The letter we publish here was written to all of the St. Carlo Borromeo priests and to the Nativity staff.

The loss of our son in April 2010 devastated us. He died within nine hours of walking into the hospital, of meningococcal sepsis (seven other Colorado college students died in the same period). Alex, along with our daughter, had become our pride and joy and expectation for the future. Father Accursio, with us from the funeral to today, thankfully introduced us to Communion and Liberation, through which we have gained a faith, with reason and evidence, that our son is in Heaven and that life is still a gift. We are also thankful for Father Gabrielle's kind words and shared prayers during so much grief. Through Father Michael and the seminarian Umberto, we attended the FSCB priests' gathering at the Vatican on February 12, 2011. An audience with the Pope, the wonderment of Rome, and the experience at Saint Charles Seminary had a profound spiritual impact on us and gave us a renewed sense of truth regarding our son's place in reality, while also giving us a renewed joy for life–a joy that goes beyond anything we had thought possible. Of major importance was the opportunity to speak to Fathers Massimo and Matteo at the seminary, whose words penetrated our hearts. It was Father Massimo's simple thanks for the "gift of our son" that opened our view to gratitude, rather than constant sorrow. Today, as we continue to desire to know God and His will for us more fully, we think of your many gifts and pray in gratitude to God for the guidance you all have provided, along with your knowledge and open-armed embrace leading us to acceptance.

Dan and Mari Welch, Colorado (USA)