Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching

(Redirected from Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak) Roman Catholic archdiocese in Malaysia

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 km (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
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 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.

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 :

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.

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

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. 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

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)
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.

Churches

St. Joseph's Cathedral, 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, Sg. Rimu, 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
St. Stephen's Church, Bau
- sub-parish of St. Agnes Tsaou's Church, Bau
St. Jude's Church, Bunan Gega
St. Mark's Church, Batu Kawa
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
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
- sub-parish of Mount Hosanna Chapel, Sri Aman
Holy Family Church, Betong
St. Ignatius' Church, Saratok