Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Simon Peter Engurait, a Ugandan-born priest and current diocesan administrator, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana.
The Vatican officially announced the appointment on June 5.
Bishop-designate Engurait has led the diocese as administrator since January 2024, following the death of Bishop Mario Dorsonville.
A seasoned priest deeply rooted in the diocese, Engurait expressed surprise and gratitude at his appointment.
“I did not expect this. I am humbled beyond words that the Holy Father has chosen me, not from outside, but from among the ranks of the priests of this beloved Diocese,” he shared via the diocesan website.
He thanked God for the calling and elevation in his service as a shepherd.
“I give thanks to God for the gift of life, for the call to the priesthood, and now, for this new and sacred calling to the apostolic ministry. Everything I am, and all that I hope to be, is by His grace.”
Born in Uganda in 1971, Bishop-designate Engurait brings a wealth of international and academic experience.
He began his education at St. Peter’s College in Tororo and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Makerere University in Kampala in 1995.
He went on to receive a Master of Business Administration from the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands, and a Master of Divinity from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he later settled and was ordained in 2013.
Since his ordination on May 25, 2013, for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Engurait has served in various pastoral and leadership roles.
His early assignments included associate pastor positions at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, St. Genevieve Church, and Christ the Redeemer Church in Thibodaux.
In 2017, he became administrator and later pastor of St. Bridget Church in Schriever, a position he has held to the present.
Beyond parish ministry, Bishop-designate Engurait has held several key diocesan roles, including vicar general, moderator of the curia, coordinator of Christian formation, interim executive director of Catholic Charities, and membership in the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors.
Fluent in English, Ateso, Kiswahili, and Spanish, Engurait emphasized his affection for the region and its people.
“While I am still shocked by the news that the Lord has asked me to be a bishop, I must admit that knowing the people of this diocese brings me great comfort in saying yes,” he said.
The newly appointed Bishop said South Louisiana is home to home vowing to serve his people well.
“South Louisiana is home, and I love the people here. It is a privilege to say yes to you as much as I am saying yes to God. I love you, and I consider it a great honor to serve you as your bishop.”
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux spans 3,500 square miles and serves a Catholic population of over 75,000.
