A diocese is a portion of the People of God, entrusted to a Bishop to be nurtured by him, with the cooperation of the priests, in such a way that, remaining close to the pastor and gathered by him through the Gospel and the Eucharist in the Holy Spirit, it constitutes a local church. In this church, the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ truly exists and functions. (Canon 369). The Archdiocese of Winnipeg was erected on December 4, 1915. It comprises that portion of the Province of Manitoba lying south of the line dividing Townships 44 and 45 and west of Lake Winnipeg and the Red River, except the territory south of the line dividing Townships 9 and 10 and east of the Meridian between the 13th and 14th Ranges west of the principal Meridian. The patron of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg is St. Joseph.