Welcoming Bishop-Elect Simon Peter Engurait

After over 16 months of expectant waiting, the people of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux rejoice at the naming of our new shepherd: Bishop-Elect Simon Peter Engurait.
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During a recent press conference, Bishop-Elect Simon Peter stood before the faithful and, with sincere honesty, admitted, “I’m at a loss for words.” That sentiment echoed throughout his heartfelt address, revealing both the weight and wonder of this sacred call. Recalling the unexpected phone call from the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, he shared, “I was shocked… and profoundly humbled.” Like the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation, Bishop-Elect Simon Peter described feeling “the weight of unworthiness and the mystery of a call far greater than anything I could have imagined or prepared for.”
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Despite the initial shock, his response was marked by humility: “I did not expect this, I did not seek it, and certainly, I did not deserve it. Nonetheless, I place my trust in the one who calls. Be it done unto me according to your word.”
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Bishop-Elect Simon Peter went on to thank Pope Leo XIV for choosing him – not from outside the diocese, but from among its own priests. He gave thanks for the many individuals who formed and guided him, especially Bishop Sam Jacobs, who accepted him into the diocese and later ordained him a priest. He offered heartfelt gratitude to the late Msgr. Francis LeJeune, who welcomed him to South Louisiana with open arms and introduced him to the beauty of bayou life.
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“I was driven up and down the bayous so much,” he recalled with a smile, “that in six months I knew the diocese better than some of my brother seminarians who were born here.”
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Bishop-Elect Simon Peter also paid tribute to his homeland of Uganda, to the Diocese of Soroti, the Archdiocese of Kampala, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and the Ugandan government, which funded his undergraduate and graduate education. “I carry all this in my heart as I step into this new mission,” he said.
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Bishop-Elect Simon Peter’s deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was particularly inspiring. He shared how he entrusts this new chapter of his ministry to both Our Lady of Prompt Succor, so beloved in South Louisiana, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, a maternal figure who comforts those “who carry burdens and walk with quiet strength.” Echoing her words to St. Juan Diego, he reminded the faithful of her encouragement: “Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy?”
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Speaking directly to the people of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, he pledged, “I promise to listen, to learn, and will labor with you and for you… I love you, and I consider it a great honor to serve as your next bishop.”
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He also spoke with great affection to the people of St. Bridget Catholic Church, where he has served as pastor for the past eight years. “You have taught me how to serve as a shepherd, to lead as a father, and to love as a priest of Jesus Christ,” he said. “I will forever cherish my time with you.”
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Quoting St. Augustine, whose feast day he shares as his birthday, he humbly remarked, “For you I am a bishop, but with you I am a Christian. The first is an office accepted; the second is a gift received.”
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In response to a question about what brings him the greatest joy, Bishop-Elect Simon Peter didn’t hesitate: “Celebrating Mass.” From his childhood near the bishop’s house in Uganda to the altar of St. Bridget, the Eucharist has been his life’s anchor. “Since I was ordained, I’m glad that I’ve not missed a day celebrating Mass.”
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Looking ahead, Bishop-Elect Simon Peter named two pastoral priorities close to his heart: reaching out to young people, and ministering to the poor and vulnerable. “Poverty is bearable in a poor country,” he noted. “But in a wealthy country, it bites hard.” He hopes for renewed and strengthened initiatives for those suffering in our own communities.
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With honesty and vulnerability, he also asked the faithful for patience. “You know me – you know my strengths, you know my weaknesses… I hope we can grow together.”
As we prepare to welcome Bishop-Elect Simon Peter into his new role, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux gives thanks for his witness, his wisdom, and his unwavering “yes.”
Let us continue to pray for him as he steps forward with courage, surrender, and love. As he prayed with the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Take, Lord, and receive… All is Yours. Dispose of it wholly according to Your will.”

Save the Date

The Episcopal Ordination and Installation Mass for Bishop-Elect Simon Peter Engurait is scheduled for Friday, September 5, 2025. Details to come at www.htdiocese.org and on our Diocesan social media channels.