These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. (Lk 2:16-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122524-Dawn.cfm
There is an overabundance of liturgical riches at Christmas: Vigil Mass, Mass During the Night, Mass at Dawn, and Mass During the Day. Of course, the liturgy assumes that the community will be celebrating at ALL the Masses. It’s pastorally wise to combine the gospel readings from the Mass During the Night and the Mass at Dawn. For like the shepherds we too must go to Bethlehem to see this Child that Lord has made known to us.
Dear Family and Friends,
This Christmas finds us grateful to all of you our friends and family for your presence in our lives. As always, we carry you in our hearts. We just attended the performance of Händel’s Messiah here in Medellín, followed by a quick trip to see the over 8 million Christmas lights in the river park. Our home is fully decorated for Christmas—over 500 nativities in Óscar’s collection this year, and so all is ready. I will be celebrating in my local parish, Nuestra Señora de las Lomas, and praying for all of you.
This year we made a pilgrimage to the shrines of France. Before the pilgrimage we made a trip to Denmark, Norway and Sweden. As we began our experience in Denmark, the home of my Torp ancestors, I fell in the Cathedral and broke my collarbone and two vertebrae in my back. But it didn’t stop us. We continued our trip to Norway and had a marvelous visit with our friends, Per & Heidi, who gave us a royal trip through the mountains and fjords. Afterwards we flew to Paris and joined the pilgrims for our amazing French adventure. In the Basilica of Saint John Vianney in Ars, one of our pilgrims was received into full communion. I had married him and his wife 44 years ago. It was truly a miracle. Our final pilgrimage stop was in Lourdes, and it touched all our hearts. But a small group of pilgrims wanted to keep on going and so we spent a further two weeks visiting the shrines of Spain. When we finally left Europe, we went to the United States and were able to visit our beloved Asheville. Due to my fall in Denmark and continued back problems, we returned to Colombia. We had been gone two months!
I had back surgery in September and began an intensive osteoporosis treatment that will last two years. I’m doing very well. We had planned an extended trip to the USA for the Fall, but everything cancelled due to Hurricane Helene that hit Asheville and the mountains of WNC. We pray for all who have been affected. The rebuilding will take years.
We lost two dear friends this past year: Myrna Rodríguez (87), the sister of Meira Riesco, and Doña Bertha Lopera (96). I also lost my young cousin, Trey Torp (42). May they dance with the angels!
Christmas came early for Óscar—his new BYD all-electric car arrived! He’s busy building his dreams! May your Christmas and New Year be filled with the presence of the Prince of Peace. And may the Virgin Mary, good Saint Joseph, and the Christ Child bless you and all your loved ones!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2025!
Morris & Óscar
Christmas, 2024
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Lk 2:1-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122524-Night.cfm
May the blessings of Christmas be yours in abundance. May Christ be born in us!
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 25)
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122324.cfm
O EMMANUEL, our King and our Lawgiver, the anointed of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Thus says the LORD: You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD; he shall be peace. (Micah 5:1-4a)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122224.cfm
The One whose coming we await does not offer tax cuts for billionaires nor mass deportations. Rather the One who comes is the Good Shepherd who feeds the hungry and welcomes the stranger.
