Roller Coaster

This week started with such promise and joy – Pentecost Sunday, a high point of the liturgical year, was made even more magnificent as we saw from afar that our pilgrims in Rome were celebrating the day in St. Peter’s with the Pope.

Then there was the anticipation of and finally the homecoming of our Laurent, late Tuesday night.

We began seeing a few of her photos on Wednesday, and had a lovely dinner with the whole family around the table on Wednesday evening, listening to her relate some of the memorable events of her journey.

But Thursday morning we awakened early to the most horrible news, news that has been filling the air waves here in Phoenix, and even reaching around the globe ever since.  Wednesday night, the rectory of Mater Misericordiae Mission in downtown Phoenix was broken into by one or more assailants. The two priests who reside there were attacked, and Father Kenneth Walker was shot, while Father Joseph Terra was brutally beaten. The older priest, Fr. Terra, in an act of the extraordinary heroism, managed in the midst of his own critical injuries, to pray last rites for his brother priest while he awaited emergency personnel.

Local news coverage here, here,  here, and here.

The staff at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral went into overdrive to pull together a prayer service for Thursday evening for any and all throughout the diocese to attend.  There was an outpouring of love and grief as hundreds filled the Cathedral, lifting their voices and hearts to heaven in prayer and the Gregorian chant that is one of the central beauties of Latin liturgy, celebrated so faithfully by Fr. Terra and Fr. Walker, as members of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).

 Coverage of the prayer vigil

(photos from the Diocese of Phoenix)

In a time of such confusion and devastation, our shepherds, though surely grieving themselves, directed our gaze toward the only answer to sin and tragedy – Jesus Christ.  In the words of St. Peter, recorded in John’s Gospel, 6:68-69, “68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.””  As we prayed together the prayers of the church, Fr. Lankeit led with the strength we have come to rely on… until his voice faltered and he was overcome. In that moment, with one voice, the throngs lifted up their prayers with such resounding and thundrous unity as I have never heard, continuing in unison to the end of the rosary.  It was profound and incredibly moving to pray together in that way, with so great a family.

Much has been and will continue to be written about Father Kenneth Walker. I will leave you with this link to a very special post entitled

A Priest Forever,

with several wonderful photos of this faithful and devout young man, and include here the video you can also find in that post.