{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] --> {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox Christian denomination | icon = Emblem_of_the_Papacy_SE.svg | icon_width = 25px | icon_alt = | name = Catholic Church in Brunei | native_name = {{langx|ms|Gereja Roman Katolik Di Negara Brunei Darussalam}} | native_name_lang = ms | image = St. Andrew's Church in Brunei.jpg | imagewidth = 250px | alt = | caption = St. Andrew's Church, [[Bandar Seri Begawan]] | abbreviation = | type = [[National polity]] | main_classification = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] | orientation = [[Asian Christianity]], [[Latin Church|Latin]] | scripture = [[Bible]] | theology = [[Catholic theology]] | polity = | governance = [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei|CBCMSB]] | structure = | leader_title = [[Pope]] | leader_name = {{incumbent pope}} | leader_title1 = [[Apostolic Delegation to Brunei Darussalam|Apostolic Delegate]] | leader_name1 = [[Wojciech Załuski]] | leader_title2 = [[Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei|Bishop]] | leader_name2 = ''[[Sede vacante]]'' | fellowships_type = | fellowships = | fellowships_type1 = | fellowships1 = | division_type = | division = | division_type1 = | division1 = | division_type2 = | division2 = | division_type3 = | division3 = | associations = | area = [[Brunei]] | language = [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Ecclesiastical Latin|Latin]] | headquarters = [[Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Brunei)|Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption]] | origin_link = | founder = | founded_date = | founded_place = | separated_from = | parent = | merger = | absorbed = | separations = | merged_into = | defunct = | congregations_type = | congregations = | members = 16,800 (3.6%)<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei |url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/statistics/brunei-brunei/307 |access-date=10 September 2025 |website=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]]}}</ref> | ministers_type = | ministers = | missionaries = | churches = | hospitals = | nursing_homes = | aid = | primary_schools = | secondary_schools = | tax_status = | tertiary = | other_names = | publications = | website = | slogan = | logo = | footnotes = }} {{Catholic Church by country}} The '''Catholic Church in Brunei Darussalam''' is a part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], in communion with the [[pope]] in [[Holy See|Rome]], and constitutionally recognised within the state of [[Brunei Darussalam]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Brunei Catholic Church: 'the periphery within the periphery'|url= https://www.combonimissionaries.co.uk/index.php/2021/04/13/brunei-catholic-church-the-periphery-within-the-periphery/ |date=13 April 2021|accessdate=29 January 2023|publisher=Comboni Missionaries|archive-date=7 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807162023/https://www.combonimissionaries.co.uk/index.php/2021/04/13/brunei-catholic-church-the-periphery-within-the-periphery/|url-status=live}}</ref> The entire territory of the Church in [[Brunei]] is organised as an [[Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei|apostolic vicariate]], under the leadership of a bishop, since 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/BN.htm | title=Catholic Church in Brunei }}</ref>
While no formal diplomatic relations exist between the [[Holy See]] and [[Brunei]], there are existing quasi-diplomatic contacts between the church and government agencies at multiple levels.<ref name="churchlives">{{cite news | access-date = 29 January 2023 | title = Church lives in smaller countries, says cardinal-elect of Brunei | url = https://www.ucanews.com/news/church-lives-in-smaller-countries-says-cardinal-elect-of-brunei/90156 | date = 1999| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105093427/https://www.ucanews.com/news/church-lives-in-smaller-countries-says-cardinal-elect-of-brunei/90156 |archive-date=5 November 2022}}</ref> Since 1990, a papal nuncio has visited the country annually to make contact with the local church as well as the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Brunei)|foreign affairs ministry]].<ref name="hiddenchurch">{{cite news | access-date = 29 January 2023 | title = Cardinal Cornelius Sim: Ours is a 'hidden' Church, 'not noisy', small but alive | url = https://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/cardinal-cornelius-sim-ours-is-a-hidden-church-not-noisy-small-but-alive/56607/5 | date = 19 November 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124121258/https://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/cardinal-cornelius-sim-ours-is-a-hidden-church-not-noisy-small-but-alive/56607/5 |archive-date=24 November 2020}}</ref> The [[Apostolic Delegation to Brunei Darussalam]] was established in 1998 following the establishment of the distinct Bruneian ecclesiastical territory as an apostolic prefecture.<ref>{{cite book | access-date = 2 December 2019 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-91-1999-ocr.pdf | date = 1999| volume = XCI | page= 474}}</ref><ref name="Gomes">{{cite news|title=Pope praises 'generous service' of late Cardinal Sim of Brunei|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-05/brunei-cardinal-sim-death.html|first=Robin|last=Gomes|date=29 May 2021|accessdate=29 May 2021|publisher=Vatican News|archive-date=29 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529130748/https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-05/brunei-cardinal-sim-death.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bruneian ecclesiastical jurisdiction falls under the purview of the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei]].
