Roman Catholic archdiocese in Malaysia
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 .
[2]
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
Ecclesiastical Province
Its
ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own Archbishopric and the following
suffragan sees , both daughter dioceses :
Bishops
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.
[3]
Apostolic Prefects of Sarawak
Edmund Dunn,
MHM (1927–1935)
Aloysius Hopfgartner,
MHM (1935–1949)
Jan Vos,
MHM (Born in
The Netherlands ; 1949–1952); elevated to Apostolic Vicar
Apostolic Vicars of Sarawak
Jan Vos,
MHM (1952–1968)
Charles Reiterer,
MHM (1968–1974)
Dato' Sri
Peter Chung Hoan Ting (1975–1976), elevated to
Archbishop
Archbishops of Kuching
Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting (1976–2003)
Dato
John Ha Tiong Hock (2003–2017)
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
Ordained priests
Msgr. William Sabang
Rev. Fr. Adrian Kho
Rev. Fr. Albert Jacobse,
MHM
Rev. Fr. Andre Delimarta,
SDB
Rev. Fr. Arockyaraj Pavulu,
CMF
Rev. Fr. Augustine Jepy
Rev. Fr. Bernard Jim Bujang
Rev. Fr. Berchmans Rayar, CMF
Rev. Fr. Christopher Laden
Rev. Fr. David Au,
OFM
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, OFM
Rev. Fr. Joseph Liew
Rev. Fr. Joseph Ng,
SJ
Rev. Fr. Larry Tan Cheong Kee, 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. 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
[4]
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)
[5]
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.
Parishes
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching
St. Peter's Church, Padungan
St. Ann's Church, Kota Padawan
St Teresa's Church, Serian
St. Stephen's Church, Bau
St. Jude's Church, Bunan Gega
St. Mark's Church, Batu Kawa
St. Peter's Church, Simpok
St. Maximillian Kolbe, Bayur
St. Michael's Church, Teng Bukap
Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa
Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC
Carmelite Chapel
Holy Cross Church, Tebedu
Holy Spirit Church, Lundu
Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park
Chapel of Mother Mary, Stutong
Our Lady Queen of Peace, Sri Aman
Mount Hosanna Chapel, Sri Aman
Holy Family Church, Betong
St, Ignatius Church, Saratok
[6]
Religious communities
Men
Women
Discalced Carmelites (OCD) (Women's section)
Sisters of St. Francis of Sarawak (SSFS)
See also
References
Sources and external links
1°33′03″N 110°20′31″E / 1.5508°N 110.3420°E / 1.5508; 110.3420