By KT Reporter
Simon Peter Engurait, the Uganda-born priest recently appointed bishop of Houma-Thibodaux Diocese in the United States, has unveiled his Episcopal motto and coat of arms ahead of his consecration on Friday.
Every Catholic bishop’s coat of arms carries a personal story of faith and mission. In a video released by the diocese, Bishop-Elect Engurait described his own journey “from the Nile,” symbolizing his roots in Ngora – Teso, eastern Uganda, “to the Bayou,” where he now serves in Louisiana.
He explained the meaning of each symbol, presenting them as reflections of both his faith journey and the mission he embraces as a bishop.
For his motto, the Ngora born bishop chose Latin words; In Deo Tantum meaning In God Alone underscoring his belief that true strength and rest are found only in God.
Reflecting on his motto, Engurait cited Psalm 62: “My soul rests in God alone. He is my rock, my salvation, my fortress.” He said the words express the heart of his ministry as he begins this new mission.
“With God, we are everything,” Bishop-Elect Engurait said. “As I take up this calling, I do so with full trust in the Lord who has guided me from the Nile to the Bayou.”
The coat of arms is divided into two sections. One contains the common elements found on every bishop’s crest: a traditional shield symbolizing faith, topped by the galero, a pilgrim’s hat that serves as a reminder of life’s journey toward heaven.
From the hat hang twelve tassels, signifying the rank of bishop as successor to the Twelve Apostles. Positioned between the shield and the galero is a cross, underscoring that Christ and his cross are at the center of Christian life and ministry. Away from these there are symbols which the bishop said are person to his physical and spiritual story.
At the top left of the crest is a red dove with open wings, representing the Holy Spirit. “It is the Spirit who continues to guide me and breathe life into my ministry, setting my heart on fire for Christ,” he explained.
Beneath the dove is a deer drinking from flowing waters, a totem of his ancestral clan in Uganda, and a familiar image in South Louisiana. With the water beneath the deer carries layered meaning: the River Nile of his birthplace, the bayous of his new home, and the waters of baptism that unite the faithful.
On the lower right is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, aflame and encircled with thorns. “This is a reminder of God’s love that suffers, heals, and saves. It is the heart I seek to imitate as a bishop,” he said.
Above the heart are three white stars on a blue background, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. Engurait noted his lifelong devotion to Mary, first nurtured by his parents in Uganda. The stars symbolize her virginity before, during, and after the birth of Christ.
The colours on the crest; blue, red, and white, carry symbolic weight. Blue honors both Louisiana’s state flag and Mary, while red signifies fire, love, and sacrifice. White stands for purity and joy.
About Bishop-Elect Engurait
Born on 28th August, 1971 in Ngora, eastern Uganda, Engurait began his journey in the Church through formation at Saint Peter Minor Seminary in Soroti and later at Saint Peter’s College in Tororo.
Before joining the priesthood, he earned a degree in political science and public administration from Makerere University and went on to obtain a master’s in business administration from the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands.
After moving to the United States, he pursued theological studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he completed a Master of Divinity. He was ordained a priest in 2013 for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana. He speaks English, Ateso, Kiswahili, and Spanish.
Since his ordination, he has served in various roles, including parish vicar at several churches, parish priest of Saint Bridget since 2017, moderator of the Curia, vicar general, and most recently, diocesan administrator following the death of Bishop Mario Eduardo Dorsonville-Rodríguez.
Engurait, becomes the second Ugandan to be appointed CAtholic bishop outside Uganda, joining Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito of Aliwal in South Africa.
Information from his diocese indicates that the Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Bishop-Elect Simon Peter Engurait will be held on September 5 Friday at Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales followed by a reception at Vandebilt Catholic High School in the Brother Alfred Kolb Center.
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