Archdiocese of Kuching

Archidioecesis Kuchingensis

Keuskupan Agung Kuching
St Joseph Cathedral, Kuching
Location
Country Malaysia
TerritoryKuching, Bau, Serian and Sri Aman
Ecclesiastical provinceKuching
Statistics
Area19,173 km2 (7,403 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2021)
812,900
240,575 (38.2%)
Parishes19
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established1976
CathedralSt Joseph's Cathedral in Kuching
Patron saintSaint Joseph
Language
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Metropolitan ArchbishopSimon Peter Poh Hoon Seng
SuffragansDiocese of Miri
Diocese of Sibu
Vicar GeneralWilliam Sabang
Bishops emeritusDato John Ha Tiong Hock
Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting
Website
kuchingcatholic.org
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.[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

  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

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
  • Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa
  • Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC
  • Holy Spirit Church, Lundu
  • Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park
  • Chapel of Mother Mary, Stutong
  • Our Lady Queen of Peace, Sri Aman[6]

Religious communities

Men

Women

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

See also

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

1°33′03″N 110°20′31″E / 1.5508°N 110.3420°E / 1.5508; 110.3420


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