The Diocese of Kota Kinabalu
is located in the Malaysian state of Sabah. It is one of two dioceses in the
state, the other being the Diocese of Keningau. It was erected by Pope Paul VI
on May 31, 1975. In 1995, it has an estimated Catholic population of 158,000
(about 9% of the total population) with 19 parishes and 330 outstations which
are mostly located at the rural parishes.
Most of the parishes are
Kadazandusun-majority whilst Chinese Catholics are substantially found in the
town parishes of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Kudat. The ethnic
composition is, however, fast changing with increasing inter-marriages and the
entry of Indonesian and Filipino Catholic migrants.
The diocese is headed by
Bishop John Lee who is the second local priest appointed to the see. His seat
is located at the
Sacred Heart Cathedral,
Kota Kinabalu. There are 27 priests of whom two are of the Mill Hill Society
whilst the rest are diocesans. Of the total 117 religious sisters, the
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception has 22 communities whlist the
Good Shepherd sisters, the Daughters of St.Paul and the Carmelite have only a
community each. The La Salle and Mill Hill have their brothers in the diocese
as well.
