Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu

Church in Sabah, Malaysia

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Malay: Katedral Hati Kudus

5°57′54″N 116°04′19.2″E﻿ / ﻿5.96500°N 116.072000°E﻿ / 5.96500; 116.072000
Location| Karamunsing, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Country| Malaysia
Denomination| Roman Catholic
Website| www.shckk.org
History
Founded| 1911 (Parish)
Dedicated| 22 June 1911 (original church)
14 August 1938 (rebuilt church)
11 December 1949 (rebuilt church/cathedral)
21 November 1981 (current cathedral)
Past bishop(s)| John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw
Architecture
Architect(s)| Shen Dah Cheong (Principal)
Rev. Tobias Chi (advisor)
Completed| 1911–1938 (original church)
1938–1945 (rebuilt church)
1949–1979 (rebuilt church/cathedral)
1981 (current rebuilt cathedral)
Administration
Province| Ecclesiastical Province of Kota Kinabalu
Archdiocese| Kota Kinabalu
Clergy
Archbishop| John Wong Soo Kau
Rector| Paul Lo Chee Kong
Assistant priest(s)| Moses Yap Poh Sing, OFM
Terans Thadeus John Dunggi

Sacred Heart Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, and the seat of its current archbishop, John Wong Soo Kau. The current cathedral was built from 1979 to 1981, with its dedication held on 21 November 1981.

## History

[edit]

Panorama of the Sanctuary Interior and ceiling of the Cathedral

In early January 1903, Fr. Henry van der Heyden first arrived in Jesselton (present-day Kota Kinabalu). The aggressive policy of importing Chinese workers by the North Borneo Chartered Company Government soon flooded the town with the arrival of hundreds of Chinese immigrants.[1] The bulk of the early Catholic community was made up of poor Hakka farmers in a completely new land striving to adjust to all the harsh conditions of a new life together with some Europeans, Indians, Filipinos and the Kadazan-Dusuns who later formed the backbone of the Catholic community in Jesselton.[1][2] Surrounded by experience of much struggles and suffering in their daily lives, Fr. Heyden thought of God's compassionate love for His children in Borneo, and remembered that Jesus also suffered and died for them, with the church was then named Sacred Heart after the Sacred Heart of Jesus.[1] The land site of the cathedral was procured by Fr. Goossens and Fr. Prenger under Heyden's name on 9 April 1903.[3] The first cathedral building was built by Mill Hill missionary Fr. Valentine Weber in 1911 and the second by Fr. Arnold Verhoeven in 1938.[1][3] During World War II, the cathedral was nearly razed to the ground with only some pillars and the foundation survived the Japanese bombing.[1] The church was rebuilt after the war and opened in 1949 by Msgr. James Buis with another major renovation by Fr. Tobias Chi was done in 1981.[1][3]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Cathedral Facade

* Rear view of the Cathedral

* Parish Centre Facade

* Interior during Chinese New Year Celebrations

* Marian Grotto

* Emmaus Home

## See also

[edit]

* List of cathedrals in Malaysia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "Malaysian Cathedral enlivens the memories of Chinese migrants". Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News). Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
2. ^ Zhang 2002, p. 137.
3. ^ a b c "Sacred Heart Kota Kinabalu". Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.

### Bibliography

[edit]

* Zhang, Delai (2002). The Hakkas of Sabah: A Survey of Their Impact on the Modernization of the Bornean Malaysian State. Sabah Theological Seminary. ISBN 978-983-40840-0-4.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Sacred Heart Cathedral of Kota Kinabalu at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Colonial architecture of Malaysia

British|

* All Saints' Church
* All Souls' Church
* Atkinson Clock Tower
* Bank of China Building
* Batu Tinagat Lighthouse
* Church of the Assumption
* Church of the Immaculate Conception (Johor)
* Church of the Immaculate Conception (Penang)
* Church of the Risen Christ
* Coliseum Theatre
* Eastern & Oriental Hotel
* Federated Malay States Survey Office
* Foo Tye Sin Mansion
* Fort Alice
* Fort Cornwallis
* Fort Cornwallis Lighthouse
* Fort Hose
* Fort Margherita
* Fort Sylvia
* Hin Bus Depot
* Holy Spirit Cathedral
* Hotel Majestic
* HSBC Penang
* India House
* Istana Besar
* Istana Bukit Serene
* Jesselton Freemason Hall
* Jesselton Hotel
* Jubilee Clock Tower
* Kellie's Castle
* Labuan Chimney
* Labuan Clock Tower
* Malacca Light
* Malay and Islamic World Museum
* Melalap railway station
* National Textile Museum
* OCBC Penang
* One Fathom Bank Lighthouse
* Penang City Hall
* Pulau Pisang Lighthouse
* Penang High Court
* Penang Islamic Department Building
* Penang Masonic Temple
* Penang State Assembly Building
* Railway Administration Building, Kuala Lumpur
* Round Tower
* Penang Town Hall
* Sabah Tourism Board
* Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu
* Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sibu
* Sarawak State Museum
* Seri Mutiara
* Seri Teratai
* St. Anne's Church
* St. George's Church
* St. John's Cathedral
* St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching
* St. Mary's Cathedral
* St. Michael's Church, Penampang
* St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Sandakan
* St. Peter's Church, Kuching
* Standard Chartered Bank Building
* Suffolk House
* Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque
* Sultan Ibrahim Building
* The Astana
* Undan Island Lighthouse
* Wisma Kastam
* Woodville

