John Paujik (on left) talking with Bishop John Lee
The Roman Catholics in Sabah come under the shepherdship of two Dioceses, The Diocese of Kota Kinabalu and the Diocese of Keningau.
Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu, the older of the two Dioceses, on May 31, 1975. It has an estimated Catholic population of 171,426 (about 8.4% of the total population) with 19 parishes and 346 outstations which are most located at the rural parishes. Most of the parishes are Kadazandusun majority whilst Chinese Catholics are substantially found in the town parishes of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Kudat. The ethnic composition is, however, fast changing with increasing inter-marriages and the entry of Indonesian and Filipino Catholic migrants.
Bishop John Lee who is the second local priest appointed to the see heads the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu. His seat is located at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu. There are 28 priests of whom two are Mill Hill Society whilst the rest are diocesans. Of the total 117 religious sisters, the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception has 22 communities whilst the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Daughters of St. Paul and the Carmelites have only a community each. The La Salle and Mill Hill have brothers in the diocese as well.
By late 80s, the Local Church has grown in size and stature. When he took over the episcopate role of heading the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu in June 26, 1987, one of the first tasks of Bishop John Lee was to recommend for a division of the Diocese for easy governance. It was however not until May 4, 1993 that Rome announced the erection of a new diocese, the Diocese of Keningau which covers the interior division of Sabah.
Thus the boundary of the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu was re-delineated to a more pastorally managable size. Msgr. Cornelius Piong, the Vicar General of Kota Kinabalu, was ordained the first bishop of the new diocese.
The Diocese of Keningau has an estimated Catholic population of 76,827 out of about 354,518 persons. It has 9 Parishes with 166 outstations pastored by 9 priests.
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