The stories told at the candlelight vigil hosted by the YWCA of Northcentral Pa., reported on in this past weekend’s edition of the Sun-Gazette, were both difficult and moving.

The stories also were a necessary reminder that our communities must confront domestic violence. The survivors — children and families — do not deserve our looking away simply because the stories can be difficult.

While we will continue to hope and pray for a world free from domestic violence, we also recognize such prayers may be too idealistic, perhaps even naive.

So we also continue to hope and pray that the YWCA of Northcentral Pa. is successful in marshaling the resources necessary to support and comfort survivors and to help them leave dangerous situations.

“In the past year alone, we supported over 1,700 victims of violence in Lycoming County. We assisted 630 individuals with seeking protection from abuse orders-a staggering reminder of the urgent and growing need for our services,” Amber Morningstar, YWCA program director, said.

We appreciate the invaluable work that the YWCA of Northcentral Pa. does.

We continue to hope and pray that our police and prosecutors are successful in investigating abusers and holding them accountable and that lawmakers further revisit sentencing for these atrocities to more adequately punish the offenders.

We respect and appreciate the toll their role in addressing this scourge takes on them, and we hope and pray they have the support they need as they place the public safety above their own comfort.

And we hope and pray that our communities — the neighbors, co-workers, family and friends of survivors — are able to find ways of supporting their efforts to leave abuse and to build peaceful lives beyond the abuse.