In the modern day, the Catholic Church has been said to play an "important role" in interreligious dialogue in Brunei.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brunei's first cardinal passes away at 69 |url=https://thescoop.co/2021/05/29/bruneis-first-cardinal-passes-away-at-69/|newspaper=The Scoop Brunei|date=May 2021|access-date=6 August 2021|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806133159/https://thescoop.co/2021/05/29/bruneis-first-cardinal-passes-away-at-69/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Early history== The first recorded Catholic missionaries arrived in Brunei in 1587, in the form of two [[Spaniards|Spanish]] [[Franciscan]] [[priest]]s. However, it was not until 1855 that Brunei was included under its first ecclesiastical circumscription, as part of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu|Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and North Borneo]], and formally included under that territory in 1927.<ref name=vicariatehome>{{citation | title=Milestones of the Church in Brunei|url= https://rcvbd.com/home/ |date=29 January 2023|accessdate=29 January 2023|publisher=Apostolic Vicariate in Brunei Darussalam|archive-date=6 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206105531/https://rcvbd.com/home/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=rooney>{{cite thesis |last=Rooney|first=John|date=June 1981|title=A History of the Catholic Church in East Malaysia and Brunei (1880-1976)|type=Ph.D.|publisher=[[SOAS University of London]]|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2176892200|id={{ProQuest|2176892200}}|pages=45|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> During the intervening years, a small church was set up in Brunei, dedicated to Our Lady of Every Grace, while the first baptisms of Bruneians were recorded.<ref name=vicariatehome/> The church was eventually dismantled.
In 1929, the first church and mission school building to be physically located in the town of [[Kuala Belait]] in a multi-purpose building were established. The Kuala Belait Catholic community came to be known under the patronage of St. John during the 1950s.<ref name=vicariatehome/> Up until this point, Brunei had been serving as an [[outstation (church)|outstation]] of Our Blessed Sacrament Parish in [[Labuan]].<ref name=vicariatehome/><ref name=rooney/> Fr. Crowther of the [[Mill Hill Missionaries]] was made the first resident priest in the state of Brunei; other clergy visited from neighbouring missions intermittently.<ref name=vicariatehome/>
In 1941, another mission was established in then [[Bandar Seri Begawan|Brunei Town]], with a building constructed on donated land that included church, living quarters and school facilities; the school and church came under the titled name of St. George.<ref name=stgeorge>{{citation | title=Our History - St. George's School, Brunei Darussalam |url=https://stgeorges.edu.bn/default.asp?p=21 |date=2 April 2011|accessdate=6 February 2023|publisher=St George's School, Brunei Darussalam|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129143403/https://stgeorges.edu.bn/default.asp?p=21|url-status=live}}</ref> The resident priest was the principal.<ref name=stgeorge/> During the [[Japanese occupation of British Borneo|Japanese occupation]], the school and church facilities ceased to function for their originally designated purposes, and were partly utilized by [[Japan]]ese forces; the mission continued after the closing of hostilities.<ref name=stgeorge/>
In 1945, the Mill Hill Missionaries and the [[Sisters of St. Joseph]] combined efforts to form the [[Seria]] English School, then located on the present day location of [[Brunei Shell Petroleum|Brunei Shell Recreation Club]].<ref name=vicariatehome/><ref name=stangela>{{citation | title=ST.ANGELA'S SCHOOL, BRUNEI |url=https://stangelaschool.wordpress.com/about-us/ |accessdate=9 February 2023|publisher=St Angela's School, Brunei Darussalam}}</ref> In 1952, coinciding with the period in which Brunei became listed under the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching|Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching]], the Seria English School was relocated to elsewhere in Seria town, and renamed St. Michael's School, which had become overcrowded with male and female students by 1955.<ref name=vicariatehome/><ref name=stangela/> During 1955, the Church of Our Lady (colloquially referred to as St Michael's Church) was opened.<ref name=vicariatehome/> In 1956, the Sisters of St. Joseph established St. Angela's School, up the road from St Michael's School, and the former was officially designated as an all-girls school, with the latter becoming an all-boys school.<ref name=vicariatehome/><ref name=stangela/> Following this development of infrastructure in the area, Seria became the headstation of the Brunei mission.<ref name=vicariatehome/>
Between 1959 and 1976, the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri|Apostolic Vicariate of Miri-Brunei]] was formed, which eventually was raised to Diocese of Miri-Brunei.<ref name=vicariatehome/>
