ASIA/MALAYSIA - The Pope creates diocese of Sandakan and appoints first Bishop

Tuesday, 17 July 2007

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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 16 July 2007 created the diocese of Sandakan (Malaysia), with territory taken from the diocese of Kota Kinabalu, making it suffragan of the metropolitan see of Kuching. The Holy Father appointed first Bishop of Sandakan (Malaysia) Rev. Julius Dusin Gitom, a priest of the diocese of Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia).
The first Bishop of Sandakan was born on 14 October 1957, at Kampung Loltos, diocese of Kota Kinabalu. He attended local schools until 1977. He worked for two years as laboratory assistant for Tobishima Construction. After which he studied for three months preparing to enter St. Peter’s College major seminary in Kuching, for studies in philosophy and theology. He was ordained a priest on 19 November 1989 for the diocese of Kota Kinabalu. Since then he has ministered as follows: 1990-1994: assistant priest at St. Dominic’s Parish, Lahad Tuaran; 1994-1995: parish priest at St. John’s Parish, Tuaran; 1995-1998: Studies in Roma for a Licentiate in Moral Theology at the Alphonsianum and for a Masters in Spirituality at the Angelicum; 1998-2003: teachers at St. Peter’s College major seminary Kuching; 2004-2007: Studies for a licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University San Tomaso in Manila, Philippines.
Info: - the new diocese of Sandakan (nom. lat. Sandakanan/us/), comprises two administrative districts in the state Sabah, Sandakan and Tawau (East Coast Division) and is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Kuching.
Sandakan: area 43.657sq km; population 1.000.000; Catholics 64.000; parishes 4; diocesan priests 6; women religious 2; major seminarians 1; catechists 16.
Kota Kinabalu (after the division): area 11.558 sq km; population 2.000.000; Catholics 140.000; parishes 15; diocesan priests 28; women religious 17; major seminarians 5; catechists 30.
St. Mary's parish church Sandakan will be the cathedral of the new diocese. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2007; righe 26, parole 315)