministry, asking the Holy Spirit to guide him with wisdom, compassion, and courage. May his papacy be blessed with peace and unity for the Church and the world.
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1) Applications are being accepted for bursaries and awards offered by the Diocese of Victoria in 2025 to outstanding students and educators. Please find more details on deadlines and application information here: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/diocesanblog/2025-bursaries-awards
2) Rachel’s Vineyard on Vancouver Island offers safe and confidential retreats for women and men seeking healing and peace after abortion. To learn more, please email rachelsvineyardvancouverisland@gmail.com or visithttps://www.rachelsvineyardvanisland.org/
3) The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has expanded its social media presence with the recent launch of official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, in addition to their existing X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube presence. Please find the links to all current CCCB platforms below.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conferencecccb/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cccb.cecc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cccbcecc/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/CCCB_CECC
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CCCBCECC
May 1, 2025
1) Bishop Gary Gordon has shared a message on the Lapu-Lapu Filipino Festival Tragedy, which can be read at:https://www.rcdvictoria.org/news/bishop-gary-gordons-message-on-lapu-lapu-filipino-festival-tragedy
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April 10, 2025
1) The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria and the Catholic Independent Schools of the Diocese of Victoria are pleased to announce that construction is now underway on a state-of-the-art early learning centre at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Victoria. This exciting project is made possible through generous support from the federal and provincial governments through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, as well as significant contributions from St. Joseph the Worker Parish and St. Joseph’s School.
You can read the full announcement online at: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/news/construction-of-new-early-learning-centre-at-st.-josephs-school ​​
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February 20, 2025
1) The Catholic Bishops of British Columbia have released a Pastoral Letter on Catholic Schools that highlights Catholic education's key role in evangelization and whole-person formation. It calls for Catholic schools to maintain their identity, integrate faith with learning, and work with families, educators, and pastors to build a Christ-centred community serving both students and society. The letter may be read online at: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/news/pastoral-letter-on-catholic-schools
2) The Vatican has released Antiqua et Nova, a document on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence. It highlights the distinction between AI and human intelligence and calls for ethical guidelines to ensure AI respects human dignity and serves the common good. To read the full document, please visit:https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20250128_antiqua-et-nova_en.html ​
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February 13, 2025
The national Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) has released Sacred Fire Stories, a powerful new video highlighting inspiring stories of hope from IRF-funded projects. Watch the video here to see the meaningful impact the IRF is making in Indigenous communities: https://irfund.ca/en/welcome/
The first project featured is from our own Diocese—the Michif Language Revitalization Circle (MLRC), which supports Métis in reclaiming self-identity through learning the Michif language. As a reminder, the next application deadline for the local Indigenous Reconciliation Fund is coming up on February 15. For more information and the application package, please visit https://www.rcdvictoria.org/irf or call 250-800-3167​
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January 30, 2025
On the first anniversary of their Pastoral Letter on social media, “Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious”, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a video series and resources to explore its pastoral and moral insights. These materials are available for personal or group use and can be found on a new webpage dedicated to the Pastoral Letter: https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/launch-of-video-series-and-resources-for-the-pastoral-letter-on-social-media
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October 3, 2024
1) On September 30, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement on the occasion of the 2024 National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, reaffirming its commitment to walking with Indigenous Peoples on their healing and reconciliation journey. To read the statement, please visit https://www.rcdvictoria.org/special-announcements/on-the-occasion-of-the-2024-national-day-of-truth-and-reconciliation
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February 22, 2024
February 24 marks the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. National representatives of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant communities, in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance’s Peace and Reconciliation Network, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and the Canadian Council of Churches, have signed a Pastoral Letter on Ukraine, Canada, and the Church, inviting all to join in praying for peace.
“Without in any way minimizing or ignoring the suffering and sorrow caused by war and violence in other areas of the world, we stand together in inviting Christians and all people of good will to prayerfully consider how we are all called, and might contribute to, the achievement of peace in and for Ukraine.”
– excerpt from the Pastoral Letter.
Endorsed by 45 leaders, the Letter identifies six meaningful ways by which to foster peace:
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Pray
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Support Ukrainian Refugees
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Urge diplomatic steps towards a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine
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Seek cooperative relationships of humanitarian support
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Remember February 24, 2022
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Hope for reconciliation
The President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary, supported by the CCCB’s Executive Committee, is one of the aforementioned signatories to the Letter, now available in English, French and Ukrainian. You are invited to share these links to pray and work together for peace.
