Tragedy strikes. It’s inevitable and, unfortunately, constant.

An image of sadness, grief and defiance has been imprinted on the heart of Toronto over this past week as an informal memorial sprung up along Yonge Street and then at least 25,000 citizens walked the empty street and gathered at Mel Lastman Square for prayers, songs and words of hope on the evening of April 29.

More and more, people question the role that prayer can bring in the face of tragedy. We hear it after every massacre in the United States and elsewhere in the world when people say we don’t want prayer, we want action on whatever was the source of the tragedy.

LAS VEGAS – Hate and violence can not have the last word, said Las Vegas Bishop Joseph A. Pepe at an emotional interfaith prayer service a day after the mass killing of at least 59 concert goers on Oct. 1.

VATICAN CITY – Salesians in the Bangalore province of India held a prayer vigil Jan. 4 for the release of Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Yemen March 4, 2016.