SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Spiritually Speaking
Holy family: a model
for all families to
imitate
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
On the Sunday after Christmas, the
Church continues to celebrate with the
Feast of the Holy Family because Christ-
mas is a family feast. The Holy Family
is the example for all of us. The child
Jesus is a beautiful example of how to be
obedient to our parents, how to live sub- Fr. Thankachan
missive to parents and their discipline. Joseph
Mary teaches us to be caring mothers,
spouses and sisters. St. Joseph is always spoken of in the
Bible as a just man and lived a just life to become a good
father. The Holy Family listened, obeyed, and, though
they had to go through many struggles, lived the will of
God in their lives.
In the First Book of Samuel (1: 20-22, 24-28), we
notice the dedication of a couple called Elkanah and
Hannah, who were childless for a long time. They pray
continually to God, who hears their cry and blesses them
with a boy child called Samuel. Since God has given them
a son, Hannah dedicates him to the service of the Lord, a
beautiful example for all parents in our present situation
of churches witnessing reducing numbers of ministers
for the service of the Lord. An old song has these words:
“I want to be happy, but I can’t be happy till I make you
happy too.” Does this mean for everyone to try to always
please everyone else? Or must one sometimes disagree
if one is true to one’s conscience? Do parents sometimes
need to correct their children and discipline them? Is a
successful family one in which all the children excel in
studies and extracurricular activities? A family where all
behave with perfect manners and never quarrel? A family
made up of perfectionists. Mother Teresa said: “God does
not call me to be successful but to be faithful.” We are all
human and have failings. Falling down on the journey of
life and getting up again are part of growth. We can sin-
cerely try to change undesirable behavior, with the grace
of God and support and encouragement of loved ones.
The Gospel of St. Luke (2: 41-52) describes the
Jewish feast of Passover and its aftermath to which Mary
and Joseph, according to their customary practices, take
twelve-year-old Jesus. When Jesus becomes missing after
the feast celebrations, surely the couple feels great anxiety
and worries, but we see them going together hand-in-hand
in search of the lost boy, in a spirit of prayer. We don’t see
them accuse each other in their great misfortune. They
lived in a tough time: Joseph and Mary lived during the
time of King Herod, who was selfish and cruel. He sought
to kill Jesus because he refused to see anyone higher than
he. So, Joseph, taking Mary and the child, flees to Egypt.
Couple spent time together: The Holy family was
not spared from the problems and difficulties of day-to-
day life, but their love, prayer, devotion, commitment in
life and work kept them united. In the midst of troubles,
they showed signs of encouragement, smiled at those
who looked at them despairingly and prayed for them,
a model family for us. Couple in communion with the
Lord: The ordinary life of Joseph included the struggle for
daily bread, as he worked at his carpentry. Mary worked
at housekeeping chores and to help Joseph. Although
Mary and Joseph were busy, both found time to be with
the Lord. Work and prayer went side by side. Busy as we
all are, do we find time to be with the Lord? Forgiving
couple: In Nazareth, a group of people came around Jo-
seph and Mary’s poor, modest, silent family, looking up
to them as a model family. But another group sneered at
them and tried to annoy and lay snares for them. They
gathered around Joseph to gossip and urged him to even
speak against the pregnancy of Mary. But Joseph would
just shake his head. If an argument became heated and
Mary’s eyes brimmed with tears, Jesus would cut the
discussion short, “We must forgive! Forgive, not once but
seventy times seven.” Many of our family issues could be
decimated if married couples have the minds and hearts
of Joseph and Mary.
Jesus had excellent parents. Mary was the best mum
and Joseph a just and prudent man. Parents today can
learn from them how to teach their children to grow in
obedience and respect. The Nazareth home reminds us
that families have the responsibility of teaching their chil-
dren the Faith and to model virtues. So, as we celebrate
the Feast of the Holy Family, let us ponder how we can
be a model, a family capable of being open to God’s will,
of being loving and happy, of communicating more often
and having more time for face-to-face family interaction,
of bringing Christ into the lives of others.
The North and South
Transfer Stations will be closed
on December 25th so our
attendant can share
Christmas with their family.
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Snowmobile club gets new building
A shed was recently
constructed to house the
snowmobile groomer for
the 4-Corner’s Snowmobile
Club. “It wouldn’t have
been possible without the
contributions, donations
and volunteers from the
many generous people in
the community,” stated the
press release.
Contributions for the
project came from Mon-
ty and Susan Crum, Kim
Cutsforth on behalf of the
Howard and Beth Bryant
Foundation, Mike Duncan
on behalf of Silver Creek
Contracting, Ross-Brandt
Electric Inc, Adrian Frink,
Willow Creek Valley Eco-
nomic Development Group,
Oregon State Snowmobile
Association, Andy Ash-
beck Trucking, Columbia
Basin Electric Co-op, Blue
Mountain Rentals, Petty-
john’s Farm and Builder
Supply, Miller and Sons,
Brian Thompson, Ron Carl-
son, Cliff Dougherty, Tate
Gentry, John Griffith, Mike
Gorman, Jim Lankford,
Tom Wolff, and Steve Peck.
The contributions were
in the form of volunteer-
ing, donating equipment
or supplies, discounted
pricing, granting a lease for
the building and monetary
donations.
Snowmobile clubs are
one of the reasons that trails
exist. Members joining
the club are what allows
the local area to continue
to have the groomer and
keep the trails maintained
and smooth throughout the
winter season. The club is
tentatively planning a play
day on Saturday, January
1, 2022, at Kelly Prairie, if
snow conditions cooperate.
Anyone interested in
joining the club should
check out the Facebook
page 4-Corners Snowmo-
bile Club, which has a link
to join electronically, and
where information can be
found about the Club and
any events they will be
having.
Sheriff’s Report
...continued from page five
December 2: Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office re-
ceived a report that Mullins,
Cory Joe was arrested by
MCPP on P&P detention.
Lodged at UCJ, no bail.
-MCSO received a
report at Paterson Ferry
Rd/Rr Tracks, in Irrigon.
Agency assist- cautionary
for armed suicidal subject,
pinging on Paterson Ferry
Rd. between Hwy 730 and
I 84. Male left Pilot Rock at
0430 and his mom received
a text this morning stating
he was going to kill him-
self. May have a semi auto
Ruger hand gun with him.
-MCSO received a
report on S Main St, in
Heppner. Neighbors dog
chihuahua is constantly on
the caller’s property.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Magic Garden Ln,
in Irrigon. Caller reports
that there are 15-18 dogs
at this location, and she
believes the owners have
moved away and no one
has been by to take care of
them. Caller reports they
are all hound dogs and are
baying all the time and she
has not seen the dogs out
of their pens for over 3
months. She would like the
dogs checked on for healthy
living conditions and to see
if they are getting taken
care of.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Highway 74, in
Heppner. Green suburban
picked up a dog at the end
of Water and is driving all
over the road. Unable to
locate.
December 3: Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office re-
ceived a report at Western
Route Rd/Willow Creek Rd,
in Heppner. Caller reports
that there is a red car, un-
known make or model, sitting
alongside the road where FS
21 Rd meets Western Route.
Not blocking, no one around.
Vehicle has 3 missing tires; the
windows are painted and there
are rocks on the vehicle
-MCSO received a report
on Se Park Pl, in Irrigon.
Caller requests an ambulance
respond to address for a client,
50’s male, difficulty breathing,
sweating, very sick, not very
cognizant. CCS is not on scene
but will meet patient at GSH.
Caller recommends LEO pres-
ent at residence due to who
lives at residence. Patient has
threatened suicide by cop and
is threatened by LE and may
“freak out” if he thinks he’s
being arrested.
-MCSO received a report
at Columbia River Equestrian
Center on Highway 730., in
Irrigon. MVA on 730
-MCSO received a report
on W Highway 730, in Irrigon.
Umatilla County terminated
pursuit, requesting assistance.
Female driver driving a blue
dodge caravan headed west-
bound on Hwy 730. Unable
to locate.
December 5: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report on I 84
W, in Boardman. Caller
advised of a wrong way
driver, travelling east in the
westbound lane on 184. No
vehicle description. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Utah Ave, in
Irrigon. Caller advised a
Nissan Pathfinder went
through the stop signs on
Eighth and Seventh heading
towards Division. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at E 2ND St/C St, in
lone. White Pitbull and
rottweiler puppy running
loose in the area. Becoming
a reoccurring issue.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Highway 74, in
Heppner. North Hwy 74
btw Heppner and Lexing-
ton a gray sedan passed in
no passing zone, and they
nearly struck another car.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Clover Ct, in
Irrigon. Large black shep-
herd running loose last seen
going towards thirteenth no
collar. MCSO located own-
er and gave warning for dog
as a public nuisance.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Mini Mart on
E Highway 730., in Irrigon.
Theft occurred last night
around 8-840pm.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Utah Ave, in
Irrigon. Caller advised that
a silver tundra speed down
Utah and was headed to-
wards division. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Utah Ave, in
Irrigon. Caller advised that
a side by side is driving in
an empty lot in front of his
house. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Green Acres on
Paterson Ferry Rd., in Ir-
rigon. Caller advised that
on Friday (12/03) someone
broke into the electrical
box at her property. Under
investigation.
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From our co-op family to yours,
wishing you a happy holiday season
and a joyous new year.
Learn more about how
UEC is helping to power communities at:
Hermiston Office
Boardman Office
750 W. Elm Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-6414
400 N.E. Eldrige Drive
Boardman, OR 97818
(541) 481-2220