Kaohsiung (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Peter Liu Cheng-chung, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 21 March 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Taipei
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Taiwan
Square Kilometers: 5,728 (2,212 Square Miles)
Description: Sub-Prefectures of Kaohsiung and Pingtung
Official Web Site: https://www.catholic-kh.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 125 Siwei 3rd Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung 80250, Taiwan
Telephone: (07)334.21.42
Fax: 333.45.83

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Formosa Island {Isola Formosa)
- Latin Name: de Isola Formosa
- Erected: 13 July 1913
- Country: Taiwan
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung
- Latin Name: Kaohsiungensis
- Name Changed: 30 December 1949
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Taipei
- Country: Taiwan

Past and Present Ordinaries

Clemente Fernández, O.P. † (2 Sep 1913 Appointed - Jun 1921 Resigned)
Thomas de la Hoz, O.P. † (27 Jul 1921 Appointed - Jan 1941 Resigned)
Joseph Arregui y Yparaguirre, O.P. † (5 Mar 1948 Appointed - 21 Mar 1961 Resigned)
Joseph Cheng Tien-siang (Zheng Tianxiang), O.P. † (21 Mar 1961 Appointed - 19 Aug 1990 Died)
Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, S.J. † (4 Mar 1991 Appointed - 5 Jan 2006 Retired)
Peter Liu Cheng-chung (5 Jan 2006 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Formosa Island {Isola Formosa)
13 July 1913	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Amoy (Formosa Island)	Prefecture Apostolic of Formosa Island {Isola Formosa) (erected)
30 December 1949	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Formosa Island {Isola Formosa) (Taipeli, Shinchu, and Hoalien)	Prefecture Apostolic of Taipei (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung
30 December 1949	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Formosa Island {Isola Formosa)	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung
10 August 1950	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung (Taiohungense)	Prefecture Apostolic of Taichung (erected)
7 August 1952	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung (Taitunghsien) Prefecture Apostolic of Taipei (Hwalienhsien)	Prefecture Apostolic of Hwalien (erected)
7 August 1952	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung (Yuinlinhsien and Kiayihsien)	Prefecture Apostolic of Kiayi (erected)
21 March 1961	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung (Sub-Prefecture of Tainan and Pescadores Island)	Diocese of Tainan (erected)
Diocese of Kaohsiung
21 March 1961	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung (Sub-Prefectures of Kaohsiung and Pingtung)	Diocese of Kaohsiung

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 Kaohsiung

1950 10,431 4,879,178 .2% 3 14 17 613 14 112 10 ap1951

Diocese of Kaohsiung

1970 50,057 2,412,653 2.1% 17 61 78 641 70 128 54 ap1971

1980 48,931 3,206,500 1.5% 20 58 78 627 78 117 53 ap1981

1990 46,152 3,368,928 1.4% 19 67 86 536 76 145 55 ap1991

1999 46,081 3,600,821 1.3% 21 71 92 500 84 147 62 ap2000

2000 46,248 3,614,872 1.3% 20 72 92 502 74 143 62 ap2001

2001 46,454 3,626,206 1.3% 26 65 91 510 70 140 62 ap2002

2002 46,435 3,637,920 1.3% 17 72 89 521 76 148 58 ap2003

2003 47,106 3,649,083 1.3% 18 65 83 567 67 143 62 ap2004

2004 47,221 3,650,591 1.3% 17 70 87 542 71 141 57 ap2005

2006 48,000 3,697,000 1.3% 28 62 90 533 63 131 58 ap2007

2011 45,950 3,646,992 1.3% 32 52 84 547 1 53 122 59 ap2012

2013 45,247 3,694,000 1.2% 34 47 81 558 49 130 61 ap2014

2016 39,190 3,736,000 1.0% 38 41 79 496 78 106 59 ap2017

2019 36,704 3,598,939 1.0% 36 38 74 496 75 115 60 ap2020

2021 36,178 3,574,120 1.0% 40 40 80 452 40 112 60 ap2022

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 Kaohsiung
1950	10,431	4,879,178	.2%	3	14	17	613		14	112	10	ap1951
Diocese of Kaohsiung
1970	50,057	2,412,653	2.1%	17	61	78	641		70	128	54	ap1971
1980	48,931	3,206,500	1.5%	20	58	78	627		78	117	53	ap1981
1990	46,152	3,368,928	1.4%	19	67	86	536		76	145	55	ap1991
1999	46,081	3,600,821	1.3%	21	71	92	500		84	147	62	ap2000
2000	46,248	3,614,872	1.3%	20	72	92	502		74	143	62	ap2001
2001	46,454	3,626,206	1.3%	26	65	91	510		70	140	62	ap2002
2002	46,435	3,637,920	1.3%	17	72	89	521		76	148	58	ap2003
2003	47,106	3,649,083	1.3%	18	65	83	567		67	143	62	ap2004
2004	47,221	3,650,591	1.3%	17	70	87	542		71	141	57	ap2005
2006	48,000	3,697,000	1.3%	28	62	90	533		63	131	58	ap2007
2011	45,950	3,646,992	1.3%	32	52	84	547	1	53	122	59	ap2012
2013	45,247	3,694,000	1.2%	34	47	81	558		49	130	61	ap2014
2016	39,190	3,736,000	1.0%	38	41	79	496		78	106	59	ap2017
2019	36,704	3,598,939	1.0%	36	38	74	496		75	115	60	ap2020
2021	36,178	3,574,120	1.0%	40	40	80	452		40	112	60	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph Arregui y Yparaguirre, O.P. † (Prefect: 5 Mar 1948 to 21 Mar 1961)
Joseph Cheng Tien-siang (Zheng Tianxiang), O.P. † (Bishop: 21 Mar 1961; Archbishop (Personal Title): 30 Oct 1979 to 19 Aug 1990)
Thomas de la Hoz, O.P. † (Prefect: 27 Jul 1921 to Jan 1941)
Clemente Fernández, O.P. † (Prefect: 2 Sep 1913 to Jun 1921)
Joseph Asjiro Satowaki † (Apostolic Administrator: 20 Mar 1941 to 5 Mar 1948)
Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, S.J. † (Bishop: 4 Mar 1991 to 5 Jan 2006)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Formosa Island {Isola Formosa)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 366, and Page 367
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaohsiung
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 421, and Page 422
Diocese of Kaohsiung
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 136, and Page 137

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Diocese of Kaohsiung

Dioecesis Kaohsiungensis