FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Spiritually Speaking
Obituaries
Graffiti and the call of Christ – How do
we respond?
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St. Patrick Church
Last week, the Gazette Times published the very
shocking news of graffiti drawn on some churches and
elsewhere. Confronted with the emerging details of this
bad news, we feel numb and distressed. In the context of
what has happened, I thought of making my reflections
for this week on this.
The first reading from Prophet Jonah (3: 1-5,10) is
an invitation to Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and
preach the Good News of God. He walked around the city
of Nineveh and preached; they listened and amended their
ways and averted the wrath of God on them. We may see
that, as in the city of Nineveh, God is asking every one of
us to pay attention - to the needs of family and oneness of
family. For instance, spend time together with the family
instead of electronic gadgets and detaching oneself from
the family koinonia communion. I think the present-day
Lord is calling all of us who are addicted to social media
and influenced by social media to “leave the NET and
follow me.” In today’s world the first thing we look around
for when we reach a destination is net connectivity and
access to the Wi-Fi so we can sit back comfortably and
get hooked to what is on the NET.
The Gospel of Mark, chapter 1: 14-20, speaks of the
beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. He started his
public ministry by preaching about the kingdom of God.
He too begins his preaching with the topic “repent and
believe in the gospel.” The Lord calls all of us to have a
change of mind and attitude and turn to Him. As far as we
know, every one of the disciples was chosen and called
personally by Jesus. We believe that God calls each one
of us. God not only calls us to follow Jesus, but also calls
us into the fields and careers of our lives. The call of these
first four disciples shows us that he looks not externally
but inside every one of us. He calls the unqualified and
He qualifies them according to the nature of His call and
mission.
As He walks on the shores of Galilee, Jesus meets
Simon and his brother Andrew casting the nets into the
sea. Jesus told them to just follow him without a second
thought, and we see these brothers following Jesus. How
did they know him? Whether they had known him ear-
ly, we have no idea. Jesus enters into the lives of these
brothers to heal them. In the present-day context, we can
see several people who go through sadness, desperation,
brokenness, melancholy, exactly like Peter. These people
certainly see Jesus entering into the lives of others, heal-
ing them, curing them, giving them peace in their hearts,
becoming their Savior – all these and more do they see.
But they do not follow Jesus. Why? Because they put
By Doris Brosnan
Welcome to “Good
News Only.” As long as
individuals are willing to
share their good news, this
column will serve to get it
out to the GT readers.
Sometimes good news
can be something as small
and simple as City Manager
Kraig Cutsforth’s at City
Hall, “No one has COVID,
we are all here and the sun-
shine is great.”
And sometimes, good
news becomes the silver
lining of a negative event,
as what is true of a run-
away airplane at the Lex-
ington airport earlier this
week. Apparently, the air-
plane had the potential of
wreaking havoc, but it was
brought under control, and
the good news is that no one
was hurt.
Community support
is always good news, and
we celebrate this fact time
and again following criti-
cal situations faced by our
neighbors. Latest example:
Jackie Alleman sent out
a Facebook request last
week that the grandsons of
Claudia Ramirez (recent-
ly deceased) needed help
clearing out her house. For
two days, almost forty peo-
ple showed up to assist this
family that has faced some
overwhelming hardships.
The Mormon Church fed
the crew with help from the
Catholic Church. Millers
were efficient with provid-
ing dumpsters for items
not going with family or to
their entire trust and hope in
their boats and nets of this
material world. These boats
and nets might be the physi-
cal and material security and
wealth they enjoy. It might
be the position they hold in
the community, in society. It
might be the material wealth
they possess. It can also be
the public influence they Fr. Thankachan Joseph
have. It can even be the love
and encouragement they
receive from others. It might be the education they have,
the job they do. When all these are there, they won’t feel
the need to follow Jesus.
Jesus talks through our failures. I am sure we con-
demn and neglect some people with certain labels – maybe
those who have graffitied - but Jesus loves those individ-
uals, too. He desires to make them also His disciples. He
leads them through failures and defeat by urging them to
give up their boat and nets. The Lord wants them to trust
Him entirely. The Lord enters into our lives in a special
way, in a personal way when our lives become a failure in
the eyes of the world, when we are hated by others, when
we feel discouraged and when we feel neglected. When
we bend our heads with shame and sorrow, when we can
go to no one for consolation, then we will be able to hear
the loving words of our Divine Savior telling us, ‘Son/
daughter, I love you; come, follow me.” Do we listen to
this affectionate calling of the Lord?
With “Come after me, and I will make you fishers
of men,” the four fishermen are called with no further
instructions whatsoever. They are called to a totally
uncertain future and would surely have been scared out
of their wits had they known what lay in store for them.