Dutch|

* Christ Church
* Dutch Fort
* Governor's Museum
* Malaysia Architecture Museum
* Middelburg Bastion
* Proclamation of Independence Memorial
* Stadthuys
* St. John's Fort
* St. Peter's Church

French|

* Church of St. Francis Xavier

German|

* Kinarut Mansion

Japanese|

* Tawau Bell Tower

Portuguese|

* Cape Rachado Lighthouse
* Fortress of Malacca
* St. Paul's Church

* v
* t
* e

Historical buildings, memorials, monuments and sites in Malaysia

West Malaysia

| Buildings|

| Johor|

* Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple
* Church of the Immaculate Conception
* Istana Besar
* Istana Bukit Serene
* Johor Bahru railway station
* Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple
* Pulau Pisang Lighthouse
* Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque
* Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque
* Sultan Ibrahim Building
* Sultanah Aminah Hospital
* Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital

|

Kedah|

* HSBC Building
* Kedah State Art Gallery
* Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Gallery
* Sungai Petani clock tower
* Zahir Mosque

Kelantan|

* Istana Batu
* Istana Jahar
* Kampung Laut Mosque

Kuala Lumpur|

* Buddhist Maha Vihara
* Coliseum Theatre
* DBKL City Theatre
* Hotel Majestic
* Masjid Jamek
* Kuala Lumpur railway station
* Lee Rubber Building
* Loke Hall
* National Mosque of Malaysia
* National Textile Museum
* Pasar Seni
* Sin Sze Si Ya Temple
* Sri Kandaswamy Kovil
* Sri Mahamariamman Temple
* Sultan Abdul Samad Building
* St. John's Cathedral
* St. Mary's Cathedral
* Victoria Institution

Malacca|

* Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
* Christ Church
* Church of St. Francis Xavier
* Cape Rachado Lighthouse
* Fortress of Malacca
* Kampung Hulu Mosque
* Kampung Kling Mosque
* Malay and Islamic World Museum
* Malaysia Architecture Museum
* Malaysia Youth Museum
* Middelburg Bastion
* Poh San Teng Temple
* Proclamation of Independence Memorial
* Stadthuys
* St. John's Fort
* St. Paul's Church
* St. Peter's Church
* Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum
* Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple
* Tamil Methodist Church
* Tranquerah Mosque
* Undan Island Lighthouse

Negeri Sembilan|

* Istana Ampang Tinggi
* Istana Seri Menanti
* Seremban railway station

Pahang|

* All Souls' Church
* Sri Marathandavar Bala Dhandayuthapani Alayam
* Sultan Abu Bakar Museum

Penang|

* Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple
* Bank of China Building
* Cenotaph
* Church of the Risen Christ
* City Hall
* Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
* Church of the Assumption
* Church of the Immaculate Conception
* Dhammikarama Burmese Temple
* Eastern & Oriental Hotel
* Foo Tye Sin Mansion
* Fort Cornwallis
* Fort Cornwallis Lighthouse
* George Town Dispensary building
* Goddess of Mercy Temple
* Hin Bus Depot
* Holy Spirit Cathedral
* HSBC Building
* India House
* Jade Emperor God Temple
* Jalan Baru Sri Muniswarar Temple
* Jubilee Clock Tower
* Kapitan Keling Mosque
* Kek Lok Si
* Khoo Kongsi
* Lebuh Aceh Mosque
* Mahindarama Buddhist Temple
* Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple
* OCBC Building
* Penang High Court
* Penang Islamic Department Building
* Penang Islamic Museum
* Penang Masonic Temple
* Penang State Assembly Building
* Pinang Peranakan Mansion
* Penang Town Hall
* Seri Mutiara
* Thean Kong Thnuah Temple
* Snake Temple
* Seri Teratai
* Sri Mahamariamman Temple
* St. Anne's Church
* St. George's Church
* Suffolk House
* War Memorial Park
* Wat Buppharam
* Wat Chayamangkalaram
* Woodville

