Views from the Choir Loft

Newly-Ordained Priest Murdered in Phoenix

Jeff Ostrowski · June 12, 2014

HIS MORNING I received a frightful Email from our guest contributor, Fr. Valentine Young, who worked for the Fraternity for many years.

Father Kenneth Walker, a 29-year-old priest — ordained for the FSSP in 2012 — has been murdered. Fr. Joseph Terra, FSSP, who called the police, has been seriously wounded and may not survive.

What a horrendous atrocity! “Touch ye not my anointed.” (Ps 104:15)

* * Video & Story From CNN

* * More Details — (official statement by the FSSP)

Years ago, we attended Mass in Fr. Terra’s Parish (when he was stationed in Dallas). As I’ve said many times on this blog, his parish had the greatest congregational singing I ever heard. In fact, no other parish has even come close (with the possible exception of Atonement in San Antonio). Fr. Terra’s entire congregation sang with both lungs, in Latin, the Asperges Me, the Kyrie, Gloria, and so forth.

We must pray for repose of the soul of Fr. Walker, and that Fr. Terra will be delivered by the Hand of God.

Father Kenneth Walker FSSP was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz on Saturday, 19 May 2012, offering his First Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, in the chapel of Saints Peter and Paul. The sermon was given by Fr. John Berg FSSP, the General Superior of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

UPDATE: Some are claiming Fr. Terra was able to give Fr. Walker Extreme Unction and the Apostolic Pardon. That would make Fr. Terra a modern-day St. Charles Garnier !!!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Hymn for 2 Voices”

Readers who click on this video will see that it starts with verses of the “Pange Lingua” hymn by Saint Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) arranged for two voices. However, there’s a polyphonic refrain (“Tantum Ergo”) for three voices, taken from Kevin Allen’s Motecta Trium Vocum. If your choir is very small, this piece is for you! You can download the PDF score free of charge—and you can also utilize the rehearsal videos for each individual voice—by navigating yourself to #20323.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Holy Name Hymn” (2-Voice Arrangement)

When we post a direct URL link, we frequently get thousands of downloads. But when scrolling is required, very few take the time. I mention this because those who click on this URL link and scroll to the bottom can download—completely free of charge—a clever 2-voice arrangement for a famous hymn to the Most Holy Name of Jesus. In a pinch, it can be nicely sung by one male and one female! It will be of interest to those who seek arrangements for two voices.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of January (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski