The earliest mission to Brunei was conducted by Franciscan priests in 1587 but the earliest Catholic community in the country finds its roots in the ministry of the Missionary Society of St. Joseph. The origins of the Roman Catholic population of Brunei is traced to the influence of the Spanish missionaries coming mainly from neighbouring Philippines, who also converted the Kadazans in Sabah. Throughout the years, the local Church was administered by various ecclesiastical jurisdictions centred in Labuan, Jesselton, Kuching and Miri, cities in neighbouring Malaysia. The earliest record on the vicariate territory was noted on 1927 when Brunei included in Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Borneo. Until 1936, when a church was established in Kuala Belait, The Vicariate primarily was an outstation of Our Blessed Sacrament Parish in Labuan. On 14 February 1952, the vicariate territory carved out form Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton then transferred to Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching. The separation of Bruneian territory formerly under the Diocese of Miri-Brunei created a distinct Bruneian Church. This separated territory was designated as an apostolic prefecture in November 1997, to be headed by then Msgr. Cornelius Sim as its first apostolic prefect. On 22 February 1998, the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei Darussalam came into being with the proclamation of the papal bull to the faithful and the installation of the apostolic prefect. On 20 October 2004, less than seven years after it was formed, the apostolic prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate. Msgr. Sim was appointed the first apostolic vicar, carrying the dignity of a titular bishop: his episcopal ordination took place in January 2005.
Parishes
It is estimated that there are around 21,000 Roman Catholics in Brunei. The majority are expatriate Filipinos; others are Chinese, South Asian or indigenous people. The Vicariate consists of 3 parishes, all located in major towns. The parishes are:
There are four diocesan priests, which includes the bishop, himself a parish priest.
Education
There are 3 schools under the ownership and management of the vicariate, all providing elementary and high school education. All the schools are coeducational.
The schools are not subsidised or aided by the government, and thus run on a full fee-paying basis. These schools were initially subsidised by the government until 1960. On 1960, the government stopped the aid after pressure from Muslim pressure group in Brunei. As the government does not allow catechism lessons during school hours or within school premises, Sunday school is conducted for this purpose.
