A Ugandan-born priest, Father Simon Peter Engurait, has been named the new bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana, USA.
The announcement came from Rome on Thursday morning. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the appointment public on behalf of Pope Leo XIV.
Fr Engurait, 53, becomes the sixth bishop of the diocese and, significantly, the first to be selected from among its own clergy.
Until his appointment, Fr Engurait had been serving as the diocesan administrator following the unexpected death of Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville in early 2024.
“I did not expect this,” he said. “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.”
The news has been met with surprise and gratitude in Louisiana, where Fr Engurait has spent much of the past decade ministering in local parishes and serving in leadership roles.
“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. “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 honour to serve you as your bishop.”
A life rooted in Uganda, shaped in Louisiana
Born on August 28, 1971, in Ngora, eastern Uganda, Simon Peter Engurait is the seventh of 14 children. His father, a teacher for the deaf, and his mother, a homemaker, raised the family in the small town of Ngora in St Joseph’s Catholic Parish.
Four of his siblings have died. One of his sisters is a Franciscan religious, and a brother is also a priest.
Engurait’s path to priesthood was not straightforward. He entered seminary as a teenager but left midway to study at Makerere University, where he graduated in 1995 with a degree in Political Science and Public Administration. He then spent 11 years working for the Ugandan government in public sector reform, later earning an MBA in the Netherlands.
His return to religious life came through his involvement in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement. It was through this spiritual journey that he met Bishop Sam Jacobs in 2003—an encounter that proved pivotal. By 2007, he had been accepted as a seminarian in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and began studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
He was ordained a deacon in 2012 and a priest in 2013.
Parish priest and administrator
Since ordination, Fr Engurait has served in several Louisiana parishes, including as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St Francis de Sales in Houma and later as pastor of St Bridget Parish in Schriever, where he has served since 2017.
He’s held multiple diocesan leadership roles: Moderator of the Curia, Vicar General, and a member of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors. He was also on the board of Catholic Charities.
He took over as diocesan administrator in January 2024 after the death of Bishop Dorsonville.
Fr Engurait is multilingual, speaking English, Ateso, Kiswahili, and Spanish.
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux spans 3,500 square miles in southeastern Louisiana and includes a Catholic population of more than 75,000. His installation as bishop is expected to take place later this year.
