Diocese of

Kengtung

Myanmar

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Kengtung / Kengtunghen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Taunggyi

Neighbouring Dioceses: Pekhon (←), Taunggyi (←), Dali 大理 (↑), Luang Prabang (↘), Chiang Mai (↓), Chiang Rai (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1927.04.27: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Kengtung / Kengtunghen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Burma)
1950.05.26: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Kengtung / Kengtunghen(sis) (Latin)
1955.01.01: Promoted as Diocese of Kengtung / Kengtunghen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Mandalay)
1975.11.20: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Lashio
1998.01.17: Became suffragan of Taunggyi

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.11.04 – ...):

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han (57)

General Secretary of Myanmar Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Ordinaries

Bishops of Kengtung (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han (57)
(2022.11.04 – ...)

Bishop of Kengtung (Myanmar)
General Secretary of Myanmar Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Born:	1968.05.05 (Homalim, Myanmar)
Ordained Priest:	1995.03.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.04.12

Priest of Yangon (Myanmar) (1995.03.18 – 2014.12.30)

Titular Bishop of Buffada (2014.12.30 – 2022.11.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon (Myanmar) (2014.12.30 – 2022.11.04)

General Secretary of Myanmar Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2017? – ...)

Bishop of Kengtung (Myanmar) (2022.11.04 – ...)

Bishop Peter Louis Cakü
(2001.10.02 – 2020.02.20)

Servant for all

Born:	1952.03.23 (Nali, Myanmar)
Ordained Priest:	1982.04.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.12.08
Died:	2020.02.20 (Kengtung, Myanmar † 67)

Titular Bishop of Abidda (1997.05.20 – 2001.10.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kengtung (Myanmar) (1997.05.20 – 2001.10.02)

Bishop of Kengtung (Myanmar) (2001.10.02 – 2020.02.20)

Bishop Abraham Than
(1972.09.19 – 2001.10.02)

Joyful things in life

Born:	1927.09.21 (Mong Block, Myanmar)
Ordained Priest:	1957.09.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.05.11
Died:	2025.08.18 (Myanmar † 97)

Titular Bishop of Tortiboli (1968.12.19 – 1972.09.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kengtung (Myanmar) (1968.12.19 – 1972.09.19)

Bishop of Kengtung (Myanmar) (1972.09.19 – 2001.10.02)

Bishop Ferdinand Guercilena, P.I.M.E.
(1955.01.01 – 1972.09.19)

Born:	1899.10.29 (Montodine, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1926.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.10.08
Died:	1973.05.06 (Lecco, Italy † 73)

Titular Bishop of Hadriania (1950.05.31 – 1955.01.01)

Vicar Apostolic of Kengtung (Myanmar) (1950.05.31 – 1955.01.01)

Bishop of Kengtung (Myanmar) (1955.01.01 – 1972.09.19)

Vicars Apostolic of Kengtung (Roman Rite)

Bishop Ferdinand Guercilena, P.I.M.E.
(1950.05.31 – 1955.01.01)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Kengtung (Roman Rite)

Fr. Erminio Bonetta, P.I.M.E.
(1927.06.21 – 1949.02.22)

Born:	1881
Died:	1949.02.22 (Kengtung, Myanmar † 67)

Prefect Apostolic of Kengtung (Myanmar) (1927.06.21 – 1949.02.22)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Peter Louis Cakü (1997.05.20 – 2001.10.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Abraham Than (1968.12.19 – 1972.09.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Kengtung, Shan

Pekhon (←), Taunggyi (←), Dali 大理 (↑), Luang Prabang (↘), Chiang Mai (↓), Chiang Rai (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 45,856 km²

Population: 62,272 Catholics (1.7% of 3,634,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 22 parishes, 21 missions

Personnel: 45 priests (43 diocesan, 2 religious), 118 religious (6 brothers, 112 sisters), 15 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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