Two FSSP Priests Attacked in Phoenix, One Dead, One in Critical Condition: Calls for Prayer

The police are still gathering information and trying to sort through the details of this senseless act of violence. We ask that people offer prayers for both priests, the religious community, their families and the parish. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Dear Deacon Keith: Could you pray for Father Joseph Terra and Father Kenneth Walker and ask others to do the same? According to the newswires an assailant shot and killed Father Walker and beat Fr. Terra (who is in serious condition) at Mater Misericordiae Church in downtown Phoenix.  Please pray for the complete healing of Father Terra and pray for the repose of the soul of dear Father Walker.  Please contact others to join this prayer chain. Father Terra is a dear friend of my youngest daughter's school, Ville De Marie Academy,  and frequently celebrated Mass for the school. Mater Misercordiae Church celebrates the Traditional Rite and under the leadership of Father Terra, assisted by Father Walker, they faithfully served the traditional Catholic community in Phoenix. Thanks and God bless! Mark Henry

PHOENIX, AZ (Catholic Online) - I received the following  E mail early Thursday morning from Mark Henry. Mark is a friend, a skilled attorney and financial planner, a faithful Catholic and contributor to Catholic Online.

Dear Deacon Keith:

Could you pray for Father Joseph Terra and Father Kenneth Walker and ask others to do the same? According to the newswires an assailant shot and killed Father Walker and beat Fr. Terra (who is in serious condition) at Mater Misericordiae Church in downtown Phoenix. 

Please pray for the complete healing of Father Terra and pray for the repose of the soul of dear Father Walker.  Please contact others to join this prayer chain. The story is here.

Father Terra is a dear friend of my youngest daughter's school, Ville De Marie Academy,  and frequently celebrated Mass for the school. Mater Misercordiae Church celebrates the Traditional Rite and under the leadership of Father Terra, assisted by Father Walker, they faithfully served the traditional Catholic community in Phoenix.

Thanks and God bless!
Mark Henry

The Diocese of Phoenix issued the following 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.

Fr. Walker's life was taken. Fr. Terra remains in critical condition but stable.The reported attack occurred at Mater Misericordiae Mission in Phoenix.

The police are still gathering information and trying to sort through the details of this senseless act of violence. We ask that people offer prayers for both priests, the religious community, their families and the parish.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Below we offer an excerpt from the most detailed report on this tragedy available. The news has offered little detail and the incident is under investigation. This article was written by Jason Volentine for the online news service azfamily.com. The full report can be read here.

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PHOENIX --  One priest is dead and another in critical condition after a violent altercation at a downtown Phoenix church, according to Phoenix police.

The victims have been identified as Father Kenneth Walker, 29, and Father Joseph Terra, 56.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Steve Martos said Terra called 911 from Mother of Mercy Mission Catholic Church near 15th Avenue and Van Buren Street at around 9 p.m. Wednesday. Police arrived to find two priests badly injured  in the church's living quarters. Based on Terra's call, they believe this might have been a botched burglary.

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We ask the global readership of Catholic Online to pray for the repose of the soul of Father Walker and the full recovery of Father Terra. We ask that you also pray for the perpetrator of this act of evil. That he, she or they will be found, called to account, and drawn to their knees in conversion. We will update the news on this tragedy as the details become clear.

We have a Fraternity of St Peter Parish, St Benedict's Parish, in Chesapeake, Virginia.  It is pastored by Father Neal Nichols, FSSP, who is assisted by Father Peter Byrne, FSSP. They are both holy, dedicated and wonderful priests.The parish is filled with devout Catholics who are sincerely dedicated to the Lord, His Church and her mission. I periodically attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass there. It is celebrated in the Extraordinary Form and is quite beautiful.

I called the priests at St Benedict's to offer my prayers this morning before writing this article. Father Peter was not at the office but Father Neal was. They knew both priests and are shaken by the tragedy. Please remember them in your prayers as well.

Finally, pray for the parish, the entire Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) and stand in solidarity with them all in their time of loss. If you would like to know more about the Fraternity of St Peter, their history, their spirituality, and their good work in and for the Church - and her mission in this challenging age - visit their web site here.

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