The Catholic Church in Poplar, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation - is a stronghold for the Native American people, who make up the majority of this small, rural community. Our Lady of Lourdes priest is Fr. Anietie (Akama) Ukanide MSP, who serves not only Our Lady of Lourdes in Poplar, but also 4 other churches within this cluster. There is only one paid employee, who is called upon to meet all the needs that Fr. Akama cannot meet. This includes funeral prep, children's classes, weekly bulletin, filing, cleaning, planning events, lector, sacristan, Mass prep, etc. These two are the people who keep the doors open to the church and parish hall, providing for the needs of many!

Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) is more than "just another church" for the Poplar community and for the Fort Peck Reservation. It is an important gathering place – not only for Catholics but for the entire town. Many of the community members need a place that they feel they belong and a place that they can turn to for help. Several of Poplar's community members count on OLL to warm up on a cold day, get groceries, a pair of shoes, a jacket or even a roll of toilet paper. The parish also provides students with to-go lunches and community members with a warm lunch. 

With all of this in mind, Our Lady of Lourdes in Poplar and surrounding churches cannot meet the community’s sacramental, spiritual, or basic needs without financial support. Without generous donors and grants, the services and ministries provided at Our Lady of Lourdes wouldn't be able to exist. The parish’s weekly collection is about $480. 

The parish itself is one that has parishioners of all ages, including many Tribal elders. After having experienced several temporarily assigned priests - Our Lady of Lourdes is extremely grateful that they have been able to maintain, with the support Catholic Extension and their donors, a resident priest in Fr. Akama. This has greatly helped the parish start to feel more like that family again.

Continuous funding is needed to assure that the basic necessities of 800 parishioners that make up this community and reservation will be met and are able to have spiritual and sacramental care available to them.