God’s call is always into an uncertain future. When we
enter into our callings, we have no idea how it will all
end up. We choose our careers and jobs, hoping that we
can use the gifts and talents God has given us, but there
are no guarantees. This call actually leaves us with chal-
lenges. How to put Christ first in everything of our life:
A) Prioritize: Lk. 10:38-42 (Like Mary, you must make
a decision to put Christ before everything.) B) Set Your
Mind on Heaven: Col. 3:1-2 (Don’t be too absorbed
with earthly goals. Instead, make heaven your goal.) C)
Invest: Mt. 6:19-21, (“Jesus said your heart will be where
you put your treasure. If you invest the treasure of your
time, money, and effort in the Lord’s work, the Lord will
become more important to you.”)
Good News Only
Community members help
grandsons clear out deceased
grandmother’s house.
storage. Hats off to all.
Another joint effort was
also initiated by a single
individual, resulting in a
lasered metal silhouette
sculpture in the Heppner
Cemetery. Eileen Wilson
reports that Joyce Kay Hol-
lomon presented her idea
to the cemetery committee,
they approved it, and Dana
Wilson and John Healy
installed the sculpture of a
soldier carrying a wound-
ed soldier, a memorial to
the “Wounded Warrior.”
It shares space at the turn-
around with a previously
installed plaque dedicated
to members of the military
who have served in wars.
The Ione Community
Church has reached its
goal, so after a few days’
work in the second week of
February, members of the
congregation will be enjoy-
ing new carpeting in three
of the church’s areas that
have had the most use over
twenty years of service.
Determined not to replace
the carpeting until they had
enough money to cover
the cost, the trustees have
announced that they have
now made carpet selection
and are eager for the update.
(A lesson in the importance
of support and patience.)
Good news for the US
Forest Service and for the
vitality of our area is the re-
cent filling of two positions
that had been empty for
a while, archeologist and
silviculturist. These two
newcomers are joining the
new wildlife biologist who
recently moved to Heppner.
Cindy Doherty reminds
readers that, although the
doors are locked because
of COVID-19 rules, staff
members at the office are
available for appointments.
Patience seems incredi-
bly necessary in the wait for
the COVID-19 vaccine to
come to southern Morrow
County, but the good news
is that Ann Murray is hope-
ful that this will happen
soon, and Murray’s Drug
has prepared for their role
in administering it, “Ready
to go as soon as we get it.”
They plan to extend hours
to expedite the process, and
Ann reports that they do
take names of individuals
requesting the vaccine and
will call those people to set
up appointments. Although
there is no cost to the in-
dividual, she notes that
individuals on Medicare
will need to bring their red,
white and blue Medicare
cards with them.
“Babies” are one topic
of good news at Les Schwab
Tire Center right now: John
Gould reports that in about
a week, son Thomas and
his wife, Riley (daughter
of Stacey Wilson), expect
the birth of their first child,
a son. Soon-to-be-grand-
parents-Gould plan to fly
to Georgia in three weeks
to meet the grandson, their
third grandchild.
Puppies are babies, too,
and Brian Holtz became
the proud owner of seven
wee Jack Russell Terriers
about four weeks ago. Good
news that these rambunc-
tious short-haired cuties
are growing quickly and
will soon be available to
good homes. Brian reports,
however, that only two have
not yet been spoken for.
Eastern Oregon Uni-
versity has spoken, and
Madelyn Nichols has ac-
cepted its offer of a $1,000
running scholarship and a
$3,000 academic scholar-
ship for next fall. Madelyn
reports that she is looking
forward to sharing a home
with her brother, Hunter,
and running with him for
EOU. Good news for the
siblings.
K i m b e r l y G e o rg e ,
daughter of Kit and Shirley,
is pleased with the challeng-
es of her new position with
Sedgwick, the organization
she has worked with for
twenty years. Good news
for Kimberly is that she has
filled several roles within
the company over these
years, keeping refreshingly
new her responsibilities in
each position. (Note that an
article on George’s latest
news appears in today’s
paper.)
