Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 8, 2021 -- THREE
Spiritually Speaking
Mary, ponderer of the
word of God
In this third week of Advent, the Church celebrates
two great feasts of Our Blessed Mother: The Solemnity
of Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of
Guadalupe.
The dogma of the Immaculate Con-
ception of Mary was defined by Pope
Pius IX in 1854. It affirms the belief that
the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from
sin from the very beginning of her life.
That means that by the grace of God, she Fr. Thankachan
was shielded and protected from original Joseph
sin, which all humankind inherits at the
very moment we are conceived in our mothers’ wombs.
She came into the world with a perfect human nature
that God gave her not as a reward for anything she did,
not because of any merit on her part, but in view of the
singular role she was to play, namely being the mother of
God’s Son. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception
tells us something about Mary. But maybe it tells us more
about God and who we are in light of God’s providential
love. God, when He has particular plans for individuals,
separates them and anoints them in the womb of their
mothers, clearly depicted in the scriptures. As He told
Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed
you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
The Gospel readings for the feast of Immaculate
Conception as well as the feast of Our lady Guadalupe
are taken from Luke (1: 26-38 & 39-47) and focus on
Mary and the role she was called to play in God’s plan of
salvation. Mary collaborated with God’s plan by saying
“yes.” God had made a promise to David that he would
build his dynasty and that it would be great and a source
of blessing. As God came to dwell in the Ark of the Cov-
enant in David’s time, and as David danced before the
ark, expressing his joy in Yahweh, so Mary welcomed
the Lord into the new ark of the Covenant, her body,
and glorified God in her song of praise, the Magnificat.
Mary’s response is a role model for Christians. Mary,
like every young woman, had plans and dreams for her
life. She was surprised by the coming of an angel who
revealed God’s plan for her. “How can this be, since I
am a virgin?” “Her decision to accept the message of the
angel led her along a totally different path. She models
for us in the following ways:
1) Mary ardent listener to the word of God: Mary
should inspire us to be more open to the Word of God
in our lives, too. Do we, like our Blessed Mother, listen
to the prompting of Christ? 2) Hail, Full of Grace: Mary
was addressed by the angel with “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.” What do we need to
do to be addressed as God’s favored ones? 3) She Bore
Him in her Heart: I think our blessed mother inspires all
of us to ponder the word of God and bear him always in
our hearts. She had the privilege of bearing Jesus in her
womb, but before that, she had always carried Him in
her heart. She invites every one of us to do the same. 4)
Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord (Lk. 1:38) Mary
knew as a good Jewish woman what the consequences
and the repercussions would be of her “yes” to the Lord.
Her surrender to God’s Plan teaches us that we need to
surrender ourselves to His plans. When we experience
trials and tribulations, these moments remind us of Mary;
we need to surrender ourselves and our plans to the
mighty hand of the Lord.
So, what must we do to collaborate with God’s plan,
as King David and Mary did? Mary, a model of simplicity,
remained very humble in the sight of God. The life of
our Blessed Mother reminds me of the words of St. Paul,
“Who made you so important? What have you got that
was not given to you? And if it was given to you, why are
you boasting as though it were your own?” (1Corinthins
4:7). Like our Blessed Mother, when God becomes our
priority, takes first place, becomes the center of our lives,
we are led to a deep and profound relationship with Jesus
and find our happiness in Him.
Justice Court Report
Morrow County Justice of the Peace, Glen Diehl, has
released the following Justice Court report:
-Scott L. Bartling, 50, Goldendale, WA, was convict-
ed of no valid hunting license, fine $115.
-Patrick A. Wright, 33, Goldendale, WA, was con-
victed of no valid hunting license, fine $115.
-Juvenile, 17, Heppner, was convicted of failure to
drive within lane, fine $265.
Marriage Licenses
The Morrow County Clerk’s office has released the
following report of marriage licenses:
November 5, 2021: - Emma Kate Osmin, 26, Herm-
iston, and Anthony Lee Lankford, 30, Hermiston.
Print & Mailing Services
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541-676-9228
Heppner Winter Sports Schedule
Boys Varsity Basketball
Girls Varsity Basketball
December 9, 2021, 7:30 PM, Heppner vs. Toledo at
Heppner High School
December 10, 2021, 4:45 PM, Bandon vs. Heppner
at Pendleton Convention Center
December 11, 2021, 8:00 PM, Heppner vs. Culver at
Pendleton Convention Center
December 16, 2021, 7:30 PM, Heppner vs. Riverside
at Heppner High School
December 17, 2021, 7:30 PM, Heppner vs. Warrenton
at Heppner High School
December 18, 2021, 5:30 PM, Heppner vs. Irrigon at
Heppner High School
December 21, 2021, 7:30 PM, Irrigon vs. Heppner at
Irrigon High School
December 28, 2021, 7:30 PM, Heppner vs.
Weston-McEwen at Heppner High School
January 7, 2022, 7:30 PM, Heppner vs. Union at
Heppner High School
January 8, 2022, 5:30 PM, Grant Union vs. Heppner
at Grant Union High School
January 11, 2022, 7:30 PM, Riverside vs. Heppner at
Riverside High School
January 14, 2022, 7:30 PM, Pilot Rock vs. Heppner
at Pilot Rock High School
January 15, 2022, 5:30 PM, Heppner vs. Stanfield at
Heppner High School
January 21, 2022, 7:30 PM, Heppner vs. Enterprise
at Heppner High School
January 28, 2022, 7:30 PM, Heppner vs. Grant Union
at Heppner High School
January 29, 2022, 5:30 PM, Stanfield vs. Heppner at
Stanfield Secondary School
February 4, 2022, 7:30 PM, Enterprise vs. Heppner
at Enterprise High School
February 5, 2022, 5:30 PM, Union vs. Heppner at
Union High School
February 11, 2022, 7:30 PM, Weston-McEwen vs.
Heppner at Weston-McEwen High School
February 12, 2022, 5:30 PM, Heppner vs. Pilot Rock
at Heppner High School
December 9, 2021, 6:00 PM, Heppner vs. Toledo at
Heppner High School
December 10, 2021, 3:00 PM, Bandon vs. Heppner
at Pendleton Convention Center
December 11, 2021, 6:15 PM, Heppner vs. Culver at
Pendleton Convention Center
December 16, 2021, 6:00 PM, Heppner vs. Riverside
at Heppner High School
December 17, 2021, 6:00 PM, Heppner vs. Warrenton
at Heppner High School
December 18, 2021, 4:00 PM, Heppner vs. Irrigon
at Heppner High School
December 21, 2021, 6:00 PM, Irrigon vs. Heppner
at Irrigon High School
December 28, 2021, 6:00 PM, Heppner vs.
Weston-McEwen at Heppner High School
January 7, 2022, 6:00 PM, Heppner vs. Union at
Heppner High School
January 8, 2022, 4:00 PM, Grant Union vs. Heppner
at Grant Union High School
January 11, 2022, 6:00 PM, Riverside vs. Heppner
at Riverside High School
January 14, 2022, 6:00 PM, Pilot Rock vs. Heppner
at Pilot Rock High School
January 15, 2022, 4:00 PM, Heppner vs. Stanfield at
Heppner High School
January 21, 2022, 6:00 PM, Heppner vs. Enterprise
at Heppner High School
January 28, 2022, 6:00 PM, Heppner vs. Grant Union
at Heppner High School
January 29, 2022, 4:00 PM, Stanfield vs. Heppner at
Stanfield Secondary School
February 4, 2022, 6:00 PM, Enterprise vs. Heppner
at Enterprise High School
February 5, 2022, 4:00 PM, Union vs. Heppner at
Union High School
February 11, 2022, 6:00 PM, Weston-McEwen vs.
Heppner at Weston-McEwen High School
February 12, 2022, 4:00 PM, Heppner vs. Pilot Rock
at Heppner High School
Boys Jr. Varsity Basketball
Girls Jr. Varsity Basketball
December 16, 2021, 4:30 PM, Heppner vs. Riverside
at Heppner High School
December 21, 2021, 4:30 PM, Irrigon vs. Heppner at
Irrigon High School
December 28, 2021, 4:30 PM, Heppner vs.
