FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Spiritually Speaking
What are you talking
about (Lk 24:17)?
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St. Patrick Church
Have you ever experienced some-
thing so strange you had to re-orient your
life? Some experiences can overwhelm
us, dazzle us, and sometimes change us.
This is what we are experiencing now.
The whole world is going through the
threat of COVID-19. Any time anyone
calls, the first question is, “How is the
situation in your place? Is everything Fr. Thankachan
under control?” I used to get plenty of Joseph
calls to find out whether I was safe or not.
I am sure that for every one of us one discussion is still
the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination – whether to
go for it or not. I just thought of summarizing the theme
of this 3 rd Sunday of Easter as the title says: “What are
we talking about?”
A reading during this season is always from the Acts
of the Apostles. We come across the courageous witness
of St. Peter in the temple area. St. Peter recalls the sal-
vation history once again to the people who gathered to
witness the great miracle of the cure of the crippled man
in the temple area. The reading concludes with the core
idea of repentance. The pandemic has also invited the
human race to this particular theme of repentance and
conversion.
The Gospel reading is the continuation of the ex-
perience of the two disciples who are returning from
Jerusalem to their hometown, Emmaus, shadowing Christ
and His untimely death. These two disciples are returning
with broken hearts, disappointments, hopelessness. I am
sure that the whole world is now almost experiencing
the same feelings of distress, fear, mental disturbances,
dissatisfaction, disappointment, anxiety. In spite of this
pandemic’s putting us all in distress and dismay, the
Risen Lord invites all to a reflection as Isaiah says: “For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are
not my ways” (Is 55:8). The Emmaus journey and its
various stages follow:
Walking away from Peace to trouble: In the first part
of the Emmaus description, we see two disciples of Christ
make a trip back to Jerusalem, which was known as the
place of peace, to their own native town, Emmaus, the
place of hot springs. They are walking away from Jerusa-
lem, for they feel it is not safe to stay there because of all
that happened with the crucifixion of Jesus the Nazarene.
From the place of peace, they are moving to troubles.
Caring Stranger’s accompaniment: The Gospel of
Matthew concludes with these words: “And I will be with
you always, to the end of ages” (Matthew 28:20). The
Lord is always faithful to His promises. We, as human as
we are, make promises to the Lord, but we are not always
able to keep our promises. Even if we walk away from
Him, like the wounded animal that Francis Thomas de-
scribes in his poem “Hound of Heaven,” the Lord chases
us and follows us to console and comfort us. The Lord
has given us the sacraments and the Holy Scriptures as
sources of encountering Him in our troubled moments.
When we face difficulties and problems, we have a ten-
dency to walk away from Him and look for comfort and
solace somewhere else. But like the Hound of Heaven,
He accompanies us, as we have noticed in the episode
of the disciples of Emmaus. The Lord never leaves us to
wander. In the Emmaus experience, the Lord is testing the
disciples about their scriptural knowledge. He explained
the whole scriptures to them, but their hearts were locked
up or closed; they could not recognize him.
Recognizing the Lord in the Breaking of the Bread:
The disciples did recognize the Lord in the breaking of the
bread at the dining table, and the Lord left us a memorial
of Him in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist. Do
we recognize Him in the sacraments that we receive fre-
quently and experience His comforting presence in those
sacraments we receive? The Lord predicted thousands of
years ago these types of pandemics and lockdowns, in the
priestly prayer in the Gospel of John: “The time is coming,
and is already here, when all of you will be scattered, each
of you to your own home, and I will be left all alone”
(John 16:31). How did the pandemic help us to grow in
Christ Jesus? It will be nice to share with your family or
friends some healing miracles of Jesus Christ. The Lord
cures so many people in the four Gospels, you can every
day share one the healing miracles of Jesus Christ with
family or friends and become a witness of Jesus Christ.
Let’s be strengthened in the spirit of the Lord. Let us
place ourselves in the company of those who first heard
the words of the two from Emmaus. Let us place ourselves
in the company of those who evangelize others by word
and deed. Let us walk and talk with those who serve the
poor and needy in the name of Christ. Let us walk and
talk with those who serve the children or those outsiders
who seek Christ. For Christ walks with us when we serve
others. During this pandemic season, we have lots of time
with our dear ones at home to read the scriptures and stay
safe. With others, we can be empowered in the word of
God through phone messages and other social media; we
can share with others scripture knowledge and fill our
surroundings with a positive energy of Jesus Christ who
is risen. Alleluia! Jesus truly is risen!
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The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of
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at a cost of $10. Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
Elect Kilkenny
To the editor:
We are writing this let-
ter to endorse John Kilken-
ny for Port of Morrow
Commissioner.
