Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

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

Statistics

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
2023	242,653	1,795,207	13.5%	42	2	44	5,514		10	99	19	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Peter Chung Hoan Ting (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 1 Sep 1970; Vicar Apostolic: 1972 to 30 Jan 1975)
• Julius Dusin Gitom (Priest: 19 Nov 1989 to 16 Jul 2007)
• John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw (Priest: 27 Dec 1964; Bishop: 30 Mar 1987; Archbishop: 23 May 2008 to 1 Dec 2012)
• Cornelius Piong (Priest: 27 Mar 1977 to 17 Dec 1992)
• John Wong Soo Kau (Priest: 21 Jan 1999 to 16 Jul 2007; Coadjutor Archbishop: 21 Jun 2010; Archbishop: 1 Dec 2012)

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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)