FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Spiritually Speaking
Ascension, an invitation
to mount the throne of
God
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St.
Patrick Church
On the seventh Sunday of Easter, the
Church celebrates the Ascension of the
Lord. As I was preparing for the homily, Fr. Joseph
I was reminded of a story I received
recently: A very poor family by the name of Carpenter
lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
The oldest boy was given education in the city, with the
help of some family friends who generously financed
his studies when they realized he wanted to become a
doctor. Carpenter graduated with honors but declined all
job offers to practice medicine in the city. He decided to
go back to the mountains, where there were many sick
people and few doctors. For many years he ministered to
the sick. Some paid, most couldn’t. He gave his very best
and helped everyone he could. In his old age he was in
broken health himself and almost penniless.
Two small rooms above the town grocery store were
his home and office. At the foot of the creaky stairs lead-
ing up to his office was a sign with these words: “Dr.
Carpenter is upstairs.” One morning someone climbed
those stairs to find their devoted doctor dead. The en-
tire community was plunged into grief. They wanted to
erect some kind of monument to him, but they decided
to simply write these words on a large tombstone: “Dr.
Carpenter is upstairs.”
What is the Ascension of Jesus? Forty days after Jesus
rose from the dead, he ascended into Heaven. It was a
moment of prodigious celebration. All the angels gathered
around him and asked about his life and mission on Earth.
Jesus was glad to share his wonderful life experience of
living with mankind: his life struggle with priests and
rulers on Earth and how they condemned him to die on a
cross because he stood for the cause of the subalterns and
the marginalized of the society, how he failed to impart
the love of the Father to the priestly clan, their refusal to
believe in God, and finally his dying on the cross for their
salvation. The Lord has already built a bridge between
Heaven and Earth. He has come and lived with us and set
connectivity between God and human beings.
Why did Jesus ascend to the father? In the letter of
St. Paul to Philippians is written: “Our Lord Jesus Christ
ascended to receive the glory due to Him as the victor
over sin and death” (2:8-9). Jesus, in the Gospel of John,
reminds in several places that he needs to ascend to the
Father in order for the Advocate to come to us, and He
reminds us that he ascended to the Father to prepare rooms
for us, to welcome us all back to Heaven (14:2).
How to make ascension possible in our Life? St. Paul,
in his letter to Colossians, gives us this intact message:
“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things
that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand
of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on
things that are on earth.” This teaching of St. Paul reminds
us believers that ascension is possible for everyone. He
suggests, in fact, three ways to ascend to the father:
1) Material Ascension: With the Ascension of our
Lord Jesus Christ, we are being led to our material free-
dom. Poverty is converted to riches, lack is converted to
abundance. The works of our hands are blessed (Deut.
28:12; Psalm 90:17). From a tendency of amassing
wealth for ourselves, we need to have an option for the
poor. When we look at the lives of most of the saints,
we see very good examples of this material ascension in
their lives. Saints like Francis of Assisi, who was born
into a noble business family, but who became poor and
chaste because his love of Christ made him leave aside
everything and follow Christ.
2) Mind Ascension: There is an old proverb, “A
sound mind dwells in a sound body.” When our minds
are engaged in material things and things of this world,
we can say that we are in a mental slavery, which leads to
acute depression, worry, anxiety, fear. Mostly the “haves”
are more involved in things of this world and attached to
things of this place.
3) Sensual Ascension: In this twenty-first century,
everything seems available at our finger tips. There is a
tendency in the present world to waste so much time in
front of the social media, to take pleasure in that which
feeds our sense organs. Our eyes and ears need to be con-
trolled to ascend above this world of sensual pleasures.
On this Ascension Day, the Church proudly displayed
the placard of hope and salvation: “Dr Carpenter is up-
stairs.” But unlike the doctor boy who died, Jesus –the
Divine Doctor of our souls – is alive and continues to heal
people and bring salvation to all people. The Lord invites
everyone on this particular day to ascend from our pres-
ent style of life to him. The Church, consisting of all His
believers, continues this ministry of teaching and saving
people with His living presence and with the help of the
Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy
Spirit came down to empower the followers of Jesus to
become effective witnesses of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is
always with us to help us ascend from this present style
of life to a worthy life through our words and actions.
New Baby in Your Family?
Engagement?
Wedding?
We want to share your life events!
Stop in the Heppner Gazette office or email us
with details and photos.
All birth, engagement and wedding
announcements are always free!
