African Catholics in the United States of America Rejoice at the Appointment of Fr Simon Engourait as Bishop of Houma Thibodaux

The African Conference of Catholic Clergy and Religious in the United States of America also known as ACCCRUS is holding its 24th annual convention in San Bernardino, California on the theme: Journeying Together as African Missionaries. 

The conference which runs from July 23 through July 26, 2025 will among others welcome and celebrate the appointment last June 5, of a second African born cleric, Msgr. Simon Peter Engourait, as Bishop of the local U.S. diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana. 

“We are delighted about his appointment as a Bishop”, noted Rev Dr Alphonsus Enelichi, Nigerian, a priest of The Missionary Society of St Paul and currently serving in the Diocese of Billings, Montana. 

“Now, to have two Africans as Bishops and members of USCCB, our voice as African Catholics will become more audible and our interests represented,” he added.

His appointment comes on the heels of the historic appointment of Cameroonian born Msgr Jerome Feudjio as Bishop of the diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. 

Born and bred in Uganda, Bishop-elect traveled to the United States to discern a vocation to the Catholic priesthood. It is not through one of the Religious orders such as Missionaries of St Paul (MSP) or the Josephites; he did not come as a “fidei donum - gift of faith” from a local diocese in Africa sending priests to work in dioceses in the United States of America; or an immigrant who traveled to the US and after random explorations found his vocation here. Rather a providential meeting with an American prelate ignited a spark in him and like the star that led the magi to Christ so did Bishop emeritus Sam Jacob to Bishop elect Engourait. 

The post synodal exhortation Ecclesia in Africa echoed this reality thus: The initiatives boldly undertaken by the young Churches of Africa in order to bring the Gospel "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8) are certainly worthy of note. The missionary Institutes founded in Africa have grown in number, and have begun to supply missionaries not only for the countries of the Continent but also for other areas of the world. A slowly increasing number of African diocesan priests are beginning to make themselves available, for limited periods, as fidei donum priests in other needy Dioceses — in their own countries or abroad. The African provinces of Religious Institutes of pontifical right, both of men and of women, have also recorded a growth in membership. In this way the Church offers her ministry to the peoples of Africa; but she also accepts involvement in the "exchange of gifts" with other particular Churches which make up the People of God. All this manifests, in a tangible way, the maturity which the Church in Africa has attained…(38).

What the Catholic Church in the United States lacks in terms of personnel or more appropriately vocations, she makes up for from the vocations boom in Africa; what the Church in Africa lacks in terms of financial resources, she benefits from the Church in the United States of America. 

“The African Church gives generously to the U.S. Church as thousands of African priests serve in parishes of the United States. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ with a shared commitment to share his love with everyone,” said Archbishop Thomas R. Zinkula of Dubuque, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on the Church in Africa in a statement released by the Bishops conference on July 22. acknowledging the contributions of African clergy in the US. 

The Catholic Church in the United States gives generously to the Church in Africa through the Solidarity Fund created in 2001. The Subcommittee on the Church in Africa awarded more than $2.6 million in 2024 for 96 grants that support ministries in 32 countries or multi-national regions of Africa. This is separate from projects managed by Catholic Relief Services, the Bishops’ international development agency, present in 30 countries on the continent and individual diocesan partnerships. 

“Gifts to the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa help bishops’ conferences and dioceses throughout Africa manage ever-growing numbers of Catholics, cope with global and local crises, evangelize and renew the faith of the people,” the release detailed.

One way of connecting with the priests and Religious from Africa serving in the United States is through ACCCRUS. With close to 500 members, half of whom attend the annual meeting, ACCCRUS seeks to provide a forum for spiritual and social support to priests and religious men and women of African descent working and/or studying in the United States of America. It provides a kind of home away from home. While these priests and religious serve in US parishes, they also cater to the needs of African Catholics in the US.

Even though Bishop-Designate Engourait studied here, got ordained in May 2012 and has been a priest for 13 years, this shall be his first time attending this annual get together and is bringing along other African priests who have also never attended this conference. Bishop Feudjio is also leading a delegation of priests and religious from his diocese to this year's convention. These sons of Africa have their work cut out for them namely: to grow the family of ACCCRUS. The Apostolic nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Pierre shall also be in attendance. 

Some anecdotal evidence points to over 2000 African priests and religious working and studying in the United States of America. Many are yet to be affiliated and registered with ACCCRUS. 

What is in it for me, is the standard question many are wont to ask? And one cannot but wonder what happened to the spirit of Ubuntu? What happened to the African concept of the Church as the family of God? The pervasive and corrosive culture of individualism and indifference prevalent within the American capitalist mold is one that the African clerics and religious must shun. 

When priests come from Africa to serve the Church in America they move from the challenge of inculturation on the continent to that of acculturation. They need to be acclimatized not just to the weather but also to the culture, hence acculturation. Immigration, clericalism and racism are three major challenges the average African priest needs to navigate as they seek to serve. One can only hope that gatherings like these help with initiatives to enable smooth transitions. 

Kwame Frimpong, Ghanaian Catholic of the archdiocese of Washington D.C. and Vice President of the National Association of African Catholics in the United States (NAACUS) has a different twist to this appointment. 

“I just had more questions than answers,” he wrote. “I have been thinking of why we are excited about the appointment? Which is more important? Being a Catholic or being an African? Why are we anxious about leadership rather than partnership?”

Drawing from the example of the appointment of Cardinal Gregory Wilton to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., Kwame notes that African Catholics showed enthusiasm and excitement but all soon fizzled out and not much achieved under his tenure. 

He further laments the fact that even with Bishop Jerome Feudjio who is working hard to mobilize African Catholics in the United States, African Catholics are not listening.

“Would an additional bishop make any difference? I don't think so,” Kwame concludes. 

He recognizes the fact Bishop-elect Engourait has been assigned to a diocese and wonders whether he would have time for the African community. 

Knowing our African communities, what additional commitment are we going to support our African bishops, asks Kwame. 

Bishop-elect Engourait shall be consecrated on September 5, 2025 and there shall be a thanksgiving mass led by Ugandan Catholics. It is time for the Bishops Conference to formalize the subcommittee on the Church in Africa beyond just managing the Solidarity Fund but to elevate it to the same rank as the other subcommittees under the Committee on Cultural Diversity like the Subcommittee on African American Affairs, Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Islanders Affairs, Subcommittee on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, Subcommittee on Native American Affairs and Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers. African Catholics are no longer just Migrants, Refgees and Travelers. We have come of age.