Perak|

* Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum
* All Saints' Church
* Church of St. Anthony of Padua
* Dutch Fort
* Ipoh railway station
* Ipoh Town Hall
* Kellie's Castle
* Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan
* Panglima Kinta Mosque
* Perak State Museum
* Sam Poh Tong Temple
* Taiping Hospital
* Ubudiah Mosque

Perlis|

* Alwi Mosque

Selangor|

* Alaeddin Mosque
* Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Klang
* Hatter's Castle
* Istana Bandar
* One Fathom Bank Lighthouse
* Sri Sunderaraja Perumal Temple
* Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple
* Sultan Sulaiman Mosque
* Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery
* Wat Chetawan

Terengganu|

* Abidin Mosque
* Duyong Old Fort
* Ho Ann Kiong Temple
* Istana Maziah
* Rumah Warisan Haji Su
* Tian Hou Gong Temple

Memorials
and monuments|

* Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum
* Birch Memorial Clock Tower
* Cenotaph
* Cheras War Cemetery
* Hang Jebat Mausoleum
* Hang Li Poh's Well
* Hang Tuah's Well
* Heroes' Mausoleum
* Kedah Royal Mausoleum
* Kelantan Royal Mausoleum
* Kris Monument
* Kuala Klawang Memorial
* Lord Murugan Statue
* Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum
* Melaka Warrior Monument
* Sultan Abdul Samad Mausoleum
* Tomb of Sultan Mahmud Shah II
* Millennium Monument
* National Monument
* Old Protestant Cemetery
* Pahang Old Royal Mausoleum
* Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum
* Taiping War Cemetery

Site|

* Batu Caves
* Batu Pahat Well
* Biru Seri Kundang Lake
* Bujang Valley
* Bukit Melawati
* Buloh Kasap Bridge
* Chinatown (Kuala Terengganu)
* Chinese Hill
* Guillemard Bridge
* Fort of Ngah Ibrahim's
* Fort of Ruins
* Fort of Smelly Monitor Lizard
* Independence Square
* Lenggong
* Lukut Fort and Museum
* Markets of Taiping
* Malacca General Hospital
* Morib
* Penang Botanic Gardens
* Princess Hill
* St. Paul's Hill
* Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital
* Victoria Bridge
* Tambun rock art
* Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

East Malaysia

| Buildings|

| Labuan|

* Labuan Chimney
* Labuan Clock Tower

|

Sabah|

* Agnes Keith House
* Atkinson Clock Tower
* Batu Tinagat Lighthouse
* Jesselton Freemason Hall
* Jesselton Hotel
* Keningau Heritage Museum
* Kinarut Mansion
* Melalap railway station
* Sabah Tourism Board
* Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu
* Sam Sing Kung Temple
* Sandakan Heritage Museum
* Sandakan Jamek Mosque
* St. Michael's Church, Penampang
* St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Sandakan
* Tawau Bell Tower

Sarawak|

* Chinese History Museum
* Ching San Yen Temple
* Fort Alice
* Fort Hose
* Fort Margherita
* Fort Sylvia
* Hong San Si Temple
* Islamic Heritage Museum
* Kuching Old Courthouse
* Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sibu
* Sarawak State Museum
* Square Tower
* St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching
* St. Peter's Church, Kuching
* The Astana
* Tua Pek Kong Temple, Kuching
* Tua Pek Kong Temple, Miri
* Tua Pek Kong Temple, Sibu

Memorials
and monuments|

* Bronze Globe of Tip of Borneo
* Brooke Memorial
* Chartered Company Monument
* Cho Huan Lai Memorial
* De Fontaine Memorial
* Double Six Monument
* Gunner Cleary Memorial
* Keningau Oath Stone
* Kuching Heroes' Cemetery
* Kundasang War Memorial
* Labuan War Cemetery
* Last POW Camp Memorial
* Malaysia Monument
* Mat Salleh Memorial
* North Borneo War Monument
* Petagas War Memorial
* Quailey's Hill Memorial
* Rafflesia Monument
* Sandakan Heritage Trail
* Sandakan Japanese Cemetery
* Sandakan Massacre Memorial
* Sandakan Memorial Park
* Sandakan War Monument
* Starcevich Monument
* Tawau Japanese War Memorial
* Tun Datu Mustapha Memorial
* William Pryer Monument

Site|

* Agop Batu Tulug Caves
* Batu Lawi Hill
* Batu Lintang camp
* Chinatown, Kuching
* Duchess of Kent Hospital
* Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu
* Lumuyu Petroglyphs
* Madai Cave
* Mengalum Anchor
* Merdeka Square
* Monsopiad Heritage Village
* Nunuk Ragang
* Petroleum Museum
* Pogunon Community Museum
* Queen Elizabeth Hospital
* Sandakan camp
* Sarawak General Hospital
* Skull Hill
* St. Catherine Labouré Church, Putatan

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