188 W Willow Street
Heppner, OR
editor@rapidserve.net
Scholarships awarded to local youth
Maddie Lindsay, Tania
Mendoza, Jessica Kemp-
ken, Kevin Murray, Sophie
Grant, Faith Rosen, Bailey
Botefuhr, Zoey Gilbert,
Jazmin Haak, Cami Va-
nArsdale and Haley Rae
White were recently award-
ed scholarships by the Pi-
oneer Memorial Hospital
Foundation. The foundation
also awarded $23,000 to
Pioneer Memorial Hospi-
tal for the purchase of a
power loader for the new
ambulance.
Maddie Lindsay was
awarded the Dr. Wallace
Wolff Memorial Schol-
arship in the amount of
$1,500. Maddie is attend-
ing University of Western
States to obtain her doctor-
ate of chiropractic degree.
The Earl and Hazel
Wilson scholarships were
awarded to Tania Mendoza,
Jessica Kempken, Kevin
Murray and Sophie Grant.
Mendoza received $1,500
to aid in her quest for a
bachelor’s degree in public
health. Kempken also re-
ceived $1,500 to continue
seeking her bachelor’s de-
gree in bio health sciences
with a focus in pre-pharma-
cy at OSU. Murray received
$1,200 and is attending
OSU working toward a
dental degree.
Sophie Grant and Faith
Rosen each received $1,000
Earl and Hazel Wilson
scholarships. Grant is pur-
suing a degree in optometry
at Pacific University and
Rosen is attending BMCC
for a nursing degree.
Also receiving scholar-
ships in the amount of $500
each were Bailey Botefuhr,
Zoey Gilbert, Jazmin Haak,
Cami VanArsdale and Ha-
ley Rae White.
The Pioneer Memorial
Hospital Foundation was
formed in 1981 to pro-
mote good health through
outstanding local medical
care and to encourage and
assist young people to enter
careers in medicine through
scholarships. It is non-profit
and any donations given to
aid in grants and scholar-
ship are tax deductible. For
more information, please
contact Cari Scrivner at
carolines@mocohd.org.
4-H senior members earn scholarships
Casey Fletcher of Hep-
pner and Quinton Orr of
Ukiah have each earned
a $550 scholarship from
the Morrow County 4-H
Association. Students el-
igible for the scholarship
must have been enrolled in
4-H for at least three years
during their high school
years and at least one of
those with Morrow County
4-H specifically. Awards
are based on 4-H involve-
ment, grades and commu-
nity involvement.
Quinton Orr, Ukiah
High School, participated in
4-H robotics, sheep, poul-
try, computers, cooking and
Casey Fletcher
Quinton Orr
served as a camp counselor
and county ambassador. He
will pursue higher educa-
tion at Oregon Institute of
Technology for engineering
and robotics.
Casey Fletcher, Hep-
pner High School, par-
ticipated in market beef
production and outdoor
skills. He will dual-enroll
at University of Oregon
and Lane Community Col-
lege to pursue a degree in
business administration and
legal studies.
4-H empowers youth
to reach their full poten-
tial, working and learning
in partnership with caring
adults while participating
in fun, hands-on learning
activities. Youth can ex-
perience 4-H by becoming
a member of a 4-H club,
attending 4-H camp or join-
ing after-school programs.
4-Hers can compete with
their projects at local, state,
regional or national levels
and also attend conferences
and events.
Sheriff’s Report
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information:
January 10: Morrow call back with further infor-
County Sheriff ’s Office mation. RP advised of semi Irrigon that a blue Dodge
January 12: Morrow
received a report at Green on its top in her pasture.
extended cab came from County Sheriff’s Office re-
acres on Paterson Ferry Rd,
-MCSO received a re- Division and is double ceived a report at NE Fourth
Irrigon that RP can hear port on Western Route Rd, parked outside a residence St/NE Oregon Ave, Irrigon
yelling and things hitting Heppner that a Jeep Grand honking his horn.
o a loud party in a single
the wall.
Cherokee is stuck in the
-MCSO received a re- wide trailer on the corner.
-MCSO received a re- middle of the road about port on I 84 W, Boardman Unable to locate.
port at Banner Bank on 20 miles up Willow Creek. of an aggressive driver, the
-MCSO received a re-
Main St N, Boardman a
truck ran her off the road. port on SW Third St, Irrigon
January 11: Morrow OSP advised.
male is laying on the side-
that a female is having diz-
walk, wallet and money on County Sheriff ’s Office
-MCSO received a re- zy spells, possible vertigo.
received a report at Green port on I 84 E, Boardman Transported.
the floor.
