The Most Reverend Anthony R. F. Borwah, Bishop of Gbarnga, formally inaugurated the Fr. Paul Voisard Memorial African Mission Fund in the United States, marking a historic milestone in the enduring missionary partnership between Africa and its Diaspora on March 1, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
The solemn ceremony, held at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Pickerington, Ohio, brought together clergy, lay faithful, and members of the Liberian community in a spirit of prayer and hope for renewed commitment to the Church’s mission on the African continent. During the inauguration, Bishop Borwah inducted a distinguished team of Liberian leaders to guide the newly established Fund:
• Mr. Emmanuel Massaquoi, Chairman of the Board of Directors
• Mr. S. Cooper Davay, Executive Director
• Mr. Larmie Molubah, Deputy Executive Director for Administration
• Mr. Mgenleh Dorliae, Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Projects
• Mr. Julius S. Gondoun, Deputy Executive Director for Education and Manpower Development
In his remarks, Bishop Borwah begin by expressing his deep gratitude to Most Rev. Earl Fernandes, the Bishop of Columbus the warm welcome accorded to him and Fr. Boniface Tye by the Columbus Diocese and the Catholic Men’s Conference. He thank Liberians and other Africans in the Diaspora for their steadfast support of families and communities back home. He acknowledged that remittances remain a vital lifeline for countless households across Africa but emphasized that true missionary partnership must extend beyond financial aid to embrace spiritual and pastoral solidarity.
“The Church must continue to be the light of Christ in places where hardship persists,” Bishop Borwah affirmed, urging the new leadership team to advance the mission of Christ and His Church through service to the poor, faith formation, and education, continuing the pastoral vision of the late Fr. Paul Voisard.
Commitment to Rebuilding and Renewal
Mr. S. Cooper Davay, Executive Director of the Fund, thanked Bishop Borwah and Fr. Boniface Tye for their presence and encouragement. He noted that the Fund honors not only the memory of a beloved missionary but also responds concretely to Liberia’s ongoing need for reconstruction and development.
It is the duty of every Liberian to be involved, however possible, in rebuilding our nation,” Mr. Davay said.
He reported that the Fund currently sponsors more than twenty students in Liberia through scholarship programs, reflecting Fr. Voisard’s lifelong commitment to education and community empowerment.
Continuing the Mission of Love
The Fr. Paul Voisard Memorial African Mission Fund commemorates the life and witness of Fr. Paul Voisard, a Swiss-born missionary priest of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the “White Fathers.” For over four decades, Fr. Voisard devoted his priesthood to serving the people of Guinea and Liberia, embodying the Gospel call to serve, teach, and uplift those in need.
Born in 1914 in Miecourt, Switzerland, to humble miller parents, Fr. Voisard discerned his vocation early, inspired by parish priests who recognized his compassion and spiritual depth. Ordained during the dark years of World War II, his missionary journey to Guinea was delayed by global conflict. At last, in 1946, he set foot in West Africa, where he would find not merely an assignment but a lifelong home.
Serving in Yalenzou, Nzérékoré, and later Lola, Fr. Voisard immersed himself in the lives of the people, learning their languages, sharing their struggles, and championing education. Remembered as joyful and devoted, he inspired generations of students who later became educators, civic leaders, and peacemakers.
When political upheaval forced foreign missionaries to leave Guinea in the late 1960s, Fr. Voisard began anew in Liberia, where he helped establish the parish of Ganta within the Diocese of Gbarnga. There, he continued to serve the tribal people, building vibrant Christian communities in remote areas with unwavering faith and courage.
Even as his health declined and blindness set in, Fr. Voisard’s missionary zeal never dimmed. He narrowly survived the violence of Liberia’s civil war, later returning to Switzerland in gratitude and peace. In 1999, at age 84, he was laid to rest among his missionary confrères in Tassy, France.
A Living Legacy of Faith
The inauguration of the Fr. Paul Voisard Memorial African Mission Fund stands as a living continuation of his legacy, and as a testament to all missionaries who have given their lives to the Church in Africa. Through scholarships, parish development, and humanitarian outreach, the Fund ensures that the Gospel Fr. Voisard proclaimed continues to be lived through tangible acts of charity and faith.
In a world often marked by division and uncertainty, this new initiative reflects the enduring vitality of the Church’s missionary heart. It affirms that the sacrifices of those who labored in Africa will not be forgotten, and that their witness continues to bear fruit.
As Bishop Borwah reminded those gathered, “The mission of Christ is never the work of one generation alone, it is entrusted anew to the faithful of every era.”
Through prayer, generosity, and service, the Fr. Paul Voisard Memorial African Mission Fund invites Catholics everywhere to continue walking in the footsteps of a humble missionary priest, bringing light to classrooms and chapels, hope to struggling communities, and faith to hearts yearning for Christ.
In honoring Fr. Voisard’s memory, the Church renews her promise that the Gospel will remain alive and radiant in Africa.
One act of service, one educated child, and one faithful heart at a time.