Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei
DIOCESES INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIOCESES IN THE CBCMSB
Background:
Erected as the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur by Pope Pius XII on 25 February 1955, as a suffragan sees of the Archdiocese of Malacca, together with the Diocese of Penang. The first bishop of Kuala Lumpur was Bishop Dominic Vendargon. The diocese was elevated to the rank of a Metropolitan Archdiocese on 18 December 1972, with the suffragan dioceses of Penang and Malacca-Johore.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Dominic Vendargon (1955 – 1972)
Archbishop Dominic Vendargon (1972 – 1983)
Auxiliary Bishop Antony Selvanayagam (1980 – 1983)
Archbishop Anthony Soter Fernandez (1983 – 2003)
Auxiliary Bishop Murphy Pakiam (1995 – 2003)
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam (2003 – 2013)
Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez (2016 – 2003)
Archbishop Julian Leow (2013 – )
Geographical Areas:
States of Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Putrajaya, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu
Background:
The suffragan see Diocese of Penang was erected on 25 February 1955, together with the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur when the Diocese of Malacca was elevated to become the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore. The first bishop of Penang was Bishop Francis Chan. When the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur was elevated to become an Archdiocese, Penang became a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Francis Chan (1955 – 1967)
Bishop Gregory Yong (1967 – 1977)
Bishop Anthony Soter Fernandez (1977 – 1983)
Bishop Antony Selvanayagam (1983 – 2011)
Bishop Sebastian Francis (2011 – )
Cardinal Sebastian Francis (2023 – )
Geographical Areas:
States of Penang, Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis
Background:
On 25 February 1955, the Diocese of Malacca was elevated to become the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore, with the dioceses of Kuala Lumpur and Penang as its suffragan sees. On 18 December 1972, the Diocese of Malacca-Johore was established as a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, when the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore was split. The first bishop of Malacca-Johore was Bishop James Chan. On 27 May 1985, its name was changed to the Diocese of Melaka-Johor.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop James Chan (1972 – 2001)
Bishop Paul Tan (2003 – 2015)
Bishop Bernard Paul (2015 – )
Geographical Areas:
States of Melaka, Johor
Background:
On 14 February 1952, the Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton was erected with Bishop James Buis as the first vicar apostolic. On 25 July 1976, the Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton became the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu. The first bishop of Kota Kinabalu was Bishop Simon Fung. On 23 May 2008, the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu was raised to an Archdiocese, with Keningau and Sandakan as suffragan sees. Bishop John Lee became the first Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop James Buis (1952 – 1969)
Bishop Peter Chung (1970 – 1975)
Bishop Simon Fung (1976 – 1985)
Bishop John Lee (1987 – 2008)
Archbishop John Lee (2008 – 2013)
Archbishop John Wong (2013 – )
Geographical Areas:
Entire west coast division of Sabah (Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Papar, Federal Territory of Labuan, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Ranau, Penampang, Likas,Tanjung Aru, Tuaran)
Background:
On 16 July 2007, the Diocese of Sandakan was erected with territory taken from the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuching. The first bishop of Sandakan is Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom (2007 – )
Geographical Areas:
Entire east coast division of Sabah, Sandakan, Beluran, Lahad Datu, Tawau, Telupid
Background:
On 6 May 1993, the Diocese of Keningau was established, with territory taken from the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu. It was placed under the suffragan see of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuching. Diocese of Keningau covers primarily the interior division of Sabah. The first bishop of Keningau is Bishop Cornelius Piong. On 23 May 2008, when the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu was elevated to Archdiocese, the Diocese of Keningau became a suffragan see of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Cornelius Piong (1993 – )
Geographical Areas:
Entire interior division of Sabah, Keningau, Tenom, Membakut, Kuala Penyu, Tambunan, Sook, Sipitang, Toboh, Beaufort
Background:
On 5 February 1927, the Diocese of Kuching was erected as the Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak by Pope Pius XI, on territory split off from the Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and Borneo. On 14 February 1952, it was promoted to Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching by Pope Pius XII. On 19 December 1959, it lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Miri. On 31 May 1976, it was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Paul VI, with the suffragan sees of Miri and Sibu. The first Archbishop of Kuching was Archbishop Peter Chung.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Jan Vos (1949 – 1968)
Bishop Charles Karl Reiterer (1968 – 1974)
Archbishop Peter Chung (1975 – 2003)
Auxiliary Bishop John Ha (1998 – 2003)
Archbishop John Ha (2003 – 2017)
Auxiliary Bishop Simon Poh (2015 – 2017)
Archbishop Simon Poh (2017 – )
Geographical Areas:
Covers the divisions of Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Betong, Sri Aman in Sarawak
Background:
On 22 December 1986, Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Sibu, as a suffragan see of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuching. On 6 January 1987, Bishop Dominic Su was ordained as the first Bishop of Sibu.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Dominic Su (1987 – 2011)
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Hii (2008 – 2012)
Bishop Joseph Hii (2012 – )
Geographical Areas:
Covers the divisions of Sibu, Mukah, Sarikei and Kapit in Sarawak
Background:
On 19 December 1959, the Vicariate of Miri was established. On 8 May 1960, Pope John XXIII ordained Bishop Anthony Galvin as the first bishop of the Vicariate of Miri. On Jan. 2, 1966, Fr. Anthony Lee, Miri Vicariate’s local priest, was ordained. On May 31, 1976, Pope Paul VI established a new Church province in East Malaysia and Miri Vicariate was raised to the level of a Diocese. On 20 May 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed Bishop Anthony Lee as the first bishop of the Diocese of Miri, and he was ordained bishop on 20 November 1977.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Anthony Galvin (1960 – 1976)
Bishop Anthony Lee (1977 – 2013)
Bishop Richard Ng (2013 – )
Geographical Areas:
Covers the divisions of Miri, Bintulu, Limbang in Sarawak
SINGAPORE
Background:
On 18 December 1972, after Singapore had gained its independence from Malaya, the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore was split. The Diocese of Malacca-Johore was established as a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, and the Archdiocese of Singapore was established with Archbishop Michel Olcomendy continuing as its first Archbishop.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Archbishop Michel Olçomendy (1972 – 1976)
Archbishop Gregory Yong (1977 – 2000)
Archbishop Nicholas Chia (2001 – 2013)
Archbishop William Goh (2013 – 2022)
Cardinal William Goh (2022 – )
Geographical Areas:
Entire island city-state of Singapore, made up of five districts. They are the City District, East District, West District, North District and the Serangoon District
BRUNEI
Background:
On 14 February 1952, the Holy See carved out the territory from the Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton, then transferred the territory to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching. On 21 December 1997, this territory was designated as an apostolic prefecture headed by Monsignor Cornelius Sim. On 22 February 1998, the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei Darussalam came into being. On 20 October 2004, the apostolic prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate. Bishop Cornelius Sim was appointed the first apostolic vicar.
List of Bishops/Archbishops/Cardinals:
Bishop Cornelius Sim (2005 – 2020)
Cardinal Cornelius Sim (2020 – 2021)
Geographical Areas:
Entire city-state of Brunei Darulsalam, covering Bandar Seri Begawan, and the four districts of Brunei-Muara, Tutong, Belait and Temburong
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