Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei

The earliest mission to Brunei was conducted by Spanish Franciscan priests in 1587,[1] namely Francesco de Santa Maria and Miguel Juan de Plasencia.[2] These Spanish missionaries who were residing in the Philippines came to Brunei before they baptised the Kadazans in Sabah. The roots in the ministry then continued by Missionary Society of St. Joseph (Mill Hill Missionaries). Throughout the years, the local Church was administered by various ecclesiastical jurisdictions centred in Labuan, Jesselton, Kuching and Miri, cities in neighbouring Malaysia.

The earliest record on the vicariate territory dates to 1885, when Brunei was included in the Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Borneo, and formally included in 1927.[3] Until 1936, when a church was established in Kuala Belait, the vicariate primarily was an outstation of Our Blessed Sacrament Parish in Labuan.[4] On 14 February 1952, the Holy See carved out the territory of the current vicariate from that of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton, then transferred the territory to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching.[5] The separation of Bruneian territory formerly under the Diocese of Miri-Brunei (now simply known as the Diocese of Miri) created a distinct Bruneian church. This territory was designated as an apostolic prefecture in November 1997, headed by Monsignor Cornelius Sim, at the time the Vicar General of Miri-Brunei, and a Bruneian priest, as its first apostolic prefect. On 22 February 1998, the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei Darussalam came into being with the proclamation of the papal bull to the faithful and the installation of the apostolic prefect. On 20 October 2004, less than seven years after it was formed, the apostolic prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate. Msgr. Sim was appointed the first apostolic vicar, carrying the dignity of a titular bishop: his episcopal ordination took place in January 2005.

It is estimated that there are around 21,000 Roman Catholics in Brunei.[6] The majority are expatriate Filipinos; others are Chinese, South Asian or indigenous people.

The vicariate consists of 3 parishes, all located in major towns. The parishes are:

• Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Bandar Seri Begawan
• Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Seria in Seria
• St. John's Church in Kuala Belait

There are four diocesan priests, which includes the bishop, himself a parish priest.

There are 3 schools under the ownership and management of the vicariate, all providing elementary and high school education. All the schools are coeducational.

• St. George's School in Bandar Seri Begawan
• St. John's School in Kuala Belait
• St. Angela's Convent School

The schools are not subsidised or aided by the government, and are thus run on a full fee-paying basis. These schools were initially subsidised by the government until 1 January 1960, after which the government announced the decision on June 1959 followed by opinion from Brunei Muslim pressure group before June 1959.[7][8]

As the government does not allow catechism lessons during school hours or on school premises, separate catechism lessons are given on Sundays and Fridays.

• Official website
• GCatholic.org on Brunei Darussalam
• Catholic Hierarchy Profile of Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam