Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching (Latin: Archidioecesis Kuchingensis) is a Metropolitan Latin archbishopric of the Roman Catholic Church in Sarawak, a Malaysian state on Borneo, however remains dependent on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Archdiocese of Kuching Archidioecesis Kuchingensis Keuskupan Agung Kuching | |
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![]() St Joseph Cathedral, Kuching | |
Location | |
Country | ![]() |
Ecclesiastical province | Kuching |
Statistics | |
Area | 19,173 km2 (7,403 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2013) 1,199,000 188,725 (15.7%) |
Parishes | 18 |
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 | |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Metropolitan Archbishop | Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng |
Suffragans | Richard Ng (Miri) Joseph Hii Teck Kwong (Sibu) |
Vicar General | William Sabang |
Bishops emeritus | Dato John Ha Tiong Hock Dato' Sri Peter Chung Hoan Ting |
Website | |
kuchingcatholic |
Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is in St Joseph's Cathedral, in Kuching, Sarawak.
Former auxiliary bishop Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng was appointed Archbishop of Kuching by Pope Francis on 4 March 2017 following John Ha Tiong Hock's resignation.[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 :
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.[3]
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 (Born in The Netherlands; 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
Deacon Davie Entalai
Deacon Henry Jimbey
Msgr. William Sabang
Rev. Fr. Adrian Kho
Rev. Fr. Albert Jacobse, MHM
Rev. Fr. Alvin Ng, SJ
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. Felix Au
Rev. Fr. Don Don Romero Ramerez, OFM
Rev. Fr. Galvin Richard Ngumbang
Rev. Fr. Jerome Juleng
Rev. Fr. John Chong
Rev. Fr. Lazarus Swinie
Rev. Fr. John Ekly Direk
Rev. Fr. Joseph Chai
Rev. Fr. Joseph Liew
Rev. Fr. Joseph Ng, SJ
Rev. Fr. Larry Tan Cheong Kee, SJ
Rev. Fr. Leonard Yap
Rev. Fr. Lucas Ng, CDD
Rev. Fr. Martin Wong
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ng
Rev. Fr. Patrick Heng
Rev. Fr. Paul Herry
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. Stephen Chin
Rev. Fr. Stephen Lim
Rev. Fr. Vincent Chin
Rev. Fr. Cruzender Alex, OFM
Rev. Fr. Mark Noel Bunchol
Rev. Fr. Stanley Goh, SJ
Rev. Fr. Aiden Peter, OFM
Rev. Fr. Eugenio Gocela Maglasang, SDB[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]
Statistics and extent
As per 2014, it pastorally served 192,569 Catholics (15.8% of 1,216,000 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. They are:
- St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching (Rector:
Abp. Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng)
- St. Peter's Church, Padungan (Rector:
Rev. Fr. Vincent Chin)
- St. Ann's Church, Kota Padawan (Rectors:
Friars Don Don Romero Ramerez, OFM and
David Au, OFM)
- St. Theresa's Church, Serian (Rectors:
Rev. Frs. Leonard Yap,
Arockyaraj Pavulu, CMF, Pratap Baskey, CMF and
Robert Jissem)
- St. Stephen's Church, Bau (Rectors:
Rev. Frs. Peter Liston, Paul Herry and Augustine Jepy)
- St. Jude's Church, Bunan Gega (Rectors:
Rev. Frs. Berchmans Rayar, CMF, Prince Arockiam, CMF and
John Direk)
- Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa (Rectors:
Rev. Frs. Felix Au, Lucas Ng, CDD and Stephen Chin)
- Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC (Rector:
Rev. Fr. Patrick Heng)
- Holy Spirit Church, Lundu (Rectors:
Rev. Frs. Adrian Kho and Christopher Laden)
- Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park (Rectors:
Rev. Frs. Joseph Liew and
Eugenio G. Maglasang, SDB)
- Chapel of Our Mother Mary, Stutong (Rectors:
Msgr. William Sabang and Rev. Fr. Martin Wong)
- Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Sri Aman (includes Mount Hosanna Chapel, which was under its administration; Rectors:
Rev. Frs. Jerome Juleng and Joseph Chai)
References
- "The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching - Mass & Service schedules". Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- "Pope appoints new head to Malaysian Archdiocese of Kuching". www.archivioradiovaticana.va.
- http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kuch0.htm GCatholic.org
- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Priests
- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching | Priests