Mike Brosnan looks
forward to the arrival of
what wife, Dawn, calls a
“monster sprayer” that he
Larry Allen Mills
L a r r y A l l e n M i l l s Reading Program after he
passed away on January retired; recognized by the
8, 2021 at the age of 84 at Heppner Beautification
OHSU in Portland. Larry Program for work to estab-
lived a life dedicated to
lish and main-
hard work, service to
tain a welcom-
others, and love of family.
ing line of shade
“His boisterous laugh,
trees and shrubs
keen wit, leadership, and
to the northwest
giving spirit will be great-
entrance of
ly missed by all that knew
town; master of
Larry Allen
him.”
ceremonies for
Larry was born in Mills
numerous com-
Rockford, WA to parents
munity events
Harold and Mary (Loftin) including the rodeo, St. Pat-
Mills. He grew up on a farm rick’s Day parade, and of
northeast of Rockford and course, the Heppner Mus-
graduated from Rockford tangs football team. Larry
High School. His love of loved football and relished
the family farm would play his over 28-years as the
a major role in Larry’s voice of the Mustangs.
chosen path in life. After
But even above his
graduation, he settled in dedication to work and
Spokane with his wife Betty community was his dedi-
and attended Kinman Busi- cation to family. Larry and
ness College and worked Betty were married for over
for Armour and Company sixty years and raised two
in the industrial engineering children, Dianne Stickney
department. In 1958, Larry (Mills) and Michael Mills.
went to work for the Odes- Despite a busy schedule,
sa Trading Company. His Larry always made time to
bookkeeping skills led him attend his grandchildren’s
to eventually be promoted sporting games, birthdays
to assistant manager.
and other significant events.
In 1969, he accepted He worked with his broth-
a position at the Morrow ers Bob and Dan Mills to
County Grain Growers make sure that their fami-
(MCGG) where his love of lies got together for a fam-
working around the farming ily reunion every year--- a
community resulted in him tradition almost forty years
serving as general manager running, with only one
for 29 years. During his brief interruption in 2020
time at MCGG, he served because of COVID. In the
as the president of the Pa- end, above all, was family.
cific Northwest Grain and
Larry is survived by
Feed Association and on the his loving wife, Betty
board of the National Grain (Jahns) Mills; son, Mike
and Feed Association. It and his children, Chloe
was said that he was “the and Chandler; daughter,
kind of leader that exists to Dianne (Bob) and her
serve the people. He would children, Kellie Hoiland
never back away from a (Zach), Richard Stickney
challenge and wasn’t afraid and his children, Rebecka,
to make a hard decision, all RJ, Mandy, Tiffani and
while carrying himself with Angelika (Lars), and great-
humor and humility.”
great grandchildren Jaxyn,
Larry would often say, Rhyson and Amara.
“Community service is
Due to COVID restric-
the rent you pay for the tions a graveside service
space you occupy on earth.” will be held for family only
There is no doubt that Lar- at the Rockford Cemetery
ry’s rent was paid in full. on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. A me-
Though the ways in which morial service will be held
he served his community in Heppner at a later date.
are too numerous to list, a
The family has request-
few of them were: Morrow ed that remembrances be
County Agricultural Mu- made in the form of con-
seum board member and tributions to the following
volunteer; board member charities: Pioneer Memorial
for the Red and Gina Leon- Foundation, Box 424, Hep-
ard Foundation; interim city pner, OR 97836 or to the
manager in 2005; 15 years Farm Foundation, Box 611,
on the Morrow County Heppner, OR 97836.
Health District Board, 25
Sweeney Mortuary of
years of service on the Heppner is in care of ar-
county budget committee; rangements. You may sign
served on the Willow Creek the online condolence book
Economic Development at www.sweeneymortuary.
Board; volunteered to read com.
to children at the Heroes
ordered from a business in
South Dakota, hoping to
begin in February his new
agricultural spraying busi-
ness. Good news also is that
Mike has taken and passed
the required classes to gain
his license, so now he waits,
a bit frustrated with a delay
resulting from a breakdown
of the delivery truck.
Babette Wall reports
that this great weather is
certainly good news, since
she feels like “the Energiz-
er Bunny.” as she bustles
around town on long-await-
ed walks. After surgery four
weeks ago, she is finally
happy to feel so good and
so free.
Some good news for
readers who have not been
aware of is a great, low
impact outing about Hep-
pner that young and old,
individuals and families can
enjoy while learning many
things about the town. “The
Talking Rocks” provide
discovery of Heppner’s
eventful history by follow-
ing their route. On the brass
plates of the sixteen rocks
are brief explanations of
sixteen important compo-
nents in the town’s history
(i.e., Individuals, events,
industries). Brochures that
show the locations of the
rocks and offer more de-
tailed accounts of each of
those entities are available
at the Chamber Office, City
Hall, Murray’s Drug and
Central Market.
We all appreciate op-
portunities to smile over
someone’s “good news,”
so this column will ap-
pear as long as individuals
are interested in sharing
their good news with the
GT readers. Anyone who
doesn’t get contacted by me
but has something to share
is encouraged to email it to
dbrosnan123@gmail.com.
A phone call will also get
the job accomplished: 541-
676-5382.
Hoping all eyes reading
this experience some good
news to share next time.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
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