Episcopal Press and News

SUDAN: Former Archbishop Joseph Marona dies at 68

Episcopal News Service. September 21, 2009 [092109-04]

ENS staff

The Rt. Rev Joseph Marona, former archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, died on September 18 at a relative's home in Khartoum after a long battle with heart disease. He was 68.

Marona was elected as third archbishop of ECS in 2000 for a 10-year term after having served a short time as dean of the province. He decided to retire as archbishop two years early on December 31, 2007 for health reasons. He was succeeded by Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, who was consecrated in Juba in April 2008.

Born in 1941, Marona was ordained deacon in 1981, priest in 1982 and consecrated as bishop in 1984. He first served as an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Yambio and later as bishop of the Diocese of Maridi. He served as chairman of New Sudan Council of Churches from 1997-1999.

In 1996, Marona was awarded a Certificate of Recognition of Services and in September 2001 he received an honorary doctorate from the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in theology from Freelandia Bible College and Seminary in Broadway, Virginia.

Marona returned to Maridi in his retirement, but paid frequent visits to Khartoum for health reasons.

Marona's body will be taken to All Saints' Cathedral, Khartoum, where it will lie in state on September 23. It will then be flown to Maridi on September 24 to be seen by mourners in his home town, and on to Juba to lie in state in All Saints' Cathedral.

The burial service will be held on the morning of September 25 at All Saints' Cathedral. Marona will be laid to rest behind the cathedral alongside his predecessors.