-MCSO received a Acres on Paterson Fer- that a vehicle is unable
-MCSO received a re-
report at Irrigon Learn- ry Rd, Irrigon that some- to maintain speed ad the port at NE Seventh ST/NE
ing Center on Columbia one flattened some of her passenger keeps rolling the Washington Ave, Irrigon
Ln, Irrigon that there is a daughter’s tires.
window down as if they that there is mail scattered
-MCSO received a re- want to say something. all over the floor. Unable
young woman that appears
to be under the influence port on Hwy 207 Spray, Isaiah Tanimola Ifanse was to locate.
of something walking up Heppner that a sign that issued warning for speed.
-MCSO received a re-
and down the road. Unable says wreck ahead has blown
-MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
into the NB lane. Referred port at Hwy 730/I 84 E, gon that a Dodge Stratus
to locate.
-MCSO received a re- to other agency.
Boardman that a white headed toward Brandon is
-MCSO received a re- Lexus SUV is speeding and parked on the wrong way.
port at Olson Rd/Wilson
Ln, Boardman that vehicle port on I 84 W, Boardman swerving. Unable to locate. Female driver that was un-
was stopped on Wilson. Ru- of assault. Marissa Danielle
-MCSO received a re- der the influence.
ben Gutierrez was arrested Daniels was arrested by port on Paterson Ferry Rd,
-MCSO received a re-
by BPD for Hit and Run. MCSO for DUII, Dis Con Irrigon that there was thin port on Washington Ln,
Vehicle was impounded for II, initiating a false report. laminate boards and debris. Irrigon that a 55-year-old-
Lodged at UCJ, bail $8,500. She advised she cleared it male, cold to the touch,
no insurance.
-MCSO received a re- from the roadway and it is passed away last night.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Seventh Day Adven- port at Willow Creek Rd/ no longer a hazard.
-MCSO received a re-
tist Church on NW Tum- Shaw Grade Rd, Heppner
-MCSO received a re- port at First St/Columbia
bleweed Blvd, Irrigon that of rollover, two adults, two port on Hwy 207 Echo, Ln, Irrigon that there are
subject saw a suspicious kids, no entrapment. Pa- Echo of two pickups going people at this residence and
male in blue hospital pants tients transported to PMH. well over 70 mph. MCSO they’re not supposed to be
and a tan jacket. He advised Vehicle towed by A1 Mar- made contact with three there. People came from
the thought this could be the tin.
vehicles at the gas station in tree line. MCSO advised
-MCSO received a re- Heppner. Advised group of it was them in that area
escaped psychiatric patient
from Pendleton. He saw port on Hwy 207 Echo, juveniles of the complaint patrolling.
him tuck into some tumble- Lexington that someone and to stop their speeding.
-MCSO received a re-
weeds near the trailer park. stole his motorcycle.
-MCSO received a port at Northwestern Motel
-MCSO received a re- report at W Eighth Rd/ on N Main St, Heppner that
-MCSO received a
report on SE Utah Ave, port on NW Water St, Hep- Kangaroo Ct, Irrigon of a at the RV park there has
Irrigon that a dark green pner that the house down suspicious vehicle in the been a dog barking nonstop
Dodge pickup went by at a on the corner has a lot of field. Victor Manuel Land- for the last couple hours.
high rate of speed. Unable garbage that the wind has eros Navarro was arrested Unable to locate.
blown into the street and by MCSO for DUII and
to locate.
-MCSO received a re- into her yard.
reckless driving. Subject Continued on page seven...
-MCSO received a was lodged at UCJ with bail
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that there was a vehicle report on SE Utah Ave, of $10,000.
that sped down the road. RP
was irate because a dep-
uty was not patrolling his
neighborhood and instead
was patrolling the inter-
state where OSP should be
patrolling.
-MCSO received a re-
port at SE Thirteenth St/E
Hwy 730, Irrigon of a gold
Thunderbird with excessive
exhaust.
-MCSO received a re-
port at SE Seventh St/SE
Idaho Ave, Irrigon that a
maroon Honda turned be-
fore RP could finish cross-
ing the street.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Hwy 207 Echo,
217 North Main St.,
Echo that RP heard an MVA
Heppner, OR
out in her pasture. She is
going out to check and will
Phone 676-9158 Floral 676-9426
We’re Here To Help!
In these trying times, if you feel at risk, remember
that we offer delivery and mail service.
Our goal is to help you stay healthy.
Call us!
murraysdrug.com
www.murraysdrug.com