Tragic news: FSSP priest killed, another badly injured – UPDATED (again) (and again)

It’s not really a tragedy, it’s an atrocity.  What kind of world do we live in when completely innocent priests are killed, ostensibly for filthy lucre?

Fr. Kenneth Walker, FSSP, was shot to death last night at shortly after 9pm PDT at Mater Misericordia FSSP mission in Phoenix. The pastor, Fr. Joseph Terra, was badly injured and is in critical condition [UPDATE: apparently, as the result of blunt force trauma].  Fr. Terra had called 911 to report a burglary in progress.  Seems kind of an early time for a burglary.

Details below:

A 28-year-old priest was shot and killed and another wounded at a Catholic church Wednesday night near the state Capitol, a Phoenix police spokesman said.

Police were responding to a burglary call shortly after 9 p.m. near 16th Avenue and Monroe Street at the Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission, Sgt. Steve Martos said.

The Diocese of Phoenix released a statement early Thursday morning identifying the slain priest as Father Kenneth Walker, who is listed as associate pastor at the Mother of Mercy Mission.

Father Joseph Terra, the pastor, was identified as the priest who survived but remained in critical but stable condition, according to the statement.

“We are stunned and deeply saddened to learn of the tragic assault perpetrated last night against Fr. Joseph Terra and Fr. Kenneth Walker, two religious

order priests who belong to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter,” the statement said.

Police said early Thursday morning that Terra, 56, was “physically harmed” but not stabbed or shot.

Terra called 911, police said.

A car that police were seeking in connection with the attack was found at 17th Avenue and Taylor Street, about four blocks north of the church, Martos said. It was spotted by 12 News reporter Chris Williams, who alerted police.

The car was unoccupied when it was found, and Martos said no suspects have been arrested.

Father Terra is well known to parishioners at Mater Dei, as he was pastor there for several years.  I met him once very briefly.  He was just on his way out to Phoenix. This was just a couple months before we started attending Mater Dei full time.  Apparently, Fr. Terra has been conscious and has been able to make a statement to the Phoenix PD.

I have never met Father Walker. He was ordained only two years ago.  He just fit that wonderful mold for young FSSP priests, clean cut, fit, intelligent, deeply committed to Christ and His Church, loving the Mass and with a burning desire to serve souls.  His death is simply staggering.

My God, have mercy on Father Walker’s family.  From the realization of exalted hopes and dreams to this.

I pray for the conversion of the perpetrators.  I pray they bring themselves forward and admit to this stupid and noxious crime.  Stupid, because priests are not widely known for their terrific wealth.

And I pray especially for the repose of the soul of Fr. Walker, cut down in the prime of life, and the quick healing of Fr. Terra, who struck me as a pretty tough guy.

Fr. Terra with Fr. Walker at rear

Fr. Walker, center

 

UPDATE: The Diocese of Phoenix, led by Bishop Thomas Olmstead, has issued a statement regarding the murder of Fr. Walker:

R.P. KENNETH WALKER

TU ES SACERDOS IN ÆTERNUM
SECUNDUM ORDINEM MELCHISEDECH

Fr. Kenneth Walker, FSSP was born in Upstate New York near Poughkeepsie, the middle of 11 children (6 boys and 5 girls). His family moved frequently when he was young.

While his father was working construction in Wilmington, N.C, the family decided to build, with their own hands, a log cabin on some land they  owned in nearby Tennessee. Their intention was to sell the home, but they changed their minds and moved in.

While living there, they visited a used bookstore and found a book called The Incredible Catholic Mass. It described the Tridentine Mass, which they had never seen nor heard. The book was considered worthless and the storeowner gave it to them for free.

The family was intrigued. The more they learned about the Traditional Mass, the more they wanted it in their daily lives. On his own initiative, Fr. Walker began learning Latin. The family decided to sell their log cabin and move to rural Pennsylvania near Scranton where the Traditional Mass was offered. Fr. Walker eventually became an altar server at the FSSP Apostolate, and after attending Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom Academy in Ontario, entered the seminary.

He was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in 2012.

I really love the bit from Psalm 109 at the top.  Requiescat in Pace, Fr. Walker.

UPDATE 2: 

Video coverage:

In a CNN report, the Phoenix PD is not saying the crime was actually a burglary.  Fr. Terra called 911 thinking it was a burglary, but if you read between the lines at CNN I think the Phoenix PD is thinking it may have been something else.

You know……that parish was in a terrible part of town.  Traditional Latin Mass parishes often are.  That’s not to say there are not NO parishes in bad parts of town, but TLM parishes attract a lot of outsiders who are from a different socioeconomic strata. That can create an inviting target to lost, desperate souls.  Sometimes TLMers wonder why it seems their parishes are so often consigned to bad or questionable parts of town.  Now that there has been a horrific tragedy, will that trend see a change?

UPDATE 3:

Phoenix ABC station reporting this may not have been a burglary but could have been a targeted crime.  Fr. Terra was extremely pro-life and very outspoken, and there has been heavy pressure on the mills in Phoenix via Live Action and other sources. That is entirely speculation on my part, but I have to say the thought has crossed my mind that this could have been perpetrated by a radical pro-abort or other extreme leftist:

This report really adds a lot of detail.  It is possible now to understand perhaps the course of events which took place.

UPDATE 4: Blech, I hate when news sites use proprietary embed codes. I tried to embed a video from a Phoenix news site and it failed.  I lost some text in the process.  Probably Providence!