Diocese of Sandakan
Latin Catholic diocese in Malaysia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Diocese of Sandakan (Dioecesis Sandakaanus; Keuskupan Sandakan: 山打根教区) is a Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction located in Sabah, at East Malaysia. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu. The diocese is subdivided into 5 parishes (Sandakan, Beluran, Lahad Datu, Telupid and Tawau) and 1 mission district (Paitan), covering the east coast portion of the state comprising the Sandakan as well as Tawau divisions.[1]
Diocese of Sandakan Dioecesis Sandakaanus Keuskupan Sandakan 山打根教区 | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Ecclesiastical province | Kota Kinabalu |
| Metropolitan | Kota Kinabalu |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 43,657 km2 (16,856 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 6 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 16 July 2007 |
| Cathedral | St. Mary's Cathedral in Sandakan |
| Patron saint | Saint Mary |
| Language | |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Datuk John Wong Soo Kau |
| Vicar General | David Alyosius Garaman |
| Website | |
| https://www.dioceseofsandakan.org/ | |
History
The diocese was created by the decree of papal bull "Missionalem per navitatem" on 16 July 2007,[2] and consist of the East Coast territory of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu. Julius Dusin Gitom was appointed as the first bishop of the diocese. The diocese covers the Sandakan and Tawau Divisions located in the East Coast of Sabah state.
Ordinaries
| No. | Portrait | Name | Period in office | Insignia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julius Dusin Gitom (born 1957) |
16 July 2007 – Present |
List of parishes
Five parishes and one mission are located in the Diocese of Sandakan.[3]
- St. Mary's Cathedral Parish, Sandakan
- Rector: Msgr. David Aloysius Garaman
- St. Dominic's Parish, Lahad Datu
- Rector: Rev. Fr. Stanley William Matakim
- Paitan Mission (St. Francis of Assisi's Church), Paitan, Beluran
- Administrator: Rev. Fr. Arthur John
- St. Martin's Parish, Telupid
- Rector: Rev. Fr. Christopher Ireneus
- Holy Trinity Parish, Tawau
- Rector: Rev. Fr. Raymond Lee Seng Huat
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Beluran
- Rector: Rev. Fr. Stephen Esguerra
