Penang (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Sebastian Francis, Cardinal, Bishop
Antony Selvanayagam, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 25 February 1955
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Malaysia
Square Kilometers: 46,855 (18,097 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Catholic Diocesan Center, 290 Jalan Macalister Road, 10450 Penang, Malaysia
Telephone: (04)229.27.42; 229.27.61

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francis Chan † (25 Feb 1955 Appointed - 20 Oct 1967 Died)
Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean † (9 Apr 1968 Appointed - 3 Feb 1977 Appointed, Archbishop of Singapore)
Anthony Soter Fernandez † (29 Sep 1977 Appointed - 2 Jul 1983 Appointed, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur)
Antony Selvanayagam (2 Jul 1983 Appointed - 7 Jul 2012 Retired)
Sebastian Francis (7 Jul 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
25 February 1955	Erected	Archdiocese of Malacca (Peralc, Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis and the colony of Penang)	Diocese of Penang (erected)
18 December 1972	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Penang (from Malacca-Singapore)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 59,865 4,129,130 1.4% 63 6 69 867 110 175 ap1971

1980 65,100 5,131,000 1.3% 55 10 65 1,001 53 161 31 ap1981

1990 66,280 6,150,000 1.1% 41 7 48 1,380 37 143 31 ap1991

1999 69,321 6,000,000 1.2% 37 3 40 1,733 17 106 28 ap2000

2000 64,605 6,000,000 1.1% 41 2 43 1,502 16 93 28 ap2001

2001 65,837 6,315,524 1.0% 39 2 41 1,605 9 90 28 ap2002

2002 69,600 6,455,000 1.1% 40 3 43 1,618 9 96 28 ap2003

2003 70,140 6,600,000 1.1% 39 5 44 1,594 13 106 28 ap2004

2004 65,100 6,600,000 1.0% 39 5 44 1,479 12 97 28 ap2005

2010 65,000 5,740,000 1.1% 34 7 41 1,585 16 82 28 ap2011

2013 66,415 6,053,000 1.1% 35 7 42 1,581 11 82 28 ap2014

2016 55,737 7,063,290 .8% 32 10 42 1,327 1 14 83 29 ap2017

2019 59,000 7,156,000 .8% 37 10 47 1,255 3 15 68 29 ap2020

2021 61,450 7,242,800 .8% 35 7 42 1,463 5 15 66 29 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	59,865	4,129,130	1.4%	63	6	69	867		110	175		ap1971
1980	65,100	5,131,000	1.3%	55	10	65	1,001		53	161	31	ap1981
1990	66,280	6,150,000	1.1%	41	7	48	1,380		37	143	31	ap1991
1999	69,321	6,000,000	1.2%	37	3	40	1,733		17	106	28	ap2000
2000	64,605	6,000,000	1.1%	41	2	43	1,502		16	93	28	ap2001
2001	65,837	6,315,524	1.0%	39	2	41	1,605		9	90	28	ap2002
2002	69,600	6,455,000	1.1%	40	3	43	1,618		9	96	28	ap2003
2003	70,140	6,600,000	1.1%	39	5	44	1,594		13	106	28	ap2004
2004	65,100	6,600,000	1.0%	39	5	44	1,479		12	97	28	ap2005
2010	65,000	5,740,000	1.1%	34	7	41	1,585		16	82	28	ap2011
2013	66,415	6,053,000	1.1%	35	7	42	1,581		11	82	28	ap2014
2016	55,737	7,063,290	.8%	32	10	42	1,327	1	14	83	29	ap2017
2019	59,000	7,156,000	.8%	37	10	47	1,255	3	15	68	29	ap2020
2021	61,450	7,242,800	.8%	35	7	42	1,463	5	15	66	29	ap2022