Father Robert D. Voss, SJ, died Dec. 9 in St. Louis. He was 79 years old, a Jesuit for 61 years and a priest for 48 years. A private funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 17 at Jesuit Hall in St. Louis.
Robert Voss was born in Denver on June 18, 1941. He and his twin brother, Raymond, were adopted as toddlers by Fred A. and Charlotte Kenyon Voss. After graduating from Regis Jesuit High School in Denver, he entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) at St. Stanislaus Seminary on Aug. 21, 1959. He pronounced first vows on Aug. 22, 1961 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1972. He pronounced his final vows on Sept. 8, 1977, in the church of Santiago in Yoro, Honduras.
As a priest, Father Voss worked exclusively in the Yoro, Honduras, mission. He remained there until 2017, when his failing health demanded he move to the Jesuit community in St. Louis. He served primarily in El Progreso, as a mission priest, pastor of the parish and sometimes minister of the Jesuit community.
Father Voss felt a special connection to people on the margins, and he passionately loved the people of Honduras with whom he lived and worked for 43 years. He loved the poor, and had a special regard for prisoners, the poorest of the poor. He understood and supported initiatives that flowed from liberation theology; but he also respected the more traditional piety of simple people.
Father Voss earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a master’s degree in Spanish, and a licentiate in philosophy, all from Saint Louis University. He also earned a master of divinity from Woodstock College.
Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.
