Kugluktuk, NU

Our Lady of Light

• Regional Pastor: Fr. Gerald (Mick) Fleming (mickcssr@gmail.com)
• Local Contact: John Roesch (john_roesch@qiniq.com)

Box 178 Kugluktuk, NU X0B 0E0

Our Lady of Light Church in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, has long been a quiet but important presence in the spiritual life of this Arctic community. Kugluktuk, known in Inuktitut as Qurluqtuq, is situated at the mouth of the Coppermine River in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut. Isolated by geography and climate, the hamlet is home primarily to Inuit families whose lives are shaped by the land, the sea, and strong communal bonds. Within this context, the Catholic Church has served not only as a place of worship, but also as a gathering point where faith and daily life meet.

The Catholic presence in Kugluktuk dates back to the mid-twentieth century, when missionaries traveled vast distances across the North to serve scattered communities. Our Lady of Light became the local expression of that mission, offering sacramental life, prayer, and pastoral care to Catholics in the community. The church was modest in size and construction, reflecting both the realities of the North and the simplicity of the faith life it supported. Over time, it became a familiar and trusted place where generations marked baptisms, marriages, funerals, and the rhythms of the liturgical year.

In April 2004, the original church building was destroyed by a fire, an event that deeply affected parishioners and the wider community. The loss was not only physical, but emotional and spiritual, as the building held memories and meaning for many families. Yet, as has so often been the case in northern communities, resilience quickly emerged. Rather than allowing the loss of the building to interrupt communal worship, the congregation adapted. A double-trailer structure was brought to Kugluktuk and placed on the original site, serving as a temporary but functional chapel and community space.

During this period, lay leadership played a vital role in sustaining the faith life of the parish. With priests visiting only periodically due to the vast distances of the diocese and the shortage of clergy, local parishioners assumed responsibility for prayer services, maintenance of the space, and mutual pastoral support. Worship in the trailer chapel became a sign of perseverance, emphasizing that the church is not defined solely by its walls, but by the people who gather in faith.

In time, insurance funds from the loss of the original building made it possible to establish a renewed worship space, which was blessed and put into use in the years that followed. While still simple and practical, the restored church once again provided a dedicated home for Catholic worship in Kugluktuk. Its continued use reflects the determination of the community to maintain its spiritual traditions despite the challenges of northern life.

Today, Our Lady of Light Church stands as a symbol of enduring faith in Kugluktuk. It represents a Catholic presence shaped by adaptation, shared responsibility, and deep connection to community life. In a region where distances are great and resources limited, the church continues to offer light in a very literal and spiritual sense, accompanying the people of Kugluktuk as they live their faith in one of Canada’s most remote and beautiful landscapes.