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
St Joseph Cathedral, Kuching
Location
Country Malaysia
Ecclesiastical provinceKuching
Statistics
Area19,173 km2 (7,403 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2013)
1,199,000
188,725 (15.7%)
Parishes18
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established1976
CathedralSt Joseph's Cathedral in Kuching
Language
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Metropolitan ArchbishopSimon Peter Poh Hoon Seng
SuffragansDiocese of Miri
Diocese of Sibu
Vicar GeneralWilliam Sabang
Bishops emeritusJohn Ha Tiong Hock, Peter Chung Hoan Ting Archbishop Emeritus (1976-2003)
Website
kuchingcatholic.org

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]

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).
  • 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.

Ecclesiastical Province

Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own Archbishopric and the following suffragan sees, both daughter dioceses :

Ordinaries of Kuching

(all Latin Church; initially missionary members of a Latin Congregation) [3]

Apostolic Prefects of Sarawak
  • Edmondo Dunn, Mill Hill Missionaries (M.H.M.) (1927.02.05 – death 1935), previously Apostolic Prefect of Labuan and Borneo (Malaysia) (1897.05.04 – 1927.02.05)
  • Luigi Hopfgartner, M.H.M. (1935.11.08 – death 1949)
  • Jan Vos, M.H.M. (born Netherlands) (1949.11.18 – 1952.02.14 see below)
Apostolic Vicars of Sarawak
  • Jan Vos, M.H.M. (see above 1952.02.14 - retired 1968), Titular Bishop of Cnidus (1952.02.14 – death 1973.06.29)
  • Karl Reiterer, M.H.M. (1968.02.09 – death 1974.12.30), Titular Bishop of Sidyma (1967.02.09 – 1974.12.30), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kuching (1967.02.09 – 1968.02.09)
  • Peter Chung Hoan Ting (1975 – 1976.05.31 see below), Titular Bishop of Asolo (1970.09.01 – 1976.05.31); previously Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) (1970.09.01 – 1972), succeeded as Vicar Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu (1972 – 1975)
Metropolitan Archbishops of Kuching
  • Peter Chung Hoan Ting (鍾萬庭) (see above 1976.05.31 – retired 2003.06.21), also President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (1976 – 1979 and 1994 – 2000)
  • John Ha Tiong Hock (2003.06.21 – retired 4 March 2017), also President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (2012.08 – 1 January 2017); previously Titular Bishop of Cabapium (1998.01.17 – 2003.06.21) as Auxiliary Bishop of Kuching (1998.01.17 – 2003.06.21)
  • Simon Poh Hoon Seng (傅雲生) (4 March 2017 – ...), succeeding as previous Auxiliary Bishop of Kuching (2015.07.09 – 2017.03.04) and Titular Bishop of Sfasferia (2015.07.09 – 2017.03.04).

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. It also has a Major seminary of St. Peter.

There are about 19 parishes and chapels administering many outstations around the archdiocese.

In Kuching city
  • St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching
  • Carmelite Chapel, Kuching
  • St. Mark's Church, Batu Kawa, Kuching
  • Chapel of Mother Mary, Stutong, Kuching
  • St. Peter's Church, Padungan, Kuching
  • Chapel of Our Lady Star of The Sea, Bintawa, Kuching
  • Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park, Kuching
  • Blessed Sacrament Church, Stampin, Kuching
  • Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa, Kuching
  • St. Ann's Church, Kota Padawan, Kuching
Elsewhere
  • St. Stephen's Church, Bau
  • Holy Spirit Church, Lundu
  • St. Theresa's Church, Serian
  • St. Jude's Church, Bunan Gega, Serian
  • Church of Holy Cross, Tebedu
  • Church of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, Sri Aman
  • Holy Family Church, Betong
  • Mount Hosanna Chapel, Sri Aman

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

References
  1. "The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching - Mass & Service schedules". Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  2. http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/04/pope_appoints_new_head_to_malaysian_archdiocese_of_kuching/1296628
  3. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kuch0.htm GCatholic.org


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