The Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia has announced burial arrangements for two of its departed priests whose tragic deaths left the nation in deep mourning. This announcement brings to an end months of grief, painful silence, and unanswered questions.
In an official statement issued on May 9, 2026, Most Reverend Dr. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe, Metropolitan Archbishop of Monrovia, confirmed that the Liberian National Police, through the Coroner’s Office, has completed all required investigations, including autopsies, and released the remains of the two priests to the Church for burial.
According to the statement, the remains of Rev. Fr. Alphonsus B. Mombo, Lector at St. Benedict Menni Pre-Major Seminar and Rev. Fr. Roland G. Biah, Parish Priest, St. Anthony Parish had been kept since March 20, 2026, after police requested the archdiocese to suspend funeral proceedings while investigations, including a possible autopsy, were being conducted into circumstances surrounding their deaths.
However, Archbishop Jubwe said the moment remains one of sorrow for the Church, but also a step toward closure for grieving families and the faithful. He expressed gratitude to the Liberia National Police, the Ministry of Justice, and all those involved in ensuring the process was completed.
He also extended sincere appreciation to the families of the deceased priests for their patience, understanding, and cooperation throughout the difficult and emotional period.
To honor the departed priests, funeral rites will begin on Wednesday, May 27, with a candlelight vigil at St. Anthony Parish at 5:00 PM, organized by the Gardnersville Deanery.
Also, on Thursday, May 28, at 3:30 PM, the remains will be removed from Stryker Funeral Home and taken to the Sacred Heart Cathedral on Broad Street as the Office of the Dead will be held at 5:00 PM, followed by the wake service during which all tributes from the Church and the families will be paid.
The final Mass of Resurrection is scheduled for Friday, May 29, at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Cathedral, after which burial will take place at the Queen of Peace Shrine in Virginia.
The archdiocese has also called on institutions, organizations, and individuals wishing to support the funeral arrangements to contact the Vicar General, Very Reverend Ambrose Dayouga Kroma.
Archbishop Jubwe urged priests, religious leaders, and lay faithful to continue praying for the eternal repose of the departed and for strength and consolation for their families and the entire Archdiocese.
For Liberia’s Catholic community, the deaths of the two priests remain a heartbreaking wound, and as funeral bells prepare to toll, many believers continue to mourn the painful loss of two spiritual shepherds gone too soon.