John has been a lifelong
resident of Morrow County
where he successfully op-
erates a large generational
wheat and cattle ranch.
John understands the eco-
nomic importance of the
Port of Morrow and the
effect its operations have
on the entire county. John
recognizes that diversity in
industry is a cornerstone for
continued economic devel-
opment of the county and
the role the port plays in it.
We believe that John
will be a good working part-
ner with the county com-
missioners and will provide
an insightful perspective to
future discissions.
We are excited to have
a candidate with John’s
experience and energy who
is willing to serve the resi-
dents of Morrow County.
We encourage voters to
elect John Kilkenny, Port
of Morrow Commissioner.
Brian and Susie
Thompson
Kilkenny will bridge
county and port
To the editor:
This is a letter of sup-
port for John Kilkenny for
the Port of Morrow Com-
missioner. I am the mayor
of the city of Heppner. The
city faces many challenges
with infrastructure, sewer,
water and streets. Our com-
munity depends on a finite
number of resources to fund
our schools and daycare.
We have limited housing
options. In short, we have
many needs. The Port has
been very generous with
their support of past local
projects.
I am certain that the
investment in the Kinzua
site will be a great thing for
our community. I am dis-
tressed, however, that as the
income from port projects
has grown by several mil-
lion, south county’s share
has not grown. In fact, it has
shrunk. I am hopeful that
electing a commissioner
who understands the make-
up of the south part of the
county will benefit us all,
both north and south. John
will help build a bridge
with the county and the
port. Please vote for John
Kilkenny.
Jim Kindle
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
“It’s on my bucket list,”
says Merry Chandler of
her new multi-colorful,
very short Kay Fowler
styled haircut, and later
this month, on the one-year
anniversary of her stroke,
Merry plans to adopt an-
other, even more extreme
hair style. This is “Stroke
Awareness Month,” she
reports, and she is taking
these opportunities to bring
attention to that fact and
to how people can help in
research efforts and the
treatment of stroke vic-
tims. Merry also says that
May is “Aphasia Awareness
Month,” which is an im-
portant coincidence for her,
as she suffers this disorder
since her stroke, and she
wants people to research
the disorder so they will
understand how it affects
her and other sufferers.
Ray Grace returned to
his home two weeks ago,
after two weeks in OHSU
– following radiation treat-
ments – for removal of his
entire right leg because of
sarcoma cancer, and then
five more weeks in inten-
sive rehabilitation. Dave
Piper has been modifying
Ray’s home, and Home
Health is helping him with
various needs, including
setting him up with a meal
train. Ray reports learning
many things he had never
before even thought of and
knows he has more to learn,
including how to drive a
modified car. He says he
is blessed with family and
friends and many prayers
offered for him.
After four years of
having just four-legged
grandkids that go woof,
Chris and Kathy Rauch are
getting some two-legged
grandkids this year. Daugh-
ter Natalie and Leon Luna
of The Dalles are having a
boy at the end of April. Son
Andre’ and Morgan Rauch
of Pendleton are having a
girl at the end of September.
Chris and Kathy are looking
forward to playing fetch
with the new two-legged
grandkids this year.
Sidney Wilson, a se-
nior at HHS, has been a
powerhouse for the Mus-
tangs’ volleyball program
for four years. Although
also a great asset on the
basketball court, Sidney
has chosen to sign a letter
of intent to play volleyball
for Walla Walla Community
College, starting next fall.
Her myriad of supporters
in Heppner won’t have to
travel far to watch her play
home games.
The Mustangs were
fortunate to have five foot-
ball games this year, and
they were again a power-
house that won those five,
allowing only a total of 22
points against their 203.
Patti Rill has recently
chosen to devote more of
her energies exclusively
to her Upper Place Con-
cessions in the food court
on Main Street, Heppner.
Patti previously worked in
the kitchen of the Pioneer
Memorial Hospital and ran
her eatery, so now she can
focus entirely on her break-
fast-through-dinner hours,
8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and she
reports that after the weath-
er warms into summer, her
hours will expand to 8 a.m.
to 8 p.m.
Kathleen Greenup will
be moving back to her
hometown soon. Kathleen
will become the Director
of Nurses at the hospital
in May. Until her children
finish their school year in
Pendleton, Kathleen will
commute, and then they
hope to move into a home
she is interested in. Of
course, Joseph, Carmine
and Lennon will be delight-
ed to be nearer to grand-
parents Greg and Janet
Greenup and some cousins..
May is to begin with
that MayDay Parade in
Lexington, and more recent
news is that a “Triple T”
will be participating. Loyal
and Betty Burns, Bob and
Sharon Harrison, and Ken
and Julie Nelson will be
driving their Thunderbirds
in the parade. Remember
to call Juli Kennedy at 541-
350-3974 if you need more
Perfect time to elect
Kilkenny
To the editor:
I am writing this letter
in support of John Kilkenny
and his bid to be elected a
Port of Morrow commis-
sioner.
John has run a highly
successful farm and ranch
operation in Morrow Coun-
ty, some of which borders
my farm. In my many deal-
ings with John over the
years, I have found him to
be fair and honest, which I
believe will serve him well
as a port commissioner.
With such a large and
diversified farm and ranch
operation, John has worked
with big budgets and tight
margins. These real-life
business experiences make
John an excellent candi-
date. John has served all of
Morrow County as a mem-
ber of the Morrow County
Planning Commission for
several years. Through that
work, he has strived to
make each and every com-
munity in Morrow County
a better place to live and
prosper. I know that he
would continue that good
work for all the citizens of
Morrow County if elected.
John recently retired
from farming and ranching,
making now the perfect
time for him to invest his
diverse knowledge, busi-
ness skills and energy into
being a Morrow County
port commissioner.
Please join me in voting
for John Kilkenny, Port of
Morrow commissioner.
Thank you,
Ken Grieb
A View from the Green
WCCC men
compete
The Willow Creek
Country Club hosted 18
men for men’s play at the
event held April 11.
John Edmundson got
KP on hole number 4/13
with 2’5” and Scott Burri-
ght got KP second shot for
11’9” on hole 6/15.
First place in net was a
tie between Barry Munkers
and Jim Swanson. Gene
Orwick and Steve Marlatt
tied for third. Duane Disque
took first in gross. Second
place was a three-way tie
with Tim Wright, Kelly Fox
and Rick Johnston.
Men’s play for Sunday
April 18 will take place in
Arlington. Sign up will
be at 9:30 and tee-off at
10 a.m. There will be no
organized play in Heppner
that morning and the course
will be open.
The next event will be
the Mustang Scramble on
April 25, with Greg Grant
as the contact person for the
event. A shoot-out will take
place Sunday, May 2 and
will be a two-man event.
Gary Watkins, David All-
stott and Dave Gunderson
will be hosting the event.
Over the tee cup
The Spring Willow Creek Country Club Ladies’ meet-
ing was held in sunny weather April 6. First team in the
scramble was Virginia Grant, Tiffany Clement and Betty
Carter. Second was Karen Haguewood, Sharon Harrison
and Cindy Burright.
information.
Bringing back some-
thing else that hasn’t been
on the scene for a while,
Ken and Jan Evans, of Irri-
gon, report, “Yes, indeed, a
reunion of HHS graduating
classes from the 60’s is
planned for Heppner for
July 16-17.” Details are
still being finalized, but an
article in the Gazette Times
explains what is planned
so far. Watch for more in-
formation and call Ken at
541-571-7982 for more
information.
The Ione Schools have
a new superintendent/sec-
ondary principal. Kevin
Dinning comes from a po-
sition in Bonners Ferry, ID,
and will be taking the posi-
tion from Rollie Marshall,
who is retiring.
If you are a Zoomer or
Facebooker, you can tune
into the candidate’s forum
on the 22 nd . The Heppner
Chamber will sponsor this
event so participants can
hear answers to questions
from candidates for two
Port of Morrow Board po-
sitions and candidates for
two Morrow County School
Board positions. More in-
formation coming as the
date nears. Call the chamber
office for information, 541-
676-5536.
Even during these re-
strictive times of limited
interactions, some people
have remained active in
efforts to contribute to the
good of our communities.
The Heppner Chamber is
asking for nominations of
these outstanding adults,
students, educators and
businesses. Nomination
forms are available at the
chamber office, BEO and
Heppner City Hall. Recog-
nitions will be awarded at
the newly scheduled Town
and Country banquet, com-
ing soon.
As recently reported
in the EO, the Lexington
Airport is one of sixteen
Oregon airports to receive
grants from the Federal Avi-
ation Administration. The
$425,000 funds will be used
for a guidance system for
the runway and to improve
the airport’s pavement.
Another week of some
“good news tidbits” has
been such a pleasure.. We
can continue to lift some
spirits and brings some
smiles to faces, at least tem-
porarily, as long as contri-
butions reach me. Anyone
who has a tidbit is invited to
email it to dbrosnan123@
gmail.com, call 541-223-
1490 or stop me on the
street.
As always, hoping
some good news comes to
everyone reading this.
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