Diocese of

Penang UCA 𝐖

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

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: January 20

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1955.02.25: Established as Diocese of Penang / 檳城 (正體中文) / Pinangen(sis) (Latin) (from Archdiocese of Malacca and became suffragan of Malacca–Singapore)
1972.12.18: Became suffragan of Kuala Lumpur

Present Prelates

Bishop (2012.07.07 – ...):

Cardinal Sebastian Francis (施恩天) (73)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Causa Nostræ Lætitiæ

Ordinaries

Bishops of Penang (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Sebastian Francis (施恩天) (73)
(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 (89)
(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 († 54)

Bishop of Penang (Malaysia) (1955.02.25 – 1967.12.20)

Special Churches

Cathedral, World Heritage Site (Minor): Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, George Town, Pulau Pinang
Former Cathedral, World Heritage Site (Minor): Church of the Assumption, George Town, Pulau Pinang
Minor Basilica: Basilica of St. Anne, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
Shrines in the Ordinary Jubilee 2025

Churches by City (34)

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

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2024.12.18

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