Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching

Archdiocese of Kuching Archidioecesis Kuchingensis Keuskupan Agung Kuching
File:St Joseph Cathedral Kuching.jpg St Joseph Cathedral, Kuching
Location
Country	Malaysia
Territory	Kuching, Bau, Serian, and Sri Aman,
Ecclesiastical province	Kuching
Statistics
Area	19,173 km2 (7,403 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2021) 812,900 240,575 (38.2%)
Parishes	19
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	1976
Cathedral	St Joseph's Cathedral in Kuching
Patron saint	Saint Joseph
Language	Ecclesiastical Latin Bidayuh language English language Iban language Mandarin language Malay language
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop	Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng
Suffragans	Diocese of Miri Diocese of Sibu
Vicar General	William Sabang
Bishops emeritus	Dato John Ha Tiong Hock Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting
Website
kuchingcatholic.org File:Coat of arms of Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng.svg Coat of arms of Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching (Latin: Archidioecesis Kuchingensis) is a Metropolitan Latin archbishopric of the Roman Catholic Church in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is however remains dependent on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is in St Joseph's Cathedral, in Kuching, named after the spouse of the Virgin Mary, who was the diocese's patron. Former auxiliary bishop Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng was appointed as the third and current Archbishop of Kuching by Pope Francis on 4 March 2017 following the resignation of his predecessor, John Ha Tiong Hock. Erected in 1927 by Pope Pius VI as an Apostolic Prefecture, Kuching was elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese by Pope Paul VI in 1976 with the suffragan dioceses of Sibu and Miri.

History

• It was erected it as the Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak by Pope Pius XI on 5 February 1927, on territory split off from the Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and Borneo.
• It was promoted to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching by Pope Pius XII on 14 February 1952.
• Lost territory on 1959.12.19 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Miri (now its senior suffragan see of separated Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam and Diocese of Miri).
• Pope Paul VI elevated it to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese on 31 May 1976.
• Lost territory on 1986.12.22 to establish the Diocese of Sibu as its second suffragan (by the installation of Dominic Su Haw Chiu as its first bishop).

Ecclesiastical Province

Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own Archbishopric and the following suffragan sees, both daughter dioceses :

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu.

Bishops

File:KAGAPE 2019 (48388517932) (cropped).jpg

Archbishop Simon Poh

The following are the lists of ordinaries (bishops of the diocese) and auxiliary bishops, and their terms of service. They are followed by other priest of this diocese who became bishop.

Apostolic Prefects of Sarawak

1. Edmund Dunn, MHM (1927–1935)
2. Aloysius Hopfgartner, MHM (1935–1949)
3. Jan Vos, MHM (Born in The Netherlands; 1949–1952); elevated to Apostolic Vicar

Apostolic Vicars of Sarawak

1. Jan Vos, MHM (1952–1968)
2. Charles Reiterer, MHM (1968–1974)
3. Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting (1975–1976), elevated to Archbishop

Archbishops of Kuching

1. Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting (1976–2003)
2. Dato John Ha Tiong Hock (2003–2017)
3. Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng (2017–present)

Former Auxiliary Bishops of Kuching

• Dato John Ha Tiong Hock (1998–2003), appointed Archbishop of this diocese
• Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng (2015–2017), appointed Archbishop of this diocese

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• Richard Ng, appointed Bishop of Miri in 2013

Ordained priests

File:Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre of Kuching (2024).jpg

Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre of Kuching.

• Msgr. William Sabang
• Rev. Fr. Adrian Kho
• Rev. Fr. Agustinus Tanudjaja, SJ
• Rev. Fr. Albert Jacobse, MHM
• Rev. Fr. Andre Delimarta, SDB
• Rev. Fr. Arockyaraj Pavulu, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Augustine Jepy
• Rev. Fr. Augustine Radhakanta Singh, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Bernard Jim Bujang
• Rev. Fr. Berchmans Rayar, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Christopher Laden
• Rev. Fr. Clement Abel Anggas
• Rev. Fr. Davie Entalai
• Rev. Fr. Don Don Romero Ramerez, OFM
• Rev. Fr. Eugenio Gocela Maglasang, SDB
• Rev. Fr. Felix Au
• Rev. Fr. Francis Dakun
• Rev. Fr. Galvin Richard Ngumbang
• Rev. Fr. Henry Jimbey
• Rev. Fr. Jerome Juleng
• Rev. Fr. John Chong
• Rev. Fr. John Ekly Direk
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Chai
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Lee Hock Jin, OFM
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Liew
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Ng, SJ
• Rev. Fr. Lazarus Swinie
• Rev. Fr. Leonard Yap
• Rev. Fr. Lucas Ng, CDD
• Rev. Fr. Mark Noel Bunchol
• Rev. Fr. Martin Wong
• Rev. Fr. Nelson Evarinus Sipalan, OFM
• Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ng
• Rev. Fr. Patrick Heng
• Rev. Fr. Paul Herry
• Rev. Fr. Paul Hu Pi Xian, CDD
• Rev. Fr. Paul Ling Keh Yiing
• Rev. Fr. Peter Liston
• Rev. Fr. Pratap Baskey, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Prince Carneelyes Arockiam, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Ramon Borja, SDB
• Rev. Fr. Robert Jissem
• Rev. Fr. Stanley Goh, SJ
• Rev. Fr. Stephen Chin
• Rev. Fr. Stephen Lim
• Rev. Fr. Vincent Chin

Deceased priests

• Rev. Fr. Terence Burke, MHM (1944–2017)
• Rev. Fr. James Meehan, MHM (1933–2018)
• Rev. Fr. Peter Aichner, MHM (1914–1995)
• Rev. Fr. Leopold van Rooyen, MHM (1917–2008)
• Rev. Fr. Joachim Pang (1921–2007)
• Rev. Fr. Richard Khoo Choon Phoe (1940–2016)
• Rev. Fr. Dato Lawrence Chua (1936–2021)
• Rev. Fr. Michael O'Brien, MHM (1941–2022)
• Rev. Fr. Noel Hanrahan, MHM (1928–2019)

Statistics and extent

As per 2021, it pastorally served 240,575 Catholics (38.2% of 812,900 total) on 19,173 km² in 12 parishes with 37 priests (26 diocesan, 11 religious), 82 lay religious (13 brothers, 69 sisters), 5 seminarians. There is a major seminary of St. Peter. There are about 19 parishes and chapels administering outstations around the archdiocese.

Churches

• St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching
• St. Peter's Church, Padungan
  • sub-parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Bintawa, Padungan, Kuching
• St. Teresa's Church, Serian
  • sub-parishes of St. Mark's Church, Triboh, Serian
  • St. Elizabeth's Church, Ampungan, Serian
  • St. Vincent de Paul's Church, Ensebang Bilon, Serian
  • St. John Bosco's Church, Bintawa Lama, Serian
  • St. Mary's Church, Baru Mawang, Serian
  • St. Andrew's Church, Paon, Sg. Rimu, Serian
  • St. Joseph the Worker's Church, Seroban, Serian
  • St. David's Church, Tong Nibong, Serian
  • St. Peter's Church, Lebor, Serian
  • St. Patrick's Church, Tangga, Serian
• St. Stephen's Church, Bau
  • sub-parish of St. Agnes Tsaou's Church, Bau
• St. Jude's Church, Bunan Gega
• St. Mark's Church, Batu Kawa
• St. Ann's Church, Kota Padawan
  • sub-parishes of St. Peter's Church, Simpok, Kota Padawan
  • St. Maximillian Kolbe's Church, Bayur, Kota Padawan
  • St. Michael's Church, Teng Bukap, Kota Padawan
  • St. Mary's Church, Jambu, Kota Padawan
  • Christ the King Church, Tijirak, Kota Padawan
  • St. Joachim's Church, Batu 12, Kota Padawan
  • St. Vincent de Paul Church, Chupak, Kota Padawan
  • St. Francis of Assisi's Church, Bidak, Kota Padawan
  • St. Clare of Assisi's Church, Payang, Kota Padawan
  • St. Agnes' Church, Serumah, Kota Padawan
• Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa
• Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC
• Carmelite Chapel, Kuching
• Holy Cross Church, Tebedu

• Holy Spirit Church, Lundu
• Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park
• Chapel of Mother Mary, Stutong
• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Sri Aman
  • sub-parish of Mount Hosanna Chapel, Sri Aman
• Holy Family Church, Betong
• St. Ignatius' Church, Saratok

• St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching.
  St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching.
• St. Peter's Church, Padungan.
  St. Peter's Church, Padungan.
• Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park.
  Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park.
• Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC.
  Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC.
• Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa.
  Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa.
• St Ann's Church, Kota Padawan/Baruk.
  St Ann's Church, Kota Padawan/Baruk.

Religious communities

Men

• Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD)
• Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Claretians (CMF)
• Discalced Carmelites (OCD)
• Marist Brothers (FMS)
• Saint Joseph's Missionary of Mill Hill / Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM)
• Order of Friars Minor (OFM)
• Society of Saint Francis de Sales / Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
• Society of Jesus (SJ)

Women

• Discalced Carmelites (OCD) (Women's section)
• Sisters of St. Francis of Sarawak (SSFS)

See also

• List of Catholic dioceses in Malaysia
• Roman Catholicism in Malaysia

Sources and external links

• GCatholic.org, with Google map and satellite photo - data for all sections
• Official website
• Catholic-Hierarchy