Fr. Kenneth Walker, FSSP, 29, was shot to death by an unknown killer who also assaulted another priest, Fr. Joseph Terra, 56, who is in critical condition.
Fr. Terra was able to give Fr. Walker absolution.
The news coverage is strong in Phoenix and my contacts there tell me that the community is shaken. The FSSP parish seems to be a really “smell of the sheep” place, in a poor area of Phoenix. The priests were highly regarded.
And, as you may know, traditional Catholics tend to be strongly knit.
LEOs say that they have good physical evidence.
Also, I am told by my contacts say that the Diocese of Phoenix is also really stepping up.
HERE for several videos including clips from the press conference.
Please do keep them in your prayers.
While horrible, I sense that God will do something good with this.
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My wife and I are parishoners at the Cathedral parish in Phoenix. They held last night a holy hour followed by benediction. I am traveling, but she attended and said the church was absolutely packed.
I can’t say enough about these priests. I’ve known Father Terra ten years, he is tough as nails. If you are in the pew or in his confessional, you better be ready to hear Truth. Father Walker was a model of humility. His receiving last rites is such a comfort to us, as I’m sure it is to his family. It also shows battle-readiness on the part of Fr Terra.
Let this be a reminder to all priests, have, at a minimum, a nice handgun at the ready in the rectory. Better yet, have a good shotgun at the ready in case something like this were to occur at your rectory.
Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. May his soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Story both horrible and awe inspiring in the severely wounded Father Terra giving absolution to Father Walker. Such a young promising priest. I’ll pray for the soul of Fr Walker and for the recovery of Fr Terra.
Does make me wonder how secure our own parish rectory is and what other measures can be taken. Cameras, certainly, along with motion detection at the minimum, if not a security presence. Ah but for the Minor Order of the porters, if not a more medieval consecrated knighthood.
A funeral fund has been set up here: http://www.gofundme.com/fr-kenneth-walker
If we know that Fr. Walker got absolution, the only way we could know that is from Fr. Terra, which implies Fr. Terra is talking.
Yes?
A great loss. But for this holy priest, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Per St Paul.
Apparently, Fr. Terra was able to talk to the police, although he was suffering very life-threatening injuries. According to one of the EMTs interviewed, they were surprised that Fr. Terra was able to talk at all.
Worth looking here to see a compilation of the deadly force incidents against faith-based organizations in the US since 1999.