Weston-McEwen at Heppner High School
January 7, 2022, 4:30 PM, Heppner vs. Union at
Heppner High School
January 8, 2022, 2:30 PM, Grant Union vs. Heppner
at Grant Union High School
January 11, 2022, 4:30 PM, Riverside vs. Heppner at
Riverside High School
January 14, 2022, 4:30 PM, Pilot Rock vs. Heppner
at Pilot Rock High School
January 15, 2022, 2:30 PM, Heppner vs. Stanfield at
Heppner High School
January 21, 2022, 4:30 PM, Heppner vs. Enterprise
at Heppner High School
January 28, 2022, 4:30 PM, Heppner vs. Grant Union
at Heppner High School
January 29, 2022, 2:30 PM, Stanfield vs. Heppner at
Stanfield Secondary School
February 4, 2022, 4:30 PM, Enterprise vs. Heppner
at Enterprise High School
February 5, 2022, 2:30 PM, Union vs. Heppner at
Union High School
February 11, 2022, 4:30 PM, Weston-McEwen vs.
Heppner at Weston-McEwen High School
February 12, 2022, 2:30 PM, Heppner vs. Pilot Rock
at Heppner High School
December 16, 2021, 3:00 PM, Heppner vs. Riverside
at Heppner High School
December 21, 2021, 3:00 PM, Irrigon vs. Heppner at
Irrigon High School
December 28, 2021, 3:00 PM, Heppner vs.
Weston-McEwen at Heppner High School
January 7, 2022, 3:00 PM, Heppner vs. Union at
Heppner High School
January 8, 2022, 1:00 PM, Grant Union vs. Heppner
at Grant Union High School
January 11, 2022, 3:00 PM, Riverside vs. Heppner at
Riverside High School
January 14, 2022, 3:00 PM, Pilot Rock vs. Heppner
at Pilot Rock High School
January 15, 2022, 1:00 PM, Heppner vs. Stanfield at
Heppner High School
January 21, 2022, 3:00 PM, Heppner vs. Enterprise
at Heppner High School
January 28, 2022, 3:00 PM, Heppner vs. Grant Union
at Heppner High School
January 29, 2022, 1:00 PM, Stanfield vs. Heppner at
Stanfield Secondary School
February 4, 2022, 3:00 PM, Enterprise vs. Heppner
at Enterprise High School
February 5, 2022, 1:00 PM, Union vs. Heppner at
Union High School
February 11, 2022, 3:00 PM, Weston-McEwen vs.
Heppner at Weston-McEwen High School
February 12, 2022, 1:00 PM, Heppner vs. Pilot Rock
at Heppner High School
November warmer than normal
According to prelim-
inary data received by
NOAA’s National Weath-
er Service in Pendleton,
temperatures at Heppner
averaged warmer than nor-
mal during the month of
November.
The average tempera-
ture was 44.7 degrees which
was 3.5 degrees above nor-
mal. High temperatures av-
eraged 54.0 degrees, which
was 3.2 degrees above nor-
mal. The highest was 69
degrees on the 15 th . Low
temperatures averaged 35.5
degrees, which was 3.8
degrees above normal. The
lowest was 23 degrees, on
the 17 th . There were 11 days
with the low temperature
below 32 degrees.
Precipitation totaled
1.24 inches during Novem-
ber, which was 0.36 inches
below normal. Measurable
precipitation, at least .01
inch, was received on 12
days with the heaviest, 0.49
inches reported on the 12 th .
Precipitation this year
has reached 7.76 inches,
which is 4.92 inches below
normal. Since October, the
water year precipitation
at Heppner has been 2.26
inches, which is 0.48 inches
below normal.
The outlook for De-
cember from NOAA’s Cli-
mate Prediction Center
calls for near normal tem-
peratures and above nor-
mal precipitation. Normal
highs for Heppner fall from
44.0 degrees at the start of
December to 41.0 degrees
at the end of December.
Normal lows fall from 28.0
degrees to 25.0 degrees.
The 30 year normal precip-
itation is 1.32 inches.
All of Us at
Wish you a
Joyous Holiday Season
and a
Merry Christmas!
Together, let’s make
2022 a year of
Health, Happiness and
Thriving Community
Growth.
HEPPNER
279 N. Main Street
541-676-9125
IONE
280 Main Street
541-422-7466
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