==Elevation to distinct territory== On 21 November 1997, [[Pope John Paul II]] elevated Brunei to the status of an apostolic prefecture; for the first time in history, Brunei was to become a distinct ecclesiastical jurisdiction.<ref name=apostolicconstitution>{{cite press release| language = it | url= https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/la/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19971121_bruneiensis.html |title=PRAEFECTURA APOSTOLICA BRUNEIENSIS CONSTITUITUR |accessdate=4 February 2023 | date=21 November 1997 |publisher= Holy See Press Office}}</ref> [[Cornelius Sim]] was appointed as the country's first [[apostolic prefect]]; he had been [[vicar general]] of the then [[Diocese of Miri|Diocese of Miri-Brunei]].<ref name=CNA>{{cite news| url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247836/cardinal-cornelius-sim-has-died-at-age-69 |title=Cardinal Cornelius Sim has died at age 69 |accessdate=6 February 2023 | date=29 May 2021 |publisher= Catholic News Agency | author= Mares, Courtney}}</ref><ref name="BB funeral">{{cite news|title=Foreign envoys pay last respect to Cardinal Cornelius Sim|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/foreign-envoys-pay-last-respect-to-cardinal-cornelius-sim/|newspaper=Borneo Bulletin|date=June 2021|access-date=6 August 2021|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806140401/https://borneobulletin.com.bn/foreign-envoys-pay-last-respect-to-cardinal-cornelius-sim/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Quote box|quote="It is clear that in the borders of the state of Brunei the Catholic life has flourished to such an extent that it should become independent, I say ecclesiastical. [...] We, therefore, acting in the solemn office of the Supreme Shepherd of the whole flock of God, having that right jurisdiction, with the utmost exercise of our power do separate from the diocese of Miri that civil province which is called by the common name "Negara Brunei Darussalam", from which we therefore establish a new Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei…"|source={{mdash}}Part of the [[apostolic constitution]] for the establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei. Translated from original Latin.<ref name=apostolicconstitution/>}}
On 20 October 2004, Pope John Paul II further elevated Brunei to the status of an apostolic vicariate; the wholly separate Brunei territory would now be shepherded by an apostolic vicar.<ref name=apostolicconstitution2>{{cite press release| language = it | url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/la/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_20041020_bruneiensis.html |title=IN BRUNEIO DARUSSALAM NOVUS CONDITUR VICARIATUS APOSTOLICUM BRUNEIENSIS |accessdate=6 February 2023 | date=20 October 2004 |publisher= Holy See Press Office}}</ref>
{{Quote box|quote="In order to better advise the work of evangelization in the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei, whose seat is in the city of Bandar Seri Begawan within the borders of Negara Brunei Darussalam, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, having considered the matter early and taking into account the favorable wishes of those concerned, decided that a new Apostolic Vicariate should be established there. We, therefore, who act in the most important office of Shepherd and Head of the Catholic Church, having approved such a decision, have raised the aforementioned Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei to the rank of Apostolic Vicariate with the same preserved name of Brunei..."|source={{mdash}}Part of the apostolic constitution for the establishment of the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei. Translated from original Latin.<ref name=apostolicconstitution2/>}}
Pope John Paul II appointed Cornelius Sim as the first [[bishop]] and [[apostolic vicar]] of Brunei.<ref name=CNA/> Sim was then appointed as the first cardinal from Brunei, and more broadly the first from [[Borneo]] in November 2020.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-bishop-named-one-of-13-new-cardinals/ |title=Brunei bishop named one of 13 new cardinals |accessdate=12 February 2023 | date=27 October 2020 |publisher=Borneo Bulletin}}</ref><ref name=ucadeath>{{cite news|title=Brunei Cardinal Cornelius Sim dies after battling cancer|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/brunei-cardinal-cornelius-sim-dies-after-battling-cancer/92664|first=Rock Ronald|last=Rozario|date=29 May 2021|accessdate=29 May 2021|agency=Union of Catholic Asian News|location=Hong Kong|archive-date=29 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529143309/https://www.ucanews.com/news/brunei-cardinal-cornelius-sim-dies-after-battling-cancer/92664|url-status=live}}</ref> He died in 2021 and in 2023 the position is vacant.<ref name="CNA" />
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the vicariate introduced livestreaming of Mass for the faithful to participate in a virtual capacity during lockdown measures.<ref>{{cite news |title=Live-streaming of mass amid coronavirus outbreak |url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/live-streaming-of-mass-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/ |access-date=15 January 2023 |work=Borneo Bulletin |date= 4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115091947/https://borneobulletin.com.bn/live-streaming-of-mass-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/ |archive-date=15 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=随着汶莱疫情蔓延 |url=https://www.facebook.com/SinChewBrunei/posts/2534478376803077/?locale=zh_CN|newspaper=汶萊 星洲日報 Sin Chew Daily Brunei|date=13 March 2020|access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref>
==See also== * [[Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam]] *[[Religion in Brunei]] *[[Christianity in Brunei]] *[[Freedom of religion in Brunei]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/data/countryBN.htm The Catholic Church in Brunei] - GCatholic.org * [https://www.rcvbd.com Apostolic Vicariate in Brunei Darussalam] * [https://cbcmsb.org/ Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei] {{Asia topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}} {{Asia topic|Christianity in}}
[[Category:Catholic Church in Brunei| ]] [[Category:Catholic Church by country|Brunei]]