Hay River, NT

Assumption Parish

Pastor: Fr. Peter Dai Nguyen (sugiatinhyeu1868@gmail.com)
Pastoral Leader: Sr. Maggie Beaudette (mbeaudette@csjcanada.org)

67 Woodland Drive Hay River, NT X0E 0R8

Parish Phone: (867) 875 2545

facebook.com/OurLadyofAssumptionHayRiver

Assumption Parish in Hay River, Northwest Territories (often referred to as Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church) is a key Catholic community within the South Slave Region of the Diocese of Mackenzie–Fort Smith. Located at 67 Woodland Drive in Hay River, this parish serves as the main Roman Catholic presence in the town and surrounding area, offering liturgical life, sacramental ministry, and community engagement to Catholics in this part of the Northwest Territories.

Assumption Parish functions as a vibrant parish within a small northern community. It provides regular Masses, sacramental preparation, and other spiritual formation opportunities for parishioners of all ages.

As a parish in a regional centre of the South Slave, Assumption plays multiple roles beyond simply hosting Sunday worship. Hay River itself is a hub town in the South Slave Region—known as the “Hub of the North”—and the parish reflects that by serving Catholics from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous peoples, long-term settlers, and residents who have moved north for work or family. The parish supports not just liturgical celebration but also Christian education, youth engagement, and devotional practices and a commitment to fostering a full life of faith among its members.

The parish church building itself also functions as a community gathering space, with facilities such as a parish hall that can be rented and used for social events, meetings, and outreach activities. This dual role as both a sacred space and a community hub underscores the parish’s importance in a relatively isolated northern setting.

Within the broader diocesan context, Assumption Parish is part of a network of Catholic communities that must contend with great distances, small populations, and the challenges of northern life. Like other parishes in the Diocese of Mackenzie–Fort Smith, it embodies a spirit of resilience and service, striving to maintain vibrant Catholic life in a place where weather, isolation, and travel can make pastoral work demanding yet deeply meaningful.