A neighborhood still grieving the loss of three young children in a late‑March house fire will gather this weekend for a community prayer vigil organized by St. John the Baptist Church.
The fire, which broke out on East 26th Street back in March, claimed the lives of 5‑year‑old Tobias, 3‑year‑old Da’Liyla, and 5‑month‑old Amirah. In the weeks since, residents, loved ones, and first responders have continued to process the tragedy.
The church is inviting the public to join a brief prayer service this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the site of the fire. Organizers say the goal is to create space for collective mourning and healing.
“We had a significant tragedy here in the neighborhood… and we felt we should do something from a spiritual, prayerful perspective,” said Rev. James Piszker. “It speaks to who we are… and connects us to our neighborhood.”
The vigil will also focus on supporting first responders, many of whom were deeply affected by what they witnessed that day.
“They were quite traumatized about what they saw… what they experienced,” Piszker said. “They’re human beings… and they need vehicles for expressing their feelings… and hopefully this will assist in that.”
The gathering is open to anyone in the community, regardless of religious background.