Sub-Parishes of St. Mary's

St. Mary's Parish is one of the parishes that make up the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu. It is on the east coast of Sabah and covers the Sandakan Residency which consists of Sandakan District, Kinabatangan District and Labuk/Sugut District.

It is situated within the town of Sandakan and located on a small hill. It is uniquely situated at the end of the road with plenty of parking space and a very exclusive environment away from the busy commercial center of Sandakan which is less that 1 km away. It is the mother church of the parish with a seating capacity of 1000 and also the main administration center of the parish. The rectory and the administration office is just behind the church building. A parish hall with two badminton courts with kitchen and accommodation facilities is just about 300 meters away.  Two primary schools, one for boys and the other for girls is within walking distance from the church. Also a convent for the nuns is within the area. A kindergarten school under the supervision of the nuns is also located within the vicinity.

Parishioners are made up of local Chinese, Kadazan, Filipinos and Timorese. Kadazan is the local native of the states. Filipinos originated from Philippines and the Timorese from Indonesia.

Masses are celebrated in English, Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia.

Built in 1971 with a seating capacity of  around 500, it is located along the main road leading to the airport at Mile 2. Masses are celebrated in English and Bahasa Malaysia.   A Kadazan mass is celebrated once a month for the benefit of the Kadazan speaking parishioners. Across the road is the St. Joseph Multi purpose hall which houses 3 badminton courts. It is used as the assembly hall for the students of the  St.Cecilia Convent Secondary School which is just behind the hall. Further up about 300M away is the St. Mary's Secondary Boys School.   

              St. Mark's Church    

It is on the outskirts of  town and is about 13 miles from the town centre. It has a seating capacity of 400 and was opened in January 22, 1993.It caters for parishioners from the surrounding areas who are farmers. Masses are celebrated in Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia as people around the vicinity are mostly Chinese, Kadazan and Timorese.

St. Peter's Church

It is a small chapel built within the village site in a land development scheme. Parishioners are usually from the land scheme planted with oil palm. Mass is celebrated once a month by the visiting parish priest or his assistant. On normal Sundays, communion services will be conducted by the catechists.

St. Paul's Church

It  is along the main trunk road to the state capital about 30 miles from Sandakan. Situated on top of a small hill on the right side of the road, it has a seating capacity of 600. It was open in 1995 and caters for people within the surrounding area consisting of agriculture land. Parishioners are of mainly of Kadazan and Timorese speaking the Bahasa Malaysia language. The parish priest or his assistant will make a visit once a month to celebrate mass on Sunday. Communion service is held on other Sundays when the priest is not available.

Jaya Bakti

A small chapel off the main road leading to Beluran and built with timber. Whenever the priest visits St. Paul's Church, he will also make a trip to this chapel and celebrate mass with the small group of faithful living here.

Our Lady of Fatima     

It is within the township of Beluran which is the administration centre for the Labuk/Sugut District 70 km from Sandakan. The church has a seating capacity of 400 and was built in 1992. It has a three rooms rectory and a parish hall . The parish priest or his assistant will make a visit once a month to celebrate mass. Masses are celebrated in Bahasa Malaysia as the parishioner are from the local residents who are mostly Kadazan.

Beluran is a small town located near the river estuary and fresh seafood is readily available.

Pelantong     

The Nativity Chapel, about 2 km from the Church of Our Lady of Fatimah, Beluran

The small wooden Nativity Chapel,  not far from the Our Lady of  Fatima Church,  where the priest will celebrate mass with the kampong people of the Catholic faith whenever he visits later in Beluran.  After the celebration, the parishioners will hold a gathering and share the food they have brought along with the priest.

Ladang Sabah

Located within a oil palm estate about 80 km from Sandakan, the parishioners are mainly the workers of the Ladang Sabah Oil Mill. Parishioners are mostly Kadazan and Timorese. It is visited by the the parish priest or his assistant once a month and mass is celebrated in Bahasa Malaysia.

Bukit Garam

Bukit Garam is situated in the Kinabatangan District about 50km from Sandakan along the Sandakan-Lahad Datu highway.  Mass is celebrated  in one of the parishioner's home. The priest will visit and celebrate with the parishioners whereby it is always felt as a family church.   It is located along the road leading to the jetty at the Kinabatangan River which is the longest river in Sabah. There are plans to acquire a parcel of land within the township to build a church .

Tomanggong

A small church within an oil palm plantation which caters mainly for workers within the estate. It is served by the 18 seaters Twin Otto services by Malaysia Airlines. The flight takes 30 minutes. By road, it takes about 5 hours. Mass is celebrated once a month in Bahasa Malaysia.

Paitan

It is also a remote area and it takes about a day by 4 wheel drive vehicle. It is a new mission land under St. Mary's Church. With the assistance of the villagers, a small church has been built and the catechists are helping out with pastoral work. The priest will visit the area to guide the catechists and celebrate mass with the faithful once in three months. The villagers consist of people of Sungei and Kadazan origin,

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