Although it is one of the youngest and smallest “dioceses” in
southeast Asia, the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei is a steadily thriving
Church with growing spiritual activities in its communities.
“Our logo is 'Duc in altum' (Put out into the deep), and we now have
projects to empower and sustain the missionary dimension of the Church,”
Bishop Cornelius Sim, Vicar Apostolic of Brunei, told CNA Oct. 17.
“We are one of the smallest dioceses in Asia,” he said, adding that with
only one bishop and three priests, “we hope to have vocations to the
priesthood and religious life.”
Brunei is a country of 2,200 square miles located entirely on the island
of Borneo, which is also home to parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. It is
a developed country, and one of the richest in the world. Malay is the
official language, but English and Chinese are both widely spoken.
The country is an absolute monarchy led by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
About two-thirds of the population is Muslim, and Brunei was recently
noted for its adoption of Sharia law, though it is being applied only to
Muslims.
Around 10 percent of the population is atheist, 13 percent is Buddhist,
and a small number have indigenous beliefs. Christians, half of whom are
Catholic, constitute 10 percent of Brunei's population.
Fr. Arin Sugit, the bishop's assistant at Our Lady of the Assumption
Cathedral in the nation's capital of Bandar Seri Begawan, explained to
CNA that a majority of the Catholic population – 70 percent – are
migrant workers from the Philippines.
Another 20 percent are migrants
from other countries such as Indonesia, India, and Malaysia, he said,
and the remaining 10 percent are indigenous Bruneians.
“It’s fortunate to have a substantial Filipino congregation that makes
our Church very lively,” reflected Bishop Sim. “They bring their faith,
with popular pious devotions, and they enrich us and our faith very
much.”
Fr. Sugit added, “we have lots of vibrant faith activities in our
parish, and the faith is steadily growing; but of course it’s a slow
process.”
Fr. Sugit was ordained in 2008. The apostolic vicariate's two other
priests are Fr. Paul Shie, pastor of St. John's in Kuala Belait, who was
ordained in 1999; and Fr. Robert Leong, pastor of Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception in Seria, who was ordained in 2003.
Bishop Sim and his three priests serve the roughly 20,000 Catholics who
live in Brunei.
Catholics can freely practice their faith within the
church compounds and at home, but public displays of the faith are
restrained.
Fr. Sugit said that at Our Lady of the Assumption, 5,000 to 6000 people attend Mass each Sunday.
While the faith was first preached in Brunei by Franciscan missionaries
in 1587, it has only been its own local Church since 1997.
Prior to
that, Bruneian Catholics were served by the Diocese of Miri, in
Malaysia. It was for that diocese that Bishop Sim had been ordained a
priest in 1989.
When John Paul II established the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei in
1997, then-Fr. Sim was appointed prefect. Apostolic prefectures and
vicariates are the precursors to dioceses in mission territories.
In 2004, John Paul II decided to elevate the apostolic prefecture to a
vicariate, which resulted in Fr. Sim being consecrated a bishop. He was
consecrated on Jan. 21, 2005 by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, who was
then the Vatican's ambassador to Brunei, as well as other southeast
Asian nations.
As apostolic vicar, Bishop Sim exercises the Pope's authority in Brunei.
As the Church there grows, it may eventually be raised to a diocese.
Bishop Sim optimistically noted, “it’s a humble beginning, and we have to move on to enrich our faith based communities.”