Archdiocese of Kuching

The Archdiocese of Kuching (Latin: Archidioecesis Kuchingensis; Malay: Keuskupan Agung Kuching; Mandarin: 古晋总教区) is a Metropolitan Latin archbishopric of the Catholic Church in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, covering the western part of the state, up from Lundu to Saratok. 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 the city centre, 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 XI as an Apostolic Prefecture, Kuching was elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese by Pope Paul VI in 1976 with the suffragan dioceses of Sibu and Miri, and it was first led by Peter Chung Hoan Ting.

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

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

Apostolic Vicars of Sarawak

Archbishops of Kuching

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

Clergy

Vicar General

• The Very Rev. Msgr. William Sabang

Diocesan Chancellor

• Rev. Fr. Patrick Heng

Diocesan Deacons

• Deacon Addie Frank Lingge

Diocesan Seminarians

• Seminarian Boniface Chang

Diocesan Clergies

• Rev. Fr. Abel Madisang (Outstationed from Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu)
• Rev. Fr. Adrian Kho
• Rev. Fr. Augustine Jepy
• Rev. Fr. Bernard Jim Bujang
• Rev. Fr. Casimir Henrry Umar
• Rev. Fr. Christopher Laden
• Rev. Fr. Dannie Luis Romanus
• Rev. Fr. Davie Entalai
• Rev. Fr. Felix Au
• Rev. Fr. Francis Dakun (Outstationed from Diocese of Keningau)
• 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 Liew
• Rev. Fr. Lazarus Swinie
• Rev. Fr. Leonard Yap
• Rev. Fr. Mark Noel Bunchol
• Rev. Fr. Martin Wong
• Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ng
• Rev. Fr. Paul Herry
• Rev. Fr. Paul Ling Keh Yiing (Outstationed from Diocese of Sibu)
• Rev. Fr. Peter Liston
• Rev. Fr. Robert Jissem
• Rev. Fr. Stephen Chin
• Rev. Fr. Stephen Lim
• Rev. Fr. Vincent Chin Chu Yang^[3]

Religious Clergies

• Rev. Fr. Don Don Romero Ramerez, OFM (Outstationed from Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu)
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Lee Hock Jin, OFM (Outstationed from Diocese of Sibu)
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Ng, SJ
• Rev. Fr. Lucas Ng, CDD (Outstationed from Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur)
• Rev. Fr. Nelson Evarinus Sipalan, OFM (Outstationed from Diocese of Keningau)

Foreign Clergies

• Rev. Fr. Agustinus Tanudjaja, SJ (Jesuit missionary from Indonesia)
• Rev. Fr. Albert Jacobse, MHM (Mill Hill missionary from the Netherlands)
• Rev. Fr. Aloysius Dirgahayu Bayu, CDD (CDD missionary from Indonesia)
• Rev. Fr. Andre Delimarta, SDB (Salesian missionary from Indonesia)
• Rev. Fr. Arockyaraj Pavulu, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Augustine Radhakanta Singh, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Berchmans Rayar, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Delphin Kahemba Ndungu, SDB (Salesian missionary from the Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Rev. Fr. Eugenio (Eugene) Gocela Maglasang, SDB (Salesian missionary from the Philippines)
• Rev. Fr. Paul Hu Pi Xian, CDD (CDD missionary from China)
• Rev. Fr. Pratap Baskey, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Prince Carneelyes Arockiam, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Ramon Borja, SDB (Salesian missionary from the Philippines)
• Rev. Fr. Stanley Goh, SJ (Jesuit missionary from Singapore)

Deceased Clergies

• 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)
• Rev. Fr. Peter Ng Kan Lim (1941–2026)^[4]

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

^[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 / Franciscans (OFM)
• Society of Saint Francis de Sales / Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
• Society of Jesus / Jesuits (SJ)

Women

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

Missionary schools

Primary

• SK St Teresa, Kuching
• SK Sacred Heart, Semeba, Batu Kitang, Kuching
• SK St Stephen, Bau
• SK St Jude, Bunan Gega, Serian
• SK St Philip, Bugu, Serian
• SK St Dominic, Pichin, Serian
• SK St Henry, Slabi, Serian
• SK St Patrick, Tangga, Serian
• SK St John, Mantung, Serian
• SK St Michael, Mongkos, Serian
• SK St Norbert, Paon Gahat, Serian
• SK St Anthony, Kawan, Serian
• SK St Peter, Simpok, Kota Padawan
• SK St Elizabeth, Tijirak, Siburan
• SK St Francis Xavier, Seratau, Siburan
• SK St Teresa, Stenggang, Bau
• SK St John, Singai, Bau
• SK St Patrick, Krokong, Bau

Secondary

• SMK St Joseph, Kuching
• St Joseph Private Secondary School, Kuching
• SMK St Teresa, Kuching

Sources and external links

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

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