Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri explained

Country:Malaysia
Miri
Jurisdiction:Diocese
Latin:Dioecesis Miriensis
Metropolitan:Kuching
Province:Kuching
Patron:Saint Joseph
Parishes:15
Bishop:Richard Ng
Vicar General:Francis Kuleh Usat
Emeritus Bishops:Anthony Lee Kok Hin
Cathedral:St Joseph's Cathedral, Miri
Denomination:Catholic Church
Sui Iuris Church:Latin Church
Rite:Roman Rite
Area Km2:66,135
Population:877,492
Population As Of:2021
Catholics:113,382

The Diocese of Miri (Lat: Dioecesis Mirensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Malaysia. Situated northeast of the Archdiocese of Kuching, of which it is a suffragan diocese. St. Joseph's Cathedral in Miri serves as both the diocesan cathedral and the seat of bishop.

In 1959, when the Vicariate was established, Anthony Denis Galvin, a Mill Hill priest, was appointed as the first Apostolic Vicar until his death in 1976. Anthony Lee Kok Hin, a local priest from Miri, was appointed as the second Apostolic Vicar and subsequently become the first bishop of Miri in 1977 when Pope Paul VI elevates the Vicariate into full diocese status. In 2013, following his resignation, Pope Francis granted Rev. Fr. Richard Ng, a Kuching-born priest, as his successor and he was installed as the second bishop of this diocese in 2014.

History

Originally erected in 1959, as the Apostolic Vicariate of Miri, the diocese was formed from the Vicariate of Kuching.

The present Catholic community in the country finds its roots in the ministry of the Missionary Society of St. Joseph (Mill Hill Missionaries) They started schools all throughout Miri, starting with Good Shepherd School, at Claude Town (or present day Marudi).

After the Vicariate of Miri was established and, in the following year, Father Anthony D. Galvin (who was a Mill Hill Father himself) was consecrated the first bishop of the Miri Vicariate. He was ordained by Pope John XXIII in Rome on 5 May 1960.

Approximately 6 years later, on 2 January 1966, Father Anthony Lee (who was the first priest from Miri at that time) was ordained.

Pope Paul VI then established a new Church province in East Malaysia on 31 May 1976, and Miri Vicariate was raised to the level of a Diocese.

On 20 May 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed Father Anthony Lee as the first bishop of the Diocese of Miri, and he was ordained bishop in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Miri, on 20 Nov and the Diocese of Miri was officially proclaimed on the same day. The diocese is currently a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kuching.On 11 November 1997, it lost its territory to the North of it (Brunei), to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei. (Currently the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei)

In accordance with the Code of Canon Law, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Anthony Lee Kok Hin on 30 October 2013 and appointed Father Richard Ng from the Archdiocese of Kuching to succeed him. Bishop Richard Ng was ordained and installed the third Bishop of the Diocese on 25 January 2014, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Ordinaries

Priests

Parishes

See also