Diocese of

Penang

Malaysia Malaysia

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Penang / 檳城 (正體中文) / Pinangen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Kuala Lumpur

Neighbouring Dioceses: Medan (↙), Surat Thani (↑), Kuala Lumpur (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: January 20

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

Present Prelates

Bishop (2012.07.07 – ...):Cardinal Sebastian Francis (74)Cardinal Sebastian Francis (施恩天) (74)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Causa Nostræ Lætitiæ

Ordinaries

Bishops of Penang (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Sebastian Francis (74)Cardinal Sebastian Francis (施恩天) (74)
(2012.07.07 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Causa Nostræ Lætitiæ
Bishop of Penang (Malaysia)

Fiat voluntas tua

Born:1951.11.11 (Johor Bahru, Malaysia)
Ordained Priest:1977.07.28
Consecrated Bishop:2012.08.20
Created Cardinal:2023.09.30

Priest of Melaka–Johor (Malaysia) (1977.07.28 – 2012.07.07)

Bishop of Penang (Malaysia) (2012.07.07 – ...)

Vice-President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (2015.01.01 – 2017.01.01)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (2017.01.01 – 2023.09.01)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Causa Nostræ Lætitiæ (2023.09.30 [2024.05.12] – ...)

Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam (90)Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam (90)
(1983.07.02 – 2012.07.07)

Bishop emeritus of Penang (Malaysia)

Yesus Harus Makin Besar

Born:1935.10.24 (Bentong, Malaysia)
Ordained Priest:1969.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:1980.09.01

Priest of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) (1969.12.20 – 1980.03.06)

Titular Bishop of Giru Mons (1980.03.06 – 1983.07.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) (1980.03.06 – 1983.07.02)

Bishop of Penang (Malaysia) (1983.07.02 – 2012.07.07)

Bishop Anthony Soter Fernandez (later Cardinal)
(1977.09.29 – 1983.07.02)

Keadilan dan keamanan

Born:1932.04.22 (Sungai Patani, Malaysia)
Ordained Priest:1966.12.10
Consecrated Bishop:1978.02.17
Created Cardinal:2016.11.19
Died:2020.10.28 (Cheras, Malaysia † 88)

Priest of Penang (Malaysia) (1966.12.10 – 1977.09.29)

Bishop of Penang (Malaysia) (1977.09.29 – 1983.07.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) (1983.07.02 – 2003.05.24)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (1987 – 1990)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (2000 – 2003)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Alberto Magno (2016.11.19 [2016.11.21] – 2020.10.28)

Bishop Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean (楊瑞元) (later Archbishop)
(1968.04.09 – 1977.02.03)

Born:1925.05.20 (Batu Gajah, Malaysia)
Ordained Priest:1951.12.03
Consecrated Bishop:1968.07.01
Died:2008.06.28 († 83)

Bishop of Penang (Malaysia) (1968.04.09 – 1977.02.03)

Archbishop of Singapore (Singapore) (1977.02.03 – 2000.10.14)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (1980 – 1987)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (1990 – 1994)

Bishop Francis Chan
(1955.02.25 – 1967.12.20)

Born:1913.07.25 (Singapore)
Ordained Priest:1939.12.04
Consecrated Bishop:1955.08.28
Died:1967.12.20 (Penang, Malaysia † 54)

Bishop of Penang (Malaysia) (1955.02.25 – 1967.12.20)

Special Churches

Churches by City (35)

Medan (↙), Surat Thani (↑), Kuala Lumpur (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 46,855 km²

Population: 61,840 Catholics (0.8% of 7,288,965 total)

Pastoral Centres: 29 parishes

Personnel: 45 priests (37 diocesan, 8 religious), 5 deacons, 82 religious (16 brothers, 66 sisters), 10 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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