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 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

• 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 :

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri
• Roman Catholic 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]

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]

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

See also

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

References

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