Kuching (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng, Archbishop
Peter Chung Hoan Ting, Archbishop Emeritus
John Ha Tiong Hock, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 31 May 1976
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Malaysia
Square Kilometers: 19,173 (7,405 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://kuchingcatholic.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's Office, 1 Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93300 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Telephone: (082)242-634
Fax: 425-724

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak
- Latin Name: de Sarawak
- Erected: 5 February 1927
- Country: Malaysia
Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching
- Latin Name: Kuchingensis
- Elevated: 14 February 1952
- Vicariate
- Country: Malaysia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edmund Dunn, M.H.M. † (5 Feb 1927 Appointed - 31 Dec 1933 Died)
Aloysius Hopfgartner, M.H.M. † (8 Nov 1935 Appointed - 15 May 1949 Died)
Jan Vos, M.H.M. † (18 Nov 1949 Appointed - 9 Feb 1968 Resigned)
Karl (Charles) Reiterer, M.H.M. † (9 Feb 1968 Succeeded - 30 Dec 1974 Died)
Peter Chung Hoan Ting (30 Jan 1975 Appointed - 21 Jun 2003 Retired)
John Ha Tiong Hock (21 Jun 2003 Appointed - 4 Mar 2017 Resigned)
Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng (4 Mar 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak
5 February 1927	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Labuan e Borneo (Sarawak)	Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching
14 February 1952	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale} (Brunei) Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak	Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching (and name change)
19 December 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching	Vicariate Apostolic of Miri (erected)
Archdiocese of Kuching
31 May 1976	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching	Archdiocese of Kuching
22 December 1986	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Kuching (Eastern part) Diocese of Miri (Southern part)	Diocese of Sibu (erected) (Third Division, Sixth Division, and Seventh Division)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak

1950 12,230 546,000 2.2% 1 28 29 421 54 11 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching

1969 52,700 754,598 7.0% 40 33 73 721 52 103 16 ap1971

Archdiocese of Kuching

1980 91,960 966,000 9.5% 10 24 34 2,704 32 83 ap1981

1990 82,620 735,000 11.2% 12 5 17 4,860 9 63 9 ap1991

1999 118,300 760,000 15.6% 17 1 18 6,572 3 65 9 ap2000

2000 123,740 850,000 14.6% 17 2 19 6,512 4 68 9 ap2001

2001 129,300 937,600 13.8% 16 3 19 6,805 5 65 9 ap2002

2002 133,129 1,000,000 13.3% 15 3 18 7,396 5 64 9 ap2003

2003 138,510 939,550 14.7% 16 5 21 6,595 7 67 10 ap2004

2004 140,307 939,550 14.9% 18 6 24 5,846 10 63 10 ap2005

2013 188,725 1,199,000 15.7% 23 10 33 5,718 16 70 12 ap2014

2016 201,719 1,231,000 16.4% 27 12 39 5,172 16 72 12 ap2017

2019 212,134 1,188,000 17.9% 20 14 34 6,239 18 63 12 ap2020

2021 220,218 1,298,440 17.0% 22 13 35 6,291 15 63 12 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak
1950	12,230	546,000	2.2%	1	28	29	421		54	11	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching
1969	52,700	754,598	7.0%	40	33	73	721	52	103	16	ap1971
Archdiocese of Kuching
1980	91,960	966,000	9.5%	10	24	34	2,704	32	83		ap1981
1990	82,620	735,000	11.2%	12	5	17	4,860	9	63	9	ap1991
1999	118,300	760,000	15.6%	17	1	18	6,572	3	65	9	ap2000
2000	123,740	850,000	14.6%	17	2	19	6,512	4	68	9	ap2001
2001	129,300	937,600	13.8%	16	3	19	6,805	5	65	9	ap2002
2002	133,129	1,000,000	13.3%	15	3	18	7,396	5	64	9	ap2003
2003	138,510	939,550	14.7%	16	5	21	6,595	7	67	10	ap2004
2004	140,307	939,550	14.9%	18	6	24	5,846	10	63	10	ap2005
2013	188,725	1,199,000	15.7%	23	10	33	5,718	16	70	12	ap2014
2016	201,719	1,231,000	16.4%	27	12	39	5,172	16	72	12	ap2017
2019	212,134	1,188,000	17.9%	20	14	34	6,239	18	63	12	ap2020
2021	220,218	1,298,440	17.0%	22	13	35	6,291	15	63	12	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Edmund Dunn, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 5 Feb 1927 to 31 Dec 1933)
Aloysius Hopfgartner, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 8 Nov 1935 to 15 May 1949)
Karl (Charles) Reiterer, M.H.M. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 9 Feb 1967; Vicar Apostolic: 9 Feb 1968 to 30 Dec 1974)
Jan Vos, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 18 Nov 1949; Vicar Apostolic: 14 Feb 1952 to 9 Feb 1968)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 248, and Page 249
Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 568, and Page 569
Archdiocese of Kuching
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 68, Page 450, and Page 451

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Archdiocese of Kuching

Archidioecesis Kuchingensis