Archdiocese establishes two new parishes

KOTA KINABALU  – In conjunction with the major reshuffling of priests, Archbishop John Wong announced that two new parishes will be established effective October 1st, 2014. They are Holy Trinity, Madsiang-Inobong which is carved out from St Michael Penampang and St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kiulu, which used to be part of St John Tuaran. The reason behind such move is for effective and efficient pastoral administration since both Tuaran and Penampang have big territories and faithfuls.

Holy Trinity Madsiang-Inobong will comprise of Catholic communities in Zon Inobong, Zon Pogunon, Zon Kipouvo, Zon Babagon, and Zon Moyog whilst St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kiulu will cover Zon Kiulu, Zon Lokub and Zon Pukak. Fr Alex Sipanul is appointed as the first parish priest of Madsiang-Inobong to be assisted by Fr Jimsy Julius, and Fr Bruno Yasun the first parish priest of Kiulu with Fr Daniel Jomilong as his assistant.

With the establishment of these two new parishes, Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese now has 19 parishes with a total Catholic population of 204,374 (2013 estimates).

The yet-to-be completed Holy Trinity Church is built on Kampung Madsiang reserved and is donated from the kampung community, while the new church building is being fully sponsored by a donor.

Meanwhile, the records show that St Joseph’s chapel was built by Fr Terpstra, in 1961 in Kg Tombongon, to take better care of the needs of the faithful who were increasing in the area.