Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
Tel: +673 2222261
Fax: +673 2238938
No. 11, Jalan Kumbang Pasang, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8671. Brunei Darussalam.
Parish Priest: Fr Arin Sugit (asugit@yahoo.com.sg)
St. John’s Church
Tel: +673 3334207
No. 36, Jalan Bunga Raya, Kuala Belait, KA1189. Brunei Darussalam.
Parish Priest: Fr Paul Shie (frpaulshie@gmail.com)
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
Tel: +673 3222304
Fax: +673 3287260
Lot 2649, No. 49, Jalan Lorong 1 Barat, KB3533. Brunei Darussalam.
Parish Priest: Fr Robert Leong (frrobert@outlook.com)
General Vicariate Information
Vicariate of Brunei 2023 directory
Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
Crest of the Apostolic Vicariate
The design of the Crest presents what the Catholic Church is in Brunei Darussalam. Taking its inspiration from the coat of arms of Bishop Cornelius, the crest shows the sea, the boat, the star and the motto.
Like in the Bishop’s coat of arms, the sea with its waves represents the challenging realities of human life. The boat, which represents the Church, has a cross and a sail. The cross signifies the centrality of Jesus Christ as the foundation of the Catholic Christian faith. The sail, which is in the shape of a dove, signifies the Holy Spirit that keeps the Church going in its faith journey. The star, which represents Mary, the mother of our Lord, recognizes the importance of Mary as a sign of hope and guiding star for Christians as they traverse the testing seawaves of life.
However, unlike the Bishop’s coat of arms, the Crest has two modifications. First, the motto “Duc In Altum” is not written in the crest but is implied by adding a net from the boat; a boat casting its net “into the deep” or the Church. Second, in the coat of arms, the boat, which is the Church, is sailing inward; representing the arrival of the teaching authority of the Bishop in deepening the faith of Christians in Brunei Darussalam. In the crest, the boat is sailing outward, reminding the Catholic faithful of the Church’s apostolic role of bringing Jesus Christ into the local community and beyond in unfamiliar situations or locations.
Seat of the Vicariate
In Brunei Darussalam, the Mother Church is at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Bandar Seri Begawan. This Church serves as the central church of the Vicariate and houses the cathedra or the bishop’s chair or throne which symbolizes his teaching authority and his role as a teacher in the Catholic Church. It also provides support to the office of the bishop or the chancery and is his official residence.
Bishop Cornelius is supported by 3 local priests, the parish pastoral councils in the three (3) parishes as well as special bodies or commissions established to carry out various pastoral and missionary programs or activities of the Catholic Church in Brunei Darussalam.
Mission and Vision of the Vicariate
The mission and vision statements present the Vicariate’s identity, the source of that identity, its purpose, objectives, aspirations and the general approach of reaching those objectives and aspirations.
The Catholic Church has only one mission and one vision. Its mission is to “continue the works of Jesus Christ” and to make His name known and loved.
The following verses from the Holy Bible may provide the essence of the Church’s mission:
- Matthew 28:19-20 —“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
- Luke 10:27 -“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself”.
- Matthew 25:35-38 —“for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?’”
The Church’s vision is for all peoples to be united with God in His kingdom. The following verses from Matthew provide Jesus’ assuring words for that vision.
- Matthew 25:31-34 -“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’”
Given that Catholic Churches in various parts of the world have unique circumstances and situations, those churches, that is, the Catholic faithful, under the guidance of a Catholic bishop formulate mission and vision statements that are consistent with the universal mission and vision of the Catholic Church. In Brunei Darussalam, the Church has formulated the following mission and vision statements:
Mission
We, the Catholic faithful of the Apostolic Vicariate in Brunei Darussalam, embracing our different cultural backgrounds, uphold our Catholic identity founded on a faith community gathered in worship around the Word and the Sacraments.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are commissioned to continue the mission of Jesus as active ministers of the Church and stewards of God’s gifts, and by living out the Gospel’s values as we reach out to the members of the society we live in. Under the guidance of our Apostolic Vicar and in the spirit of love and unity, we will become a visible sign of Christ’s presence in this country and beyond.
Vision
The Catholic Church in Brunei Darussalam is a welcoming community which is sustained by committed local leaders and a laity empowered in the Holy Spirit to be living witnesses to Christ’s Presence.
We are a church that continues her work of service through her ministering to all God’s people. Especially the youth and the unchurched by promoting and nurturing holiness, discipleship and stewardship.
