South Asia-3 

This blog will discuss the Catholic Church in East Timor, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea.

East Timor

The Portuguese colonized the island of Timor in the 16th Century.  Portugal ceded the western half of the Island to the Dutch in 1859 (and it is now part of Indonesia).  East Timor declared independence from Portugal in 1975, but was quickly invaded by Indonesian armed forces.  Resistance to the Indonesian invasion resulted in the deaths of between 100,000 and 250,000 people and widespread destruction of infrastructure.  With the help of Australian military forces, East Timor once again gained independence in 2002.  The Church played a strong role in promoting human rights during the Indonesian occupation and two Catholics, including a bishop, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their actions.  Pope John Paul II visited East Timor in 1989 which brought world attention to the suffering in East Timor.  

Almost 98 percent of East Timor’s 1.4 million people are Catholic.  Only about 20 percent of East Timorese were Catholic in 1975, but the Church gained many converts because of its strong stand against oppression.  

The Catholics are served by the ecclesiastic province of Dili.

Province of Dili

The province consists of East Timor.  The Diocese of Dili was established in 1940 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dili in 2019.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili was built between 1984 and 1988 and can hold 2,000 people.  Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral during his 1989 visit. 

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Baucau was created in 1996.
• The Diocese of Maliana was created in 2010.

Malaysia

Various Muslim sultanates arose on the Malay Peninsula and on Borneo in the 14th Century.  The Portuguese in the 16th Century and the Dutch in the 17th Century established trading centers, but it was the British who colonized what is now Malaysia in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  The British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula became independent in 1957 and in 1963 joined Singapore and the Borneo territories of Sabah and Sarawak to form the nation of Malaysia.  Singapore withdrew in 1965.

The Portuguese introduced Catholicism in 1511, but evangelization was limited until the late 18th Century.  At that point, Singapore became a center for missionary activity and effective evangelization of Sabah and Sarawak began in the late 19th Century.  

Malaysia has 33 million people and 61 percent are Muslim.  Another 20 percent are Buddhist and 6 percent are Hindu.  Christians account for 9 percent, of which 1.2 million are Catholic.  Catholics are served by one of three ecclesiastic provinces:  Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, and Kuching.

Province of Kuala Lumpur

The province consists of the mainland part of Malaysia.  The Diocese of Kuala Lumpur was established in 1955 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1972.

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Kuala Lumpur was built between 1954 and 1955.  The Cathedral has a whitewashed exterior with twin spires.  The marble altar was made in Italy and has the inscription “Behold the Lamb of God” in mosaic chips.  The stained glass windows feature Gospel scenes and were made in Paris.  The three church bells were installed in 1964.  See stjohnkl.com.my. 

The first picture is from the cathedral website and the second is from a local website.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Melaka-Johor was established as the Diocese of Malacca in 1558 and was demoted to the Apostolic Vicariate of Malacca-Singapore in 1841.  It once again became the Diocese of Malacca in 1888 before becoming an archdiocese in 1953.  It became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore in 1955.  In 1972, Singapore became an archdiocese and Malacca became a diocese.  It acquired its current name in 1985.
• The Diocese of Penang was established in 1955.

Province of Kuching

The province consists of the State of Sarawak in northern Borneo.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak was created in 1927 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching in 1952.  This became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1976.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral is in Kuching was built in 1969 and has an ironwood roof.  See stjosephkuching.org.

The first picture is from Flickr and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Miri was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and was promoted to a diocese in 1976.
• The Diocese of Sibu was created in 1986.

Province of Kota Kinabalu

The province consists of the State of Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan in northern Borneo.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and Borneo was created in 1855 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton in 1952.  This became the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu in 1976 and the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu in 2008.

Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kota Kinabalu was built between 1979 and 1981.  See sacredheartcathedralkk.org

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Keningau was created in 1992.
• The Diocese of Sandakan was created in 2007.

Papua New Guinea

Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited the island of New Guinea as early as the 16th Century, but Europeans were largely absent from New Guinea until the 19th Century.  The Dutch took control of the western half of the island and this is now part of Indonesia.  The eastern half was split between Germany and the United Kingdom in 1885.  The United Kingdom gave their portion to Australia in 1902 and Germany was forced to give its portion to Australia following the First World War.  Independence was gained in 1975 and the nation of Papua New Guinea was born.  Marists brought the Faith to what is now Papua New Guinea in 1844.

About 97 percent of Papua New Guinea’s 7.3 million people are Christian—70 percent Protestant and 27 percent Catholic.  Catholics are served by one of four ecclesiastic provinces:  Madang, Mount Hagen, Port Moresby, and Rabaul.

Province of Rabaul

The province consists of Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Melanesia was created in 1844 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Rabaul in 1966.  See www.archdioceseofrabaul.com.

Sacred Heart Cathedral is in Vunapope (Kokopo).

From YouTube

St. Francis Xavier Co-Cathedral in Rabaul was built in 1965 to replace a church destroyed during the Second World War.

From Panaramio.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Bougainville was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1898, became an apostolic vicariate in 1930, and was promoted to a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Kavieng was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1957 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Kimbe was created in 2003.

Province of Port Moresby

The province consists of the Southern Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Vicariate of New Guinea was established in 1889 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port Moresby in 1966.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is in Port Moresby and has a single tower.

Pictures are from Panaramio, TripAdvisor, and Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Alotau-Sideia was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1946, became an apostolic vicariate in 1956, and was promoted to a diocese in 1966.  It acquired its current name in 1975.
• The Diocese of Bereina was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Daru-Kiunga was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.  It acquired its current name in 1987.
• The Diocese of Kerema was created in 1971.

Province of Madang

The province consists of the Momase Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land was created in 1896 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern New Guinea in 1922.  This became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Madang in 1966.

Holy Spirit Cathedral is in Madang.

From a local newspaper.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Wewak was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1913, became and apostolic vicariate in 1931 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Aitape was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1952, became an apostolic vicariate in 1956, and a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Lae was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Vanimo was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1963 and became a diocese in 1966.

Province of Mount Hagen

The province consists of the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Mount Hagen was established in 1959, became a diocese in 1966, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1982.

Holy Trinity Cathedral in Mount Hagen was completed in 2017 and can hold 1,500 people. 

Both pictures are from a local Catholic newspaper.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Goroka was established in as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Mendi was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1958, became an apostolic vicariate in 1965, and a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Wabag was established in 1982.
• The Diocese of Kundiawa was established in 1982.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also missionary jurisdictions below the level of a diocese and these include apostolic vicariates and apostolic prefectures.