Kota Kinabalu (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

John Wong Soo Kau, Archbishop
John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 23 May 2008
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Malaysia
Square Kilometers: 4,993 (1,928 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.kkdiocese.net/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 10289, 88803 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Catholic Archdiocesan Centre, Jalan Sang Kancil Tiga, Karamunsing, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone: (088)203.300; 712.297
Fax: 273.688; 711.954

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Labuan e Borneo
- Latin Name: de Labuan et Borneo
- Erected: 4 September 1855
- Country: Malaysia
Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale}
- Latin Name: de Borneo Septemtrionali
- Name Changed: 5 February 1927
- Country: Malaysia
Vicariate Apostolic of Jesselton
- Latin Name: Iesseltonensis
- Elevated: 14 February 1952
- Vicariate
- Country: Malaysia
Vicariate Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu
- Latin Name: Kotakinabaluensis
- Name Changed: 22 March 1968
- Vicariate
- Country: Malaysia
- Square Kilometers: 80,353 (31,036 Square Miles)
Diocese of Kota Kinabalu
- Latin Name: Kotakinabaluensis
- Elevated: 31 May 1976
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kuching
- Country: Malaysia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Carlos Cuarteroni Fernández, O.SS.T. † ( 1857 Appointed - 12 Mar 1880 Died)
Thomas Jackson, M.H.M. † ( 1881 Appointed - 1896 Resigned)
Edmund Dunn, M.H.M. † (4 May 1897 Appointed - 5 Feb 1927 Appointed, Prefect of Sarawak)
August Wachter, M.H.M. † (26 Jul 1927 Appointed - 6 Aug 1945 Died)
James Buis, M.H.M. † (18 Jan 1947 Appointed - 1 Aug 1972 Resigned)
Peter Chung Hoan Ting ( 1972 Succeeded - 30 Jan 1975 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kuching)
Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong † (29 Aug 1975 Appointed - 16 Nov 1985 Died)
John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw (30 Mar 1987 Appointed - 1 Dec 2012 Retired)
John Wong Soo Kau (1 Dec 2012 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Labuan e Borneo
4 September 1855	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Batavia	Prefecture Apostolic of Labuan e Borneo (erected)
5 February 1927	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Labuan e Borneo (Sarawak)	Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale}
5 February 1927	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Labuan e Borneo	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale}
14 February 1952	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale} (Brunei) Prefecture Apostolic of Sarawak	Vicariate Apostolic of Kuching (and name change)
Vicariate Apostolic of Jesselton
14 February 1952	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Jesselton (and name change)
Vicariate Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu
22 March 1968	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Jesselton	Vicariate Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu
Diocese of Kota Kinabalu
31 May 1976	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu	Diocese of Kota Kinabalu
17 December 1992	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kota Kinabalu (Bahaigan Pendalaman (Interior Division))	Diocese of Keningau (erected)
16 July 2007	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kota Kinabalu (Sandakan and Tawau)	Diocese of Sandakan (erected)
Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu
23 May 2008	Elevated	Diocese of Kota Kinabalu	Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

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 Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale}

1950 14,614 280,000 5.2% 33 33 442 45 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Jesselton

Vicariate Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu

1970 72,028 601,488 12.0% 12 45 57 1,263 58 81 ap1971

Diocese of Kota Kinabalu

1980 121,014 970,000 12.5% 17 7 24 5,042 16 90 29 ap1981

1990 180,694 1,425,350 12.7% 23 3 26 6,949 13 101 27 ap1991

1999 182,391 2,415,200 7.6% 30 2 32 5,699 14 146 19 ap2000

2000 187,609 2,577,799 7.3% 35 3 38 4,937 8 148 19 ap2001

2001 192,828 2,621,900 7.4% 32 2 34 5,671 10 152 19 ap2002

2002 198,047 2,840,900 7.0% 35 1 36 5,501 8 139 19 ap2003

2003 202,008 2,981,900 6.8% 35 1 36 5,611 8 144 19 ap2004

2004 205,073 3,122,900 6.6% 31 1 32 6,408 11 144 19 ap2005

Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

2013 200,902 3,972,000 5.1% 34 34 5,908 6 102 17 ap2014

2016 216,587 1,413,752 15.3% 36 36 6,016 7 140 19 ap2017

2019 228,251 1,489,943 15.3% 35 3 38 6,006 11 136 19 ap2020

2021 232,473 1,508,200 15.4% 36 2 38 6,117 6 101 19 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 Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale}
1950	14,614	280,000	5.2%	33		33	442		45		ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Jesselton
Vicariate Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu
1970	72,028	601,488	12.0%	12	45	57	1,263	58	81		ap1971
Diocese of Kota Kinabalu
1980	121,014	970,000	12.5%	17	7	24	5,042	16	90	29	ap1981
1990	180,694	1,425,350	12.7%	23	3	26	6,949	13	101	27	ap1991
1999	182,391	2,415,200	7.6%	30	2	32	5,699	14	146	19	ap2000
2000	187,609	2,577,799	7.3%	35	3	38	4,937	8	148	19	ap2001
2001	192,828	2,621,900	7.4%	32	2	34	5,671	10	152	19	ap2002
2002	198,047	2,840,900	7.0%	35	1	36	5,501	8	139	19	ap2003
2003	202,008	2,981,900	6.8%	35	1	36	5,611	8	144	19	ap2004
2004	205,073	3,122,900	6.6%	31	1	32	6,408	11	144	19	ap2005
Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu
2013	200,902	3,972,000	5.1%	34		34	5,908	6	102	17	ap2014
2016	216,587	1,413,752	15.3%	36		36	6,016	7	140	19	ap2017
2019	228,251	1,489,943	15.3%	35	3	38	6,006	11	136	19	ap2020
2021	232,473	1,508,200	15.4%	36	2	38	6,117	6	101	19	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

James Buis, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 18 Jan 1947; Vicar Apostolic: 14 Feb 1952 to 1 Aug 1972)
Carlos Cuarteroni Fernández, O.SS.T. † (Prefect: 1857 to 12 Mar 1880)
Edmund Dunn, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 4 May 1897 to 5 Feb 1927)
Simon Michael Fung Kui Heong † (Priest: 29 Dec 1963; Vicar Apostolic: 29 Aug 1975; Bishop: 31 May 1976 to 16 Nov 1985)
Thomas Jackson, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 1881 to 1896)
August Wachter, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 26 Jul 1927 to 6 Aug 1945)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Borneo {Borneo Settentrionale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 248, and Page 249
Vicariate Apostolic of Jesselton
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 568, and Page 570
Vicariate Apostolic of Kota Kinabalu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 61, Page 65

Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu