Diocese of Melaka–Johor, Malaysia

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Melaka–Johor / 馬六甲・柔佛 (正體中文) / Melakan(us)–Giohoran(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Kuala Lumpur

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: February 19

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1558.02.04: Established as Diocese of Malacca / 馬六甲 (正體中文) / Malacen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Goa and became suffragan of Goa)
1576.01.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Macau 澳門
1712: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Islands of the Indian Ocean
1838: Suppressed (to Apostolic Vicariate of Ava and Pegu)
1841.09.10: Restored as Apostolic Vicariate of Western Siam (English) / Malay Peninsula / 暹羅西境 (正體中文) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Siam)
1886.06.28: Lost territory to Diocese of Macau 澳門
1888.08.19: Promoted as Diocese of Malacca (English) / 馬六甲 (正體中文) / Malacen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Pondicherry)
1953.09.19: Promoted as Archdiocese of Malacca (English) / 馬六甲 (正體中文) / Malacen(sis) (Latin) (without ecclesiastical province)
1955.02.25: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malacca–Singapore / 馬六甲・新加坡 (正體中文) / Malacen(sis)–Singaporen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Kuala Lumpur and Penang and lost territory to establish Diocese of Kuala Lumpur and Diocese of Penang)
1972.12.18: Demoted as Diocese of Malacca–Johor / 馬六甲・柔佛 (正體中文) / Malacen(sis)–Giohoran(us) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Archdiocese of Singapore and became suffragan of Kuala Lumpur)
1981.05.27: Gained territory from Diocese of Macau 澳門
1985.05.27: Renamed as Diocese of Melaka–Johor / 馬六甲・柔佛 (正體中文) / Melakan(us)–Giohoran(us) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.11.19 – ...):

Bishop Anthony Bernard Paul (71)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Melaka–Johor (Roman Rite)

Bishop Anthony Bernard Paul (71)
(2015.11.19 – ...)

Bishop of Melaka–Johor (Malaysia)

Take, bless, break, give

Born:	1953.07.06 (Alor Star, Malaysia)
Ordained Priest:	1989.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.01.12

Priest of Penang (Malaysia) (1989.07.21 – 2015.11.19)

Bishop of Melaka–Johor (Malaysia) (2015.11.19 – ...)

Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing (陳志音), S.J. (84)
(2003.02.13 – 2015.11.19)

Bishop emeritus of Melaka–Johor (Malaysia)

Amare in omnibus et servire

Born:	1940.04.05 (Muar, Malaysia)
Ordained Priest:	1971.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.05.15

Bishop of Melaka–Johor (Malaysia) (2003.02.13 – 2015.11.19)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (2011.01.01 – 2012.08)

Bishop James Chan Soon Cheong (曾順祥)
(1972.12.18 – 2001.12.10)

To serve is my joy

Born:	1926.07.26 (Selama, Malaysia)
Ordained Priest:	1959.08.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.06.08
Died:	2023.04.22 (Plentong, Malaysia † 96)

Priest of Malacca–Singapore (Malaysia) (1959.08.09 – 1972.12.18)

Bishop of Melaka–Johor (Malaysia) (1972.12.18 – 2001.12.10)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Malacca–Singapore (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Michel Olçomendy (奧爾科曼迪), M.E.P.
(1955.02.25 – 1972.12.18)

Born:	1901.08.29 (Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry, France)
Ordained Priest:	1926.05.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.06.01
Died:	1977.07.04 (Singapore † 75)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1947.01.21 – 1953.09.19)

Archbishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1953.09.19 – 1955.02.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malacca–Singapore (Malaysia) (1955.02.25 – 1972.12.18)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (1964 – 1969)

Archbishop of Singapore (Singapore) (1972.12.18 – 1977.02.03)

Archbishops of Malacca (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Michel Olçomendy (奧爾科曼迪), M.E.P.
(1953.09.19 – 1955.02.25)

(see above)

Bishops of Malacca (Roman Rite)

Bishop Michel Olçomendy (奧爾科曼迪), M.E.P. (later Archbishop)
(1947.01.21 – 1953.09.19)

(see above)

Bishop Adrien Pierre Devals, M.E.P.
(1933.11.27 – 1945.01.17)

Born:	1882.11.19 (Quins, France)
Ordained Priest:	1906.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1934.04.15
Died:	1945.01.17 († 62)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1933.11.27 – 1945.01.17)

Bishop Émile Marie-Luc-Alphonse Barillon, M.E.P.
(1904.05.10 – 1933.01.10)

Born:	1860.10.18 (Lumeau, France)
Ordained Priest:	1884.09.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1904.09.18
Died:	1935.07.27 (Singapore † 74)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1904.05.10 – 1933.01.10)

Titular Bishop of Thaumacus (1933.01.10 – 1935.07.27)

Bishop René-Michel-Marie Fée, M.E.P.
(1896.07.21 – 1904.01.20)

Born:	1856.02.05 (Ambrières-le-Grand, France)
Ordained Priest:	1879.03.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1896.11.22
Died:	1904.01.20 († 47)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1896.07.21 – 1904.01.20)

Bishop Édouard Gasnier, M.E.P.
(1888.08.19 – 1896.04.08)

Born:	1833.05.04 (Angers, France)
Ordained Priest:	1857.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1878.06.02
Died:	1896.04.08 († 62)

Titular Bishop of Eucarpia (1878.03.28 – 1888.08.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Siam (Malaysia) (1878.03.28 – 1888.08.19)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1888.08.19 – 1896.04.08)

Vicars Apostolic of Western Siam (Roman Rite)

Bishop Édouard Gasnier, M.E.P.
(1878.03.28 – 1888.08.19)

(see above)

Bishop Michel-Esther Le Turdu, M.E.P.
(1871.03.06 – 1877.05.10)

Born:	1826.07.17 (Quintin, France)
Ordained Priest:	1850.03.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1871.05.14
Died:	1877.05.10 (Paris, France † 50)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western Siam (Malaysia) (1871.01.23 – 1871.03.06)

Titular Bishop of Corycus (1871.01.23 – 1877.05.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Siam (Malaysia) (1871.03.06 – 1877.05.10)

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Boucho, M.E.P.
(1845.06.03 – 1871.03.06)

Born:	1797.03.19 (Athos-Aspis, France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1845.10.19
Died:	1871.03.06 († 73)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Siam (Malaysia) (1845.06.03 – 1871.03.06)

Titular Bishop of Attalia (1845.06.10 – 1871.03.06)

Bishop Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy, M.E.P.
(1841.09.10 – 1844.09.07)

Born:	1792.01.14 (Narbonne, France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1833.11.30
Died:	1857.05.01 († 65)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1832.04.05 – 1834.03.30)

Titular Bishop of Bitha (1832.04.05 – 1857.05.01)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1834.03.30 – 1841.09.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Siam (Malaysia) (1841.09.10 – 1844.09.07)

Bishops of Malacca (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco de São Dâmaso de Abreu Vieira, O.F.M. (later Archbishop)
(1804.10.29 – 1815.03.15)

Born:	1767.12.11 (Guimarães, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1792.06.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1805.01.27
Died:	1816.11.18 († 48)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1804.10.29 – 1815.03.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (1815.03.15 – 1816.11.18)

Bishop Alexandre da Sagrada Familia Ferreira da Silva, O.F.M.
(1782.12.16 – 1785.02.14)

Born:	1737.05.23 (Horta, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1763.12.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1783.02.24
Died:	1818.04.23 († 80)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1782.12.16 – 1785.02.14)

Bishop of São Paulo de Loanda (Angola) (1785.02.14 – 1787.11.23)

Bishop of Angra (Portugal) (1815.12.18 – 1818.04.23)

Bishop Gerardo de San José, O.P.
(1748.02.19 – 1760.01)

Born:	1709.10 (Cacilhas, Portugal)
Died:	1760.01 († 50)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1748.02.19 – 1760.01)

Bishop Miguel de Bulhões e Souza, O.P.
(1746.03.28 – 1747.12.08)

Born:	1706.04 (Verdemilho, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1730.03.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1746.06.29
Died:	1779.09.14 († 73)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1746.03.28 – 1747.12.08)

Coadjutor Bishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (1747.12.08 – 1748.05.18)

Bishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (1748.05.18 – 1760.03.24)

Bishop of Leiria (Portugal) (1760.03.24 – 1779.09.14)

Bishop Antonius de Castro
(1738.09.03 – 1743.08.09)

Born:	1707.01.15 (Villa de Rey, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1731.05.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1738.10.05
Died:	1743.08.09 († 36)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1738.09.03 – 1743.08.09)

Bishop Emmanuel a Santo Antonio, O.P.
(1701.11.21 – ?)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1701.11.21 – ?)

Bishop Antonio de Sancta Theresa, O.F.M.
(1692 – ?)

Consecrated Bishop:

1692.01.13

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1692 – ?)

Fr. Gregório dos Anjos (later Bishop)
(? – 1677.08.30 not possessed)

Born:	1612 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1635
Consecrated Bishop:	1678.01.23
Died:	1689.05.11 († 76)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (? – 1677.08.30 not possessed)

Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1677.08.30 – 1689.05.11)

Bishop Gonçalvo da Silva
(1613.02.04 – 1632.09.06)

Born:	1568 (Portugal)
Died:	1649.02.16 († 80)

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1613.02.04 – 1632.09.06)

Bishop of Ceuta (Spain) (1632.09.06 – 1645)

Prefect Apostolic of Marruecos (Morocco) (1632.09.06 – 1649.02.16)

Bishop João Ribeiro Gaio
(1579 – 1601)

Died:

1601

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1579 – 1601)

Bishop Jorge de Santa Luzia, O.P.
(1558.02.04 – 1578)

Consecrated Bishop:	1558.04.03
Died:	1579.01.18

Bishop of Malacca (Malaysia) (1558.02.04 – 1578)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Pierre Louis Perrichon, M.E.P. (1920.08.02 – 1932.08.11)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop-elect Michel-Esther Le Turdu, M.E.P. (1871.01.23 – 1871.03.06)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Paul Ambroise Bigandet, M.E.P. (1846.03.27 – 1866)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Johor Bahru, Johor
Former Cathedral: Church of St. Peter, Melaka, Melaka
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (24)

Padang (↙), Kuala Lumpur (↖), Kuching (→), Singapore (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 20,878 km²

Population: 43,569 Catholics (0.7% of 6,102,610 total)

Pastoral Centres: 22 parishes

Personnel: 36 priests (27 diocesan, 9 religious), 9 deacons, 59 religious (13 brothers, 46 sisters), 7 seminarians