About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Spokane, Washington
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Spokane, Washington, serving the Indian Trail neighborhood of northwest Spokane from its 12.5-acre campus nestled along the basalt cliffs and pine trees below Five Mile Prairie. Erected on August 15, 1958, by Bishop Topel, the parish was carved from neighboring St. Charles Parish and today offers weekend and daily Mass in English, Eucharistic adoration, confession, a parish school with preschool, religious education, and a wide range of parish life activities. Father Tim Hays has served as pastor since 2015, and Deacon Kelly Stewart is currently assigned to the parish.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Tim (Timothy) Hays
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane
Why belong here
Assumption is a long-established parish family in northwest Spokane where the Blessed Virgin Mary is honored as patron and where the faithful gather around the Mass, the sacraments, scripture study, religious education, and outreach to the sick and the poor. The community has built its own church with its own hands, raised generations in its parish school (now including a preschool), and welcomes visitors through its daily Mass schedule, weekly Eucharistic adoration on Wednesdays, and Saturday confessions. If you are looking for a rooted Catholic community in the Indian Trail / Five Mile Prairie area, with active liturgy, a school, and opportunities to serve, Assumption offers a faithful home.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Parish Overview
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Spokane, located at 3624 W Indian Trail Rd. in the Indian Trail neighborhood of northwest Spokane. The 12.5-acre campus lies along the basalt cliffs and pine trees below Five Mile Prairie, providing a distinctive Spokane-area setting. The parish office can be reached at (509) 326-0144 or [email protected].
- Diocese of Spokane parish
- Address: 3624 W Indian Trail Rd., Spokane, WA 99208
- Phone: (509) 326-0144
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: assumptionspokane.org
History & Founding
Erected on August 15, 1958 by Bishop Topel with about 240 founding families carved from St. Charles Parish, Assumption has grown from a congregation meeting in the Westview Elementary gymnasium into a parish with its own church, school, and multi-purpose hall. The original 1959 buildings (rectory-office, classrooms and a makeshift church) gave way to the present dedicated church in 1979, and stained-glass windows and a new altar furnishings followed in later decades.
- Founded August 15, 1958 by Bishop Topel
- First Masses held in Westview Elementary School gymnasium
- School opened September 27, 1959 with the Dominican Sisters of Kettle Falls
- Multi-purpose gymnasium-hall-kitchen dedicated September 1966
- Present church dedicated December 19, 1979 by Bishop Lawrence Welsh
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present parish church was designed by parishioner-architect William Fiedler and built largely by parishioners under general overseers Paul Russell and Leo Higgins in 1978–1979. Distinctive sacred art includes the stained-glass windows "Embraced in Glory" (installed 2002) and the altar, ambo and presidential chairs crafted by Walla Walla woodworker Roger Treis.
- Church designed by parishioner William Fiedler
- Built by parishioners under Paul Russell and Leo Higgins
- Stained-glass windows "Embraced in Glory" (2002)
- Altar, ambo and presidential chairs by Roger Treis of Walla Walla
Parish School
Assumption Parish School has been a part of the parish since 1959, when the Dominican Sisters of Kettle Falls welcomed nearly 200 students. It eventually grew to all eight grades and at its peak enrolled nearly 400 students. After the Sisters handed guidance over to lay men and women, the convent was replaced in 1997 by a Junior High building, followed in 1998 by a new playfield and parking lot. The school now includes a preschool program for three- and four-year-olds.
- Parish school since 1959
- Originally staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Kettle Falls
- Expanded to all eight grades by 1962
- Current preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds
Clergy & Staff Today
The parish is currently served by pastor Rev. Tim Hays and Deacon Kelly Stewart. Across its history the parish has been served by fourteen parochial vicars and four permanent deacons.
- Rev. Tim Hays — Pastor (since 2015)
- Deacon Kelly Stewart — currently assigned
Parish Life & Ministries
The parish describes itself as offering many activities to draw the community closer together as Christian faithful. The website points interested parishioners to liturgical ministries and the various parish groups, and the parish history emphasizes ongoing outreach: visiting the sick and homebound, scripture study, religious education, and reaching out to the poor.
- Liturgical ministries
- Religious education / faith formation
- Visits to the sick and homebound
- Scripture study
- Outreach to the poor
Visiting & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is reachable by phone at (509) 326-0144 or by email at [email protected], and the website at assumptionspokane.org provides Mass times, current bulletins, and contact information.
- Phone: (509) 326-0144
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: assumptionspokane.org
- Address: 3624 W Indian Trail Rd., Spokane, WA 99208
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ralph Schwemin1958–1972
Founding pastor; oversaw ground-breaking (1959), opening of parish school with the Dominican Sisters of Kettle Falls (1959), 1961 rectory-residence, 1962 expansion to all eight grades and the convent, and the 1966 multi-purpose gymnasium-hall-kitchen; presented weekly TV program "From the Pastor's Study" on KHQ.
- Fr. Adrian Van der Heyden1972–1974
Dutch priest; brief tenure.
- Fr. William Skylstad1974–1976
Called into diocesan administration; later ordained Bishop of Yakima (May 12, 1977) and installed as Bishop of Spokane (April 27, 1990).
- Msgr. John Donnelly1976–1987
Built the lower-campus rectory (1977) and broke ground on the present church (Aug 15, 1978), dedicated Dec 19, 1979.
- Fr. Tyrone Schaff1987–1994
- Fr. Joe Bell1994–2001
- Fr. Michael Savelesky2001–2012
- Fr. Matthew Larsen2012–2014
- Fr. Thomas Connolly2014–2015
Served as Parish Administrator while also pastor of St. Charles.
- Fr. Tim Hays2015–present
Current pastor.