New Louisiana bishop says he finds 'strength, hope and courage' in God

(OSV News) -- "I do not deserve to be an apostle, but by the grace of God that is what I am," said Bishop Simon Peter Engurait, newly ordained and installed as the head of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, quoting words of the Apostle Paul.

He made the remarks in addressing the congregation after a nearly three-hour afternoon Mass Sept. 5 at the Stopher Gym at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.

The faithful filled the venue to witness his consecration as the sixth bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. Dozens of bishops, priests, men and women religious, deacons, seminarians and laypeople attended the liturgy.

Bishop Engurait's mother and five of his siblings were also there. Born in 1971 in Ngora, Uganda, the bishop is one of 14 children. The congregation included a representative of Uganda's ambassador to the United States.

Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans was the principal consecrator with Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky, and retired Bishop Sam G. Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux as co-consecrators. Bishop Jacobs and Archbishop Fabre served as the third and fourth bishops, respectively, of Houma-Thibodeaux.

"I stand here not because of my worthiness but because of God's mercy, but with that mercy comes an awesome and, yes, even a frightening responsibility to shepherd God's people, to guard and defend the faith and to account not only for my soul but for those (I serve)," Bishop Engurait said.

"My brothers and sisters, God's ways are not our ways, nor are his thoughts our thoughts," he continued. "Who but God alone could have done this? Who would have thought, have imagined that I would one day stand before you as a bishop of the church?"

He said he draws courage from words of St. Paul in the Acts of the Apostles, where Paul states he was "compelled by the Spirit" to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him and even though he was warned by the Holy Spirit that hardships awaited him. "I count my worth as nothing to me unless I can finish the race and bear witness of God's grace," Paul wrote.

"Like St. Paul, I go forward uncertain of the road ahead, but certain of God -- that's why I chose my motto, 'In Deo Tantum' -- 'In God Alone' -- because it is in God alone that I find strength, that I find hope, that I find courage," Bishop Engurait said.

When Pope Leo XIV named then-Father Engurait as Houma-Thibodaux's bishop June 5, he had been serving as diocesan administrator since January 2024, upon the death of Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, a former Washington auxiliary bishop who had headed the diocese for just under a year.

Previously he was vicar general of the diocese, beginning in 2017. He was also pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Schriever, Louisiana.

His early education led him through Catholic seminaries in Uganda before a career in public service, including roles in Uganda's government and a master of business administration from the Maastricht School of Management the Netherlands.

During his career, he rose from entry level positions to senior management. While at Katigondo Seminary in Uganda, he had a profound encounter with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal that shaped his spiritual path and ultimately led him back to discern a priestly vocation, according to a diocesan news release.

Bishop Jacobs, a longtime key figure in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, invited him to the Louisiana diocese to study for the priesthood. In 2007, he was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and was ordained a priest May 25, 2013, by Bishop Jacobs, then head of the diocese.

Before the rite of episcopal ordination, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the papal bull on then-Father Engurait's appointment as Houma-Thibodaux's bishop.

In his remarks, the cardinal noted that he was apostolic nuncio to Uganda from 1999 to 2007, and during that time he met Engurait, then a layman.

"On one occasion at Mass for Holy Thursday," Cardinal Christophe recalled, "I washed his feet, and he must have been like the original Simon Peter," who asked Christ to wash "'not only my feet but my hands and head as well,' because several years later his hands were consecrated as a priest and now his head will be anointed with oil as a bishop."

"So God has him covered from head to foot," the cardinal said. "Bishop-elect Engurait, you are well acquainted with the love and mercy of God, who has brought you to this day filled with the gift of hope, which is a special grace of this Jubilee Year. God will supply all that you need for a joyful ministry."

Bishop-designate Engurait received the papal bull from the cardinal and showed it to the bishops in attendance and then walked through the congregation, holding it up for all to see. He walked up and down the aisles to cheers and loud applause.

"You have served well in priestly ministry and as vicar general," Archbishop Aymond told the soon-to-be-bishop. "We gather here to pray with you and for you -- rooted in sacred Scripture beginning with the apostles, and for over 2,000 years ... the Holy Spirit has enabled other men to become successors of the apostles. That is what we do again today."

He said a bishop's ministry is threefold: first, to oversee the teaching of ministry of church by preaching the Gospel "faithfully and courageously," handing on the teaching "with great fidelity; second, to lead God's people in prayer, celebrate the sacraments, especially confirmation, and have the privilege to ordain priests and deacons; and third, to provide pastoral care and pastoral governance."

"In all things, my friends, he will strive to reflect Jesus the good shepherd as he carries his pastoral staff with humility in the name of Jesus," Archbishop Aymond said, adding that the title of bishop is "for service, not for your own honor."

In his closing remarks, Bishop Engurait told the congregation that this day of his ordination and installation "is not mine alone. It is the fruit of so many who have walked with me."

"It is sometimes said that the only happy day in the life of a bishop is the day of his ordination," he added. "Well, I cannot accept that. I pray that every day, even the difficult ones, may hold some joy in the Lord, may hold some consolation in his service and, yes, even a little laughter along the way."