Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching

Archdiocese of Kuching Archidioecesis Kuchingensis Keuskupan Agung Kuching 古晋总教区
St Joseph Cathedral, Kuching
Coat of arms
Location
Country	Malaysia
Territory	Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Bau, Serian, Simunjan, Sri Aman, Padawan, Lundu, Betong, Lubok Antu and Saratok
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 Kadazan language Dusun language Murut language
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Metropolitan Archbishop	Dato Dr. Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng
Suffragans	Diocese of Miri Diocese of Sibu
Vicar General	William Sabang, Vicar general Patrick Heng, Chancellor
Bishops emeritus	Dato John Ha Tiong Hock Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting
Website
kuchingcatholic.org

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.

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.

Apostolic Prefects of Sarawak

No.	Portrait	Name	From	Until
1		Edmund Dunn, MHM (?)	1927	1935
2		Aloysius Hopfgartner, MHM (?)	1935	1949
3		Jan Vos, MHM (?)	1949	1952

Apostolic Vicars of Sarawak

No.	Portrait	Name	From	Until
1		Jan Vos, MHM (?)	1952	1968
2		Charles Reiterer, MHM (?)	1968	1974
3		Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting (born 1928)	1975	1976

Archbishops of Kuching

No.	Portrait	Name	From	Until
1		Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting (born 1928)	1976	June 2003 (Resigned)
2		Dato John Ha Tiong Hock (born 1947)	1998	4 March 2017 (Resigned)
3		Dato Dr. Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng (born 1963)	4 March 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 (Vicar general)
• Rev. Fr. Patrick Heng (Chancellor)
• Deacon Dannie Luis Romanus
• Rev. Fr. Adrian Kho
• Rev. Fr. Agustinus Tanudjaja, SJ (Jesuit missionary from Indonesia)
• Rev. Fr. Albert Jacobse, MHM (Mill Hill missionary from the Netherlands)
• Rev. Fr. Andre Delimarta, SDB (Salesian missionary from Indonesia)
• Rev. Fr. Arockyaraj Pavulu, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Augustine Jepy
• Rev. Fr. Augustine Radhakanta Singh, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Bernard Jim Bujang
• Rev. Fr. Berchmans Rayar, CMF (Claretian missionary from India)
• Rev. Fr. Christopher Laden
• Rev. Fr. Clement Abel Anggas (Outstationed from Diocese of Keningau)
• Rev. Fr. Davie Entalai
• Rev. Fr. Don Don Romero Ramerez, OFM (Outstationed from Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu)
• Rev. Fr. Eugenio (Eugene) Gocela Maglasang, SDB (Salesian missionary from the Philippines)
• 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 Lee Hock Jin, OFM (Outstationed from Diocese of Sibu and Diocese of Malacca-Johor)
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Liew
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Ng, SJ
• Rev. Fr. Lazarus Swinie
• Rev. Fr. Leonard Yap
• Rev. Fr. Lucas Ng, CDD (Outstationed from Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur)
• Rev. Fr. Mark Noel Bunchol
• Rev. Fr. Martin Wong
• Rev. Fr. Nelson Evarinus Sipalan, OFM (Outstationed from Diocese of Keningau)
• Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ng
• Rev. Fr. Paul Herry
• Rev. Fr. Paul Hu Pi Xian, CDD (Congregation missionary from China)
• Rev. Fr. Paul Ling Keh Yiing (Outstationed from Diocese of Sibu)
• Rev. Fr. Peter Liston
• 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. Robert Jissem
• Rev. Fr. Stanley Goh, SJ (Jesuit missionary from Singapore)
• 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. 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)

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
  • All Saints' Church, PULAPOL Kuching and
  • Mother Mary Chapel, Stutong, 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 Sacred Heart Church, Tebakang, Serian
  • St. Mark's Church, Triboh, Serian
  • St. Elizabeth's Church, Ampungan, 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. Andrew's Church, Ensebang Kuari, Serian
  • St. Vincent de Paul Church, Ensebang Padang Bilon, Serian
  • St. Bonaventure's Church, Meboi/Merbau, Serian
  • St. Lawrence's Church, Kpg. Sg. Engkabang, Serian
  • St. Dominic's Church, Menyang A, Serian
  • St. Patrick's Church, Krangan, Serian
  • St. Rose of Lima's Church, Antayan Keropok, Serian
  • St. Flora's Church, Krait, Serian
  • St. Charles' Church, Rasau, Serian and
  • St. Matthew the Apostle Church, Sebangkui, 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 Holy Cross, Tebedu, Serian
  • 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
  • St. Patrick's Church, Massan, Siburan
  • St. Catherine's Church, Bratan, Siburan
  • Holy Family Church, Punau, Siburan
  • St. Matthew's Church, Giam/Benuk, Siburan
  • St. Martin's Church, Nyiru Grait/Git, Siburan and
  • St. Margaret's Church, Kpg. Betong, Landeh, Siburan
• Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa
  • sub-parish of St. Mark Church, Batu Kawa
• Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC

• 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
• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Sri Aman
  • sub-parishes of Mount Hosanna Chapel, Sri Aman
  • Holy Family Church, Betong and
  • St. Anthony Church, Skrang, Betong
• St. Ignatius' Church, Saratok
  • sub-parishes of St. Matthew the Apostle, Meruji, Sg. Awik, Saratok and
  • St. Peter, Jaong, Ulu Roban, Saratok

• 
  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 / 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 Stephen, Bau
• SK St Philip, Bugu, Serian
• SK St Dominic, Pichin, Serian
• SK St Henry, Slabi, Serian
• SK St Patrick, Tangga, Serian
• SK St Peter, Simpok, Kota Padawan

Secondary

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

See also

• List of Catholic dioceses in Malaysia
• Roman Catholicism in Malaysia

Sources and external links

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