Pope Leo IV has appointed Msgr. Simon Peter Engurait, a priest originally from Uganda, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in the United States.
The Vatican made the announcement earlier this week, marking a notable milestone for Uganda’s Catholic faithful. Engurait, who has been serving as the diocesan administrator for Houma-Thibodaux, becomes only the second Ugandan to be appointed a bishop outside the country, joining Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito of Aliwal, South Africa.
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The appointment was confirmed by the Vatican press office and communicated to both the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and the U.S. Catholic Church by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s envoy to the U.S. and former Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda.
Reacting to the news, Bishop-elect Engurait expressed deep humility and gratitude. “I didn’t see this coming,” he told WWL Louisiana. “I’m deeply honored that the Holy Father has chosen me, especially from among the priests of this diocese.”
He continued, “I thank God for the gift of life, the call to priesthood, and now this sacred responsibility of episcopal ministry. Everything I am is by His grace.”
Born on August 28, 1971, in Ngora District, eastern Uganda, Engurait began his religious education at Saint Peter Minor Seminary in Soroti and Saint Peter’s College in Tororo. He later earned a political science and public administration degree from Makerere University and an MBA from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands.
After relocating to the U.S., he pursued theological training at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained in 2013 for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He is fluent in English, Ateso, Kiswahili, and Spanish.
Since ordination, Engurait has held various roles, including parish vicar, parish priest of Saint Bridget Parish since 2017, vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and most recently, diocesan administrator.
His appointment is not only a major development for his new diocese but also a proud moment for Uganda, highlighting the expanding global role of its clergy. Uganda has become an increasingly important source of missionary priests and religious personnel around the world.
This development reflects a reversal of past trends when Uganda was a recipient of foreign missionaries. Today, Ugandan clergy are serving across Africa, Europe, North America, and other parts of the world, addressing shortages in local vocations and strengthening the global Church.
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