Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching explained

Jurisdiction:	Archdiocese
Kuching
Latin:	Archidioecesis Kuchingensis
Local:	Keuskupan Agung Kuching
Country:	Malaysia
Territory:	Kuching, Bau, Serian, and Sri Aman,
Province:	Kuching
Area Km2:	19,173
Population:	812,900
Population As Of:	2021
Catholics:	240,575
Catholics Percent:	38.2
Parishes:	19
Denomination:	Catholic Church
Sui Iuris Church:	Latin Church
Rite:	Roman Rite
Established:	1976
Cathedral:	St Joseph's Cathedral in Kuching
Patron:	Saint Joseph
Metro Archbishop:	Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng
Suffragans:	Diocese of Miri Diocese of Sibu
Vicar General:	William Sabang
Emeritus Bishops:	Dato John Ha Tiong Hock Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting

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.^[1]

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

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.^[2]

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

• 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. 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^[3]

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)^[4]
• 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's Church, Bayur
• St. Michael's Church, Teng Bukap
• St. Mary's Church, Jambu
• Christ the King Church, Tijirak
• St. Joachim's Church, Batu 12
• St. Vincent de Paul Church, Chupak
• 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
• Mount Hosanna Chapel, Sri Aman
• Holy Family Church, Betong
• St. Ignatius' Church, Saratok

^[5]

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
  • Catholic-Hierarchy

1.5508°N 110.342°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pope appoints new head to Malaysian Archdiocese of Kuching. www.archivioradiovaticana.va.
2. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kuch0.htm GCatholic.org
3. http://kuchingcatholic.org/directories/priests/ The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Priests
4. http://kuchingcatholic.org/directories/priests/ The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Priests
5. https://kuchingcatholic.org/directories/parishes/ The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Parishes