Parishes
The Vicariate has 3 parishes; namely, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Bandar Seri Begawan; the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Seria; and the Church of St John in Kuala Belait. The vicariate has several smaller Catholic communities in the country. (See map for approximate location of the parishes in Brunei Darussalam)
Map of Brunei showing location of parishes
Milestones of the Church in Brunei
1325 Odoric of Pordenone first missionary to come to the island of Borneo
1587 Two Spanish Franciscan missionaries called into Brunei — Fransesco de Santa Maria and Miguel Juan de Plasencia.
1688 Theatine Priest, Fr. Antonio Ventimiglia arrived in Borneo and became the first Vicar Apostolic.
1855 Brunei became part of the Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and North Borneo
1858 Barambangan mission — Fr Riva of the Milan Foreign Missionaries (now known as PIME) was put in charge – he built a church and dedicated it to Our Lady of Every Grace.
1881 Mill Hill Missionaries in Labuan.
1915 First recorded baptism of a Bruneian, baptism done in Labuan: Lucia Liew by Fr. A. Williams, MHM.
1919 First recorded baptism in Brunei by Fr. A. Williams of Francis Newn.
1927 Brunei became part of the Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak, Labuan and Brunei.
1932 First Resident priest in Brunei was Fr. A. Stotter
1936 Kuala Belait was made a head station with Fr Crowther, MHM as the first Resident priest in Kuala Belait.
1937 Fr Piet Dc Wit was appointed to assist Fr. Crowther. He started the first Catholic school in a rented house owned by Mr Kay in Jalan Padang.
1939 The Rectory in Kuala Belait built by Fr Crowther, MHM
1941 Mr George Newn Ah Foott donated a piece of land in Jalan Kumbang Pasang on which a school, a chapel and the priest living quarters were built.
1952 Brunei became part of the Apostolic Vicaritate of Kuching.
1953 Fr Herman Planner officially opened the church in Kuala Belait.
1956 The Convent in Seria was set up by the sisters of St Joseph.
1957 Seria became the head station.
1959 Vicar Apostolic of Miri-Brunei was formed with Bishop Anthony Galvin as Vicar Apostolic.
1976 Brunei became part of the Diocese of Miri-Brunei
1985 Fr Ivan Fang ordained by Bishop Comelio de Wit at St Joseph College, Mill Hill, London.
1989 Fr Cornelius Sim was ordained by Bishop Anthony Lee in Seria.
1991 Departure of Fr Chiang (Jan 7) and Fr McClorey (Feb 18).
1991 Sr Celestine Ho, principal of St Angela’s Girls School at Seria and Sr Eamonn Chan, a teacher at the same school, return to Malaysia on Feb 18 and Feb 24 respectively
1992 Fr Ivan Fang, MHM. was appointed as parish priest to Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.
1997 Establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei Darussalam.
1998 Msgr Cornelius Sim was installed as Apostolic Prefect for Brunei Darussalam
1999 Fr. Paul Shie was ordained by Bishop Anthony Lee in Bandar Seri Begawan.
2003 Fr Robert Leong was ordained by Bishop Anthony Lee in Kuala Belait.
2004 John Paul II on October 20 established the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei and appointed Msgr Cornelius Sim as its first bishop.
2005 Ordination of Bishop Cornelius Sim, D.D. in Bandar Seri Begawan
2006 St. Michael School closes at the end of December 2006
2007 St. Angela’s School became co-ed beginning January 2007
2008 Fr Arin Sugit was ordained by Bishop Cornelius Sim in Seria
2020 Bishop Cornelius Sim was elevated by Pope Francis to become the first Cardinal-designate from Brunei Darussalam and also the first Cardinal-designate from Borneo.
2021 His Eminence Cornelius Cardinal Sim passed away on 29.5.2021. May he rest in peace.
Over the years, the Catholic Church in Brunei has been part of several ecclesiastical circumscriptions:
- Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and North Borneo (Aug 27, 1855)
- Apostolic Prefecture of North Borneo (Feb 27, 1927)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching (Feb 14,1952)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Miri-Brunei (Dec 19, 1959)
- Diocese of Miri-Brunei (May 31, 1976)
- Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei Darussalam (Nov 21, 1997)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam (Oct 20, 2004)
Bishop Ordination:
Bishop Cornelius Sim January 21, 2005
Priesthood Ordinations:
Rev Ivan Fang, MHM November 30, 1985
Rev Cornelius Sim November 26, 1989
Rev Paul Shie August 16, 1999
Rev Robert Leong August 10, 2003
Rev Arin Sugit December 8, 2008
Seminarian
Karel Anak Tingang St Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Singapore.
Alister Tieng St Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Singapore
Apostolic Vicariate in Brunei Darussalam 