# Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching

The Archdiocese of Kuching (Latin: Archidioecesis Kuchingensis) is a Metropolitan Latin archbishopric of the Catholic Church in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is however remains dependent on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is in St Joseph's Cathedral, in Kuching, named after the spouse of the Virgin Mary, who was the diocese's patron.
Former auxiliary bishop Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng was appointed as the third and current Archbishop of Kuching by Pope Francis on 4 March 2017 following the resignation of his predecessor, John Ha Tiong Hock.
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; by the installation of Anthony Denis Galvin, MHM as its first vicar in 1960, and Anthony Lee Kok Hin as its first bishop in 1977).
* 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 :
* Diocese of Miri
* Diocese of Sibu.

## 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.

### 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 (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

* Msgr. William Sabang
* Rev. Fr. Adrian Kho
* Rev. Fr. Agustinus Tanudjaja, SJ
* Rev. Fr. Albert Jacobse, MHM
* Rev. Fr. Andre Delimarta, SDB
* Rev. Fr. Arockyaraj Pavulu, CMF
* Rev. Fr. Augustine Jepy
* Rev. Fr. Augustine Radhakanta Singh, CMF
* Rev. Fr. Bernard Jim Bujang
* Rev. Fr. Berchmans Rayar, CMF
* Rev. Fr. Christopher Laden
* Rev. Fr. Clement Abel Anggas
* Rev. Fr. Davie Entalai
* Rev. Fr. Don Don Romero Ramerez, OFM
* Rev. Fr. Eugenio Gocela Maglasang, SDB
* Rev. Fr. Felix Au
* Rev. Fr. Francis Dakun
* Rev. Fr. Galvin Richard Ngumbang
* Rev. Fr. Henry Jimbey
* Rev. Fr. Jerome Juleng
* Rev. Fr. John Chong
* Rev. Fr. John Ekly Direk
* Rev. Fr. Joseph Chai
* Rev. Fr. Joseph Lee Hock Jin, OFM
* Rev. Fr. Joseph Liew
* Rev. Fr. Joseph Ng, SJ
* Rev. Fr. Lazarus Swinie
* Rev. Fr. Leonard Yap
* Rev. Fr. Lucas Ng, CDD
* Rev. Fr. Mark Noel Bunchol
* Rev. Fr. Martin Wong
* Rev. Fr. Nelson Evarinus Sipalan, OFM
* Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ng
* Rev. Fr. Patrick Heng
* Rev. Fr. Paul Herry
* Rev. Fr. Paul Hu Pi Xian, CDD
* 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. Stanley Goh, SJ
* Rev. Fr. Stephen Chin
* Rev. Fr. Stephen Lim
* Rev. Fr. Vincent Chin

### 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. Michael O'Brien, MHM (1941–2022)
* Rev. Fr. Noel Hanrahan, MHM (1928–2019)
* Rev. Fr. Joachim Pang (1921–2007)
* Rev. Fr. Richard Khoo Choon Phoe (1940–2016)
* Rev. Fr. Dato Lawrence Chua (1936–2021)

## Statistics and extent

As per 2021, it pastorally served 240,575 Catholics (38.2% of 812,900 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.

## Churches

* St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching.
* St. Peter's Church, Padungan.
* Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park.
* Blessed Sacrament Church, BDC.
* Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa.
* St Ann's Church, Kota Padawan/Baruk.

## Religious communities
### Men

* Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD)
* Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Claretians (CMF)
* Discalced Carmelites (OCD)
* Marist Brothers (FMS)
* Saint Joseph's Missionary of Mill Hill / Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM)
* Order of Friars Minor (OFM)
* Society of Saint Francis de Sales / Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
* Society of Jesus (SJ)

### Women

* Discalced Carmelites (OCD) (Women's section)
* Sisters of St. Francis of Sarawak (SSFS)