My interesting exchange today with "Brother Freddie" from Italy...

On 14/11/06, Freddie <fratefederico@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi there,
I feel so touched, there's always a big intensity in the words of a man who's trying to say his most inner life...thank you so much for your words.

God bless you,
Pace e Bene
=============
On 11/14/06, Clair Hochstetler <clair.hochstetler@gmail.com> responded to Freddie:

Tell me more about yourself. How have I met you, or do you know only my father, and not me, yet? - Clair
================

14/11/06

Hi Clair

We've never met, I simply read your blog and I found it really touching, I did like it!

I'm an Italian Franciscan friar (Friar Minor) living near Rome and studying Theology. As far as I've understood your dad should have been a great person.

I think I appreciated what you've written because I talk, or better listen, to many youths and most of them appear to have been deeply influenced by their relationship with their dads. I'm also doing a course as Emotional psychotherapist and I've seen many cases of young and less-young people who carry with them unresolved problems that have their roots in their relationships with the parents.

I'm not a dad, but I do think it's one of the most challenging, difficult but most rewarding "job".

Take care and God Bless you,
Pace e Bene
Br. Freddie

Fr. Federico Gandolfi
conv. San Bonaventura
Via San Francesco, 3
00044 - Frascati (RM)
Tel. +39 06 940 18 093
Fax. +39 06 942 98 103

===================
(On 11/14/06 at 10:45 AM)
Br. Freddie:

I feel honored that you read of all this at my website. I did not expect someone from Italy to stumble onto this, but that's great! I have only been to Italy twice in my life, back in my twenties, and I'm 53 now, but look forward to visiting again.

Yes, this project has helped me very much - in dealing with my grief and finding a way to move forward after losing both of my parents in six months time.

I have been here as a counselor and chaplain at a community hospital (here in northern Indiana -- only about 25 miles from Notre Dame University, which I'm sure you also know about) for about nine years. I am currently also, as part of my work, coordinating a weekly bereavement/grief group, which was starting just as my father died, so that is both a good thing and a challenge, indeed!

Blessings on you brother,
Clair Hochstetler