'Moments Like This Are Healing Moments'

Our collective urge to come together in times of tragedy is part of what makes us uniquely human. This is something Father Rick St. Louis of Immaculate Conception Church learned following September 11th.

It's something that has been reinforced in his experience, time and again, over the past dozen years.

And it is why he decided to call his congregation together Wednesday night for a time of prayer and healing.

"I was newly ordained when 9/11 happened and just overwhelmed even with what to do or help people make sense of it. Unfortunately, we've had more and more tragedies that have happened. Now – I hate to say I'm getting used to it – but it's almost like things are happening more and more, and I just see the need to right away connect," said St. Louis, following an April 17 prayer service, one of three held Wednesday evening in Nashua.

Instead of isolating at home in front of the television, watching the disturbing images and absorbing the troubling details of such tragedies, St. Louis believes coming together as a community to pray is one way to turn something negative into something with positive healing power.

"It's the prayer, asking our heavenly father, asking God, asking Jesus, to bring healing to the world, that makes all the difference," St. Louis said.

Downtown at the Unitarian Universalist Church  a group came together in the same spirit of understanding and healing. Gary Larude led the informal service, which included a nod to television icon Mister Rogers, whose story about "looking for the helpers" in times of trouble has been shared across social media since Monday's bomb incident in Boston. [see video].

The largest crowd, however, gathered at City Hall, where people brought flashlights, electric votives and candles, some inserted into makeshift votives made of paper and Styrofoam cups; some with signs, others waving flags.

The event was organized by downtown resident Stacie Laughton, who said she thought it would be a good way for people to show support for those killed, injured, or in some other way in need of healing.

That's what drew Kathy Labatte and her granddaughter, Krystin Bezio, to the vigil.

"We came for healing," said Labatte, having difficulty speaking through her tears.

She said she couldn't get past the senseless violence that caused the death of three innocent people, and which left many more injured, including small children.

She said whoever is responsible will not succeed in whatever their mission of terror is.

"They think they are scaring us but it's not. We won't let them get away with it," Labatte said.

Brian Dooley came for a bit of emotional cleansing. He had been in Boston for the Red Sox game on Monday, leaving after the sixth inning to catch some of the marathon action. He was near the finish line with the bombs rocked the crowd.

"It's a catharsis I think," said Dooley. "It seemed like the place to be, with people that are going to honor those that experienced the tragedy the other day, it seemed like the place to be, with people doing that."

In addition to Laughton, School Board member and State Rep. David Murotake came prepared to offer some words to the crowd, notifying his fellow board members that he would be a little late to the Wednesday night meeting.

He shared with the crowd the origin of the marathon, how a young Grecian messenger ran without stopping the 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to share the news that the Persians were defeated at Athens in the battle of Marathon, and how that runner collapsed and died after sharing the good news.

Murotake said that instead of allowing evil to win, people must focus on the resilience of the human spirit in our quest to spread the good news of this world.

"There's a lot of pain and a lot of anguish. There's a lot of potential for us to start hating and turn toward evil. Don't let that happen. Bring the memory of these people out and keep them in your heart. Bring the memory of what the marathon stands for, and why people come from all around the world to run this marathon - it's to commemorate that first runner, who gave his life," Murotake said.

The gathering at City Hall ended on a lighter note, after the crowd sang several songs together – first, "Amazing Grace," followed by "Sweet Caroline," and "We Are the Champions," none of which would have qualified the group for a slot on "The Voice."

Then, someone started singing "The Star Spangled Banner," and the group came together on what was a figurative high note, as everyone spontaneously turned toward the flag outside City Hall to sing.

"Play ball," someone shouted at the end, leading to applause and cheers and hugs, as the crowd dispersed into the night.