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October 12, 2023
The president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop William T. McGrattan has issued a statement in response to the escalation of the conflict in the Holy Land. The statement may be found online at https://www.cccb.ca/announcement/statement-by-the-most-rev-william-t-mcgrattan-bishop-of-calgary-and-cccb-president-to-the-catholic-faithful-in-canada-on-the-recent-escalation-of-conflict-in-the-holy-land/.
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August 17th, 2023
1) A post has just been added to the Diocesan website with photos from our delegation’s pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2023. The post can be viewed at https://www.rcdvictoria.org/diocesanblog/world-youth-day-2023.
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The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has released four Pastoral Letters – to the First Nations, the Métis, the Inuit, and the People of God. The Bishops of Canada decided to write these letters after being updated on discussions with Indigenous partners during their plenary meeting last September. They outline a set of specific commitments which are meant to guide local reconciliation.
These letters can be viewed at: https://www.cccb.ca/indigenous-peoples/that-we-may-walk-together-series-of-pastoral-letters-2023/
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Working Towards Freedom: Study guide on human trafficking now available
“Working Toward Freedom” is a new study guide created in response to a call to mission: to reduce the harms of human trafficking in our local communities and uphold the dignity of every child of God.
The guide was developed jointly by the Diocese of Victoria, the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and the Diocese of Saskatchewan. Based on the CCCB's recent Pastoral Letter on Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Canada, it delves deeper into the letter and animates it in each specific community's context. Through prayer and education, the guide leads participants to become more aware of the human trafficking that is occurring in our midst, and helps them learn how to bring to light situations where people may be in danger. The authors of the guide are Evelyn Vollet, Sr. Nancy Brown, Barbara Renaud, Myron Rogal and Annette Turgeon.
The guide will be launched this month with a one-hour webinar. All are invited to join and learn more about the guide, either on Thursday, November 24 at 9:00 am PST, or on Saturday, November 26 at 10:00 am PST. The webinar will provide an overview of each section and recommendations on how to use the guide. The webinar is free, but advance registration is required at https://form.jotform.com/222704961965262.
Pope Francis describes the Church’s mission as a permanent state that calls us to go to the peripheries of society. No one is exempt from being able to do something about this horrific crime taking place within our communities. For more information, please contact Annette Turgeon at tcrmi1@telus.net.
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April 1, 2022
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has released a statement welcoming the apology made by Pope Francis today in Rome to Indigenous Peoples. The statement can be read at https://www.rcdvictoria.org/indigenous/canadas-catholic-bishops-welcome-popes-apology-to-indigenous-peoples
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Canadian Reporting System for Sexual Abuse or Cover-Up by a Catholic Bishop
On Thursday, May 6, 2021, the Bishops of Canada launched a national, bilingual service for reporting situations of sexual abuse either committed or covered-up by a Bishop. This service furthers their commitment to responsibility, accountability and transparency in matters of clergy sexual abuse and their commitment to facilitate healing and justice for victims-survivors.
Individuals can access the reporting system online (BishopReportingSystem.ca) or by calling toll-free 1-866-892-3737 from anywhere in Canada, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
The reporting system was developed by ClearView Strategic Partners, a Canadian provider of an independent reporting platform. ClearView’s technology benefits anyone wanting to make such a report by providing them with a secure and confidential platform, allowing them to remain anonymous if they so choose, and ensuring all communications are documented and preserved.
The Catholic Bishops of Canada condemn the sin and crime of sexual abuse in the strongest possible terms. No one should ever have to endure the pain, humiliation, and long-term suffering it causes, nor should anyone have to doubt that serious consequences await a perpetrator of sexual abuse or cover-up. With this reporting system, the Bishops make themselves accountable to live with integrity and to address reports of sexual abuse according to Church and civil law. The Church grieves with victim-survivors and profoundly regrets the tremendous harm caused. The Bishops of Canada wish to reach out and accompany victims-survivors along the path that restores justice and promotes healing.
Reports of current or historical sexual abuse by any other member of the Diocese of Victoria (clergy, religious, employees or volunteers) may be made by calling 1-800-968-3146. This number connects to an independent reporting service which can assist in contacting the appropriate authorities and help access counselling services. For more information about Responsible Ministry and Safe Environment in the Diocese of Victoria, please visit https://www.rcdvictoria.org/responsible-ministry.
Thank you for your prayers and the support you provide to victim-survivors in the ongoing work of healing.
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