Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu (Lat: Archdioecesis Kotakinabaluensis) is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in Sabah, a state of Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The archdiocese is the oldest ecclesiastical territory in Malaysia, with a long history slowly rising along with the Catholic population from a prefecture to an archdiocese. Its cathedral archepiscopal see is Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu. The patron saint of the Archdiocese is St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu Archidioecesis Kota Kinabaluensis Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu | |
|---|---|
 The Sacred Heart Cathedral in KK City Seat of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Malaysia |
| Territory | Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Ranau, Tuaran, Papar, Kota Belud, Kudat, Kota Marudu and Federal Territory of Labuan |
| Ecclesiastical province | Kota Kinabalu |
| Coordinates | 5°57′52.53″N 116°4′20.87″E |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 55,215 km2 (21,319 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2021) 1,753,988 237,583 (7.38%) |
| Parishes | 23 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 1976, 2008 |
| Cathedral | Sacred Heart Cathedral |
| Patron saint | St. Joseph |
| Secular priests | 43 (Diocesan Clergy) 3 (Religious Order) |
| Language | |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | John Wong Soo Kau |
| Suffragans | Cornelius Piong (Keningau) Julius Gitom (Sandakan) |
| Vicar General | Nicholas Stephen VG Wilfred Atin CH |
| Bishops emeritus | John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw |
| Website | |
catholicadkk Coat of arms of John Wong Soo Kau | |
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 Cornelius Piong.
- on 16 July 2007 the Diocese of Sandakan with the appointment of 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 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 John Wong Soo Kau, appointed in 2010. His predecessor was John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw, appointed in 1987 and retired on 1 December 2012.
Prelates
Apostolic prefects of Labuan and Borneo
- Don Carlos Cuarteroni (23 August 1855 – March 1879)
Apostolic prefects of Labuan and Northern Borneo
- Thomas Jackson (18 July 1881 – 20 October 1895)
- Edmund Dunn (4 May 1897 – 5 February 1927)
Apostolic prefects of Northern Borneo
- August Wachter (26 July 1927 – 1945)
- James Buis (18 January 1947 - 14 February 1952)
Apostolic vicars of Jesselton/Kota Kinabalu
- James Buis (1 May 1952 – 1969)
- Peter Chung Hoan Ting (15 Nov 1970 – 30 January 1975)
- Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong (29 August 1975 – 31 May 1976)
Bishops of Kota Kinabalu
- Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong (31 May 1976 – 16 November 1985)
- John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw (26 June 1987 – 23 May 2008)
Archbishops of Kota Kinabalu
- John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw (23 May 2008 – 1 December 2012)
- John Wong Soo Kau (1 December 2012 – current)
Clergy
Archbishops
- Most Rev John Wong, Archbishop
- Most Rev John Lee, Archbishop Emeritus
College of Consultors
- Rev Msgr Nicholas Stephen (Vicar General)
- Rev Wilfred Atin (Chancellor)
- Rev Primus Jouil
- Rev Cosmas Lee Khod Min
- Rev Paul Lo
List of parishes
As of 2023, there are 23 parishes including various sub-parishes and 229 Outstations found in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu.
- Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish (Sacred Heart Cathedral, Karamunsing)
- sub-parish of Carmelite Monastery Chapel, Karamunsing
- Church of Mary Immaculate Parish, Bukit Padang
- St Pius X Church Parish, Bundu Tuhan, Ranau
- St Paul's Church Parish, Dontozidon, Penampang
- sub-parishes of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Kobusak, Penampang and
- St John's Chapel Kopungit, Kepayan, Kota Kinabalu
- St Catherine's Church Parish, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu
- sub-parish of Church of the Divine Mercy, KKIP, Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu
- Church of the Good Shepherd Parish, Manggatal, Kota Kinabalu
- Holy Trinity Parish, Inobong-Madsiang, Penampang
- sub-parishes of 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
- Church of 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
- Madsiang Catholic Church, Madsiang, Penampang
- St Joseph the Husband of Mary Church Parish, Tombongon, Kiulu, Tuaran
- sub-parishes of 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
- Church of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Labuan
- St Simon Catholic Church Parish, Likas, Kota Kinabalu
- Holy Rosary Parish, Limbahau, Papar
- sub-parishes of St Patrick's Church, Kinuta, Papar
- and St Sabina's Church, Titimbuongon, Papar
- St Joseph's Church Parish, Papar
- St Michael's Church Parish, Donggongon, Penampang
- sub-parishes of St Aloysius, Limbanak, Penampang and
- Assumption of Our Lady, Sugud, Penampang
- St Anne, Punson, Kinarut, Papar
- St Martin, Mook, Kinarut, Papar
- St Padre Pio, Labak, Kinarut, Papar
- Divine Mercy, Maang, Penampang
- Mary Immaculate Conception, Sukang Mabpai, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu
- St Marcellinus, Minintod, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu
- St Paul's Chapel on The Hill, Montfort Kinarut, Papar
- St Theresa of The Child Jesus, Kolopis, Penampang
- Woori Jib, Potuki, Kinarut, Papar (formerly Hamin Tokou Potuki)
- St Benedict, Timpangoh Laut, Sugud, Penampang
- St Paul, Bisuang, Papar
- St Pope John Paul II, Buayan, Penampang (formerly St Patrick, Buayan)
- St Bernard, Terian, Penampang
- St Julius I, Timpayasa, Penampang
- Chapel of Mary Mother of Ecclesia, Tiku, Penampang
- St Augustine Church Parish, Kinarut, Papar
- St Peter Claver's Church Parish, Ranau
- Stella Maris Church Parish, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu
- sub-parish of St Catherine Laboure Church, Putatan, Penampang
- St Thomas Church Parish, Kepayan, Kota Kinabalu,
- Holy Family Church Parish, Telipok, Kota Kinabalu
- Holy Nativity Church Parish, Terawi, Penampang
- sub-parishes of 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 of St Mary's Mother of God Church Topokon,
- St Philip the Apostle Church, Tamparuli,
- St Clare of Assisi Church, Koporingan and
- St James's the Apostle 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.
- Lu (Chinese bimonthly)
Bookshops
- Catholic Books Distribution Centre
- Paulines Media Centre (In Charge: Magdalene Chong)
