Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching

Archdiocese of Kuching Archidioecesis Kuchingensis Keuskupan Agung Kuching
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 [1]
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 Coat of arms of Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng

The Archdiocese of Kuching (Latin : Archidioecesis Kuchingensis) is a Metropolitan Latin archbishopric of the 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

• 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; by the installation of Anthony Denis Galvin, MHM as its first vicar in 1960, and Anthony Lee Kok Hin as its first bishop in 1977).
• 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 :

• Diocese of Miri
• Diocese of Sibu.

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

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

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 ^[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. Michael O'Brien, MHM (1941–2022)
• Rev. Fr. Noel Hanrahan, MHM (1928–2019)
• Rev. Fr. Joachim Pang (1921–2007)
• Rev. Fr. Richard Khoo Choon Phoe (1940–2016)
• Rev. Fr. Dato Lawrence Chua (1936–2021) ^[5]

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 sub-parishes of Carmelite Chapel, Kuching St. Colette's Catholic Centre, Taman Malihah, Kuching Semariang New Township Catholic Centre, Kuching St. Joseph's Church, Sg. Empit, Kota Samarahan and All Saints' Church, PULAPOL 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, 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 Holy Trinity Church, Pichin, Serian St. John Vianney's Church, Krusen, Serian St. Patrick's Church, Marung, Serian St. Philip's Church, Bugu, Serian St. Henry's Church, Resak, Serian St. Peter's Church, Pridan, Serian St. Sylvester I Church, Mantung Birawan, Serian St. Vincent's Church, Mubuk, Serian St. John's Church, Mantung, Serian St. James' Church, Merian Bedup, Serian St. Daniel's Church, Bedup, Serian St. Pio of Pietrelcina Church, Slabi, Serian St. Thomas' Church, Sorak, Serian All Saints' Church, Koran, Serian St. John's Church, Koran Empaneg, Serian St. John Bosco's Church, Sangai Mawang, Serian St. Luke the Evangelist Church, Sangai Empani, Serian Sacred Heart Church, Pulau Piranuk, Serian St. Lawrence's Church, Jenan, Serian St. Martin de Porres Church, Sira, Serian St. Stephen's Church, Bau sub-parishes of St. Agnes Tsaou's Church, Grogo, Bau St. Lawrence Ruiz's Church, Suba Buan, Bau St. Patrick's Church, Krokong, Bau St. Francis of Assisi's Church, Seropak, Bau St. Peter Damian's Church, Seromah, Bau St. Edward's Church, Skio, Bau St. Elizabeth's Church, Sogo, Bau St. Ambrose's Church, Kopit, Bau St. Andrew's Church, Serembu, Bau Holy Trinity Church, Peninjau, Bau St. Thomas More's Church, Kandis Baru, Bau St. Mathias' Church, Rumih, Bau St. Joseph's Church, Opar, Bau Blessed Sacrament Church, Mongag/Bijuray/Pedaun, Bau St. Faustina Kowalska's Church, Ledan Gumbang, Bau St. Sylvester I Church, Tringgus, Bau St. Philip's Church, Skibang, Bau St. Mark's Church, Stass, Bau St. Leo's Church, Serasot, Bau St. Anthony of Padua's Church, Merembeh, Bau St. Thomas the Apostle's Church, Skiat, Bau St. Martha of Bethany's Church, Garung/Karu/Bengoh, Jalan Wira Penrissen, Kuching St. Teresa de Avila Church, Stenggang, Bau St. Jude's Church, Stum Muda, Bau St. John's Church, Singai, Bau St. Peter's Church, Sippau, Singai, Bau St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon Church, Bobak, Bau and St. Martin's Church, Segong, Bau St. Jude's Church, Bunan Gega sub-parishes of St. Leo, Mujat, Serian St. Bernardette, Mongkos, Serian St. Gabriel the Archangel, Terbat Mawang, Serian St. Jacob, Daha Seroban, Serian St. Peter, Gahat Mawang, Serian St. Joseph, Tesu, Serian St. Mark the Evangelist, Kujang Plaman, Serian St. Nicholas, Daha Mawang, Serian St. Andrew, Daha Kisau, Serian St. Matthew the Apostle, Mapu Tantu, Serian 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 St. Luke the Evangelist's Church, Sitang-Petag, Siburan St. Anthony of Padua's Church, Peraya/SMK Padawan, Siburan St. Emily of Vialar Church, Krian, Serian St. Joseph's Church, Gayu, Serian Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa sub-parishe of St. Mark Church, Batu Kawa Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC Holy Cross Church, Tebedu

Holy Spirit Church, Lundu sub-parishes of St. Clement Church, Perian/Senibong, Lundu St. Gregory Church, Selampit/Bitokan, Lundu St. Vincent Church, Stungkor Baru, Lundu St. Louis Church, Raso, Lundu St. George Church, Bokah, Lundu St. Mark Church, Rukam, Lundu St. Felix Church, Biawak, Lundu St. Anthony Church, Pasir Ulu, Biawak, Lundu Holy Trinity Church, Jantan, Biawak, Lundu St. Charles Lwanga Church, Jangkar/Opek/Tanjam, Biawak, Lundu St. Cosmas Church, Pasir Tengah, Biawak, Lundu St. Christina Church, Kendaie, Biawak, Lundu St. Timothy Church, Sebiris, Lundu St. Mary Church, Serayan/Keranji, Lundu St. Boniface Church, Judin, Lundu St. John Church, Sebako, Lundu St. Simon Church, Sebat Dayak, Sematan, Lundu and Good Shepherd Church, Siru Dayak/Pueh, Sematan, 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 sub-parish of St. Anthony, Skrang, Betong St. Ignatius' Church, Saratok sub-parishes of St. Matthew the Apostle, Meruji, Sg. Awik, Saratok St. Peter, Jaong, Ulu Roban, Saratok

^[6]

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

References

1. "The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching - Mass & Service schedules" . Retrieved 29 June 2020.
2. "Pope appoints new head to Malaysian Archdiocese of Kuching". www.archivioradiovaticana.va.
3. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kuch0.htm GCatholic.org
4. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Priests
5. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Priests
6. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Parishes

Sources and external links

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

1°33′03″N110°20′31″E / 1.5508°N 110.3420°E / 1.5508; 110.3420