Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu (Lat: Archdioecesis Kotakinabaluensis) is a Metropolitan archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sabah, a state of Malaysia on the island of Borneo.
Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu Archidioecesis Kota Kinabaluensis Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu | |
|---|---|
 Sacred Heart Cathedral | |
| Location | |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Ecclesiastical province | Kota Kinabalu |
| Metropolitan | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah |
| Coordinates | 5°57′52.53″N 116°4′20.87″E |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 55,215 km2 (21,319 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2018) 1,489,943 228,251 (15.32%) |
| Parishes | 19 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 1976, 2008 |
| Cathedral | Sacred Heart Cathedral |
| Secular priests | 41 (1 Retired) |
| Language | |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Most Rev. Datuk John Wong Soo Kau |
| Vicar General | Rev. Msgr. Primus Jouil |
| Bishops emeritus | Most Rev. Datuk John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw |
| Website | |
| catholicadkk | |
The Archdiocese is the oldest ecclesiastical territory in Malaysia, with a long history slowly rising along with the Catholic population all the way from a prefecture to an Archdiocese with 2 suffragans, the Diocese of Keningau and the Diocese of Sandakan.
Its Cathedral archepiscopal see is Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu.
History
Originally erected on 4 September 1855 as the Apostolic prefecture of Labuan and Borneo, created on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia (Java) (including the neighbouring Dutch East Indies).
On 5 February 1927 it was renamed the Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Borneo, and lost territory to form the Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak.
On 14 February 1952 the prefecture was promoted to Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton, hence entitled to a titular bishop. On 22 March 1962 its name was changed once more to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kota Kinabalu, after its see.
On 31 May 1976 the vicariate was elevated to a full Diocese of Kota Kinabalu, suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuching.
The diocese lost territories twice, to create its present suffragans :
- on 17 December 1992 the diocese the Diocese of Keningau with the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Datuk Cornelius Piong.
- on 16 July 2007 the Diocese of Sandakan with the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom.
On 23 May 2008, the diocese was elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese, whose ecclesiastical province comprises the above suffragan dioceses, both formerly part of the original territory of the diocese of Kota Kinabalu: the Diocese of Keningau and the Diocese of Sandakan.
On 21 June 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rev. John Wong Soo Kau, director of the aspirants’ formation house in Kota Kinabalu, as Coadjutor Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu. His ordination took place on 1 October 2010.
As of 2013 the Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu is Most Rev. Datuk John Wong Soo Kau, appointed in 2010. His predecessor was Most Rev. Datuk John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw, appointed in 1987 and retired on 1 December 2012.
Prelates
Apostolic Prefects of Labuan and Borneo
- Mgsr. Don Carlos Cuarteron (23 August 1855 – March 1879)
Apostolic Prefects of Labuan and Northern Borneo
Apostolic Prefects of Northern Borneo
Apostolic Vicars of Jesselton/Kota Kinabalu
- Rt. Rev. James Buis, MHM (1 May 1952 – 1969)
- Rt. Rev. Peter Chung Hoan Ting, DD (15 Nov 1970 – 30 January 1975)
- Rt. Rev. Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong, DD (29 August 1975 – 31 May 1976)
Bishops of Kota Kinabalu
- Rt. Rev. Datuk Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong, DD (31 May 1976 – 16 November 1985)
- Rt. Rev. Datuk John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw, DD (26 June 1987 – 23 May 2008)
Archbishops of Kota Kinabalu
- Most Rev. Datuk John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw, DD (23 May 2008 – 1 December 2012)
- Most Rev. Datuk John Wong Soo Kau, DD (1 December 2012 – current)
List of parishes
As of 2018, there are 19 parishes including various sub-parishes and 305 Outstations found in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu.
- Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish (Sacred Heart Cathedral, Karamunsing
- sub-parishes of Church of Mary Immaculate, Bukit Padang and Carmelite Monastery Chapel, Karamunsing)
- St Pius X Church Parish, Bundu Tuhan, Ranau
- St Paul's Church Parish, Dontozidon, Penampang
- sub-parishes Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Kobusak, and
- St John's Chapel, Kopungit, Nosoob
- St Catherine's Church Parish, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu
- sub-parishes of Church of the Good Shepherd, Manggatal, Kota Kinabalu, and
- Church of the Divine Mercy, KKIP, Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu)
- Holy Trinity Parish, Inobong, Penampang
- sub-parishes Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Babagon, Penampang
- Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Inobong, Penampang (centre)
- Church of St Joseph the Worker, Pogunon, Penampang
- Church of the Presentation, Pongobonon, Buayan, Penampang
- Church of Christ the King, Kipouvo, Penampang
- Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Togudon, Penampang
- St Martin, Moyog, Penampang
- Church of the Holy Cross, Togudon, Penampang
- Church of St Andrew the Apostle, Longkogungan, Babagon, Penampang
- Church of the Risen Christ, Timpangoh, Babagon, Penampang
- St Joseph the Husband of Mary Church Parish, Kiulu, Tuaran
- sub-parishes St Martin's Church, Malanggang,
- St Michael the Archangel Church, Lokub, and
- St John Vianney Church, Pukak
- St Edmund's Church Parish, Kota Belud
- St Theresa's Church Parish, Kota Marudu
- St Peter's Church Parish, Kudat
- Blessed Sacrament Church Parish, Labuan
- St Simon Catholic Church Parish, Likas, Kota Kinabalu
- Holy Rosary Parish, Limbahau, Papar
- sub-parishes St Patrick's Church, Kinuta,
- and St Sabina's Church, Titimbuongon
- St Joseph's Church Parish, Papar
- St Michael's Church Parish, Penampang
- St Peter Claver's Church Parish, Ranau
- Stella Maris Church Parish, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu
- sub-parish St Thomas More Church, Kepayan, Kota Kinabalu, and
- St Catherine Laboure Church, Putatan, Penampang)
- Holy Family Church Parish, Telipok, Kota Kinabalu
- Holy Nativity Church Parish, Terawi, Penampang
- sub-parishes Our Lady of Fatima Church, Talang Taun, Ulu Putatan, Penampang,
- St Simon the Zealot Church, Duvanson, Putatan, Penampang, and
- St Peter the Apostle Church, Tombovo, Putatan, Penampang
- St John's Church Parish, Tuaran
- sub-parishes St Mary's Church, Topokon,
- St Philip the Apostle Church
- St Clare of Assisi Church, Tamparuli, and
- St James's Church, Tenghilan
Religious Orders
Religious Men
- Brothers of the Christian School (FSC); De La Salle Brothers
- Brothers of St Gabriel (SG); Gabrielite or Monfort Brothers
- Clerical Society of the Most Holy Trinity (SST)
- Marist Brothers of the Schools (FMS)
Religious Women
- Discalced Carmelite Nuns (OCD)
- Daughters of St Paul (FSP)
- Good Shepherd Sisters (RGS)
- Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC)
Media Apostolate/Social Communications
Publications
- Catholic Sabah (fortnightly newspaper) Established in 1957. https://www.catholicsabah.com/
- Lu (Chinese bimonthly)
Bookshops
- Catholic Books Distribution Centre (088-723973)
- Paulines Media Centre (In Charge: Sr Magdalene Chong FSP; 088239932)
