New leaders appointed for Catholic education

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux has appointed Suzanne Troxclair as superintendent of its schools and the Rev. Simon Peter Engurait as coordinator of Christian formation.

Troxclair is in charge of 13 schools in the diocese. Three are high schools and 10 elementary schools of varying sizes.

She brings 27 years of experience to the superintendent’s office. This includes over 13 years in the classroom and over 10 years in curriculum development, effective teaching and learning practices. Fifteen years have been spent in an administrative role.

“It presents for us a certain degree of continuity,” said Central Catholic Principal Vic Bonnaffee.

“She knows all the principals, knows the schools and where they are located. She understands the curriculum, because she’s been working very hard on the curriculum for all these years and all that’s been done.”

The collaborative efforts of Troxclair and newly appointed Engurait seem equally exciting for Bonnaffee.

“Father Simon Peter and Ms. Troxclair are going to work together,” Bonnaffee said. “I think it’s an added dimension, a very important positive dimension of having a priest now be in charge of the Christian formation of youth within our school.”

Engurait will oversee the spiritual development and formation curriculum of students from a religious point of view. The prior coordinator was not a priest. His focus is to strengthen Catholic identity.

Engurait also serves the diocese as moderator of the Curia.

“We now have a priest in charge of formation of all our youth,” Bonnaffee said. His leadership will continue to “help us direct and guide and work with all the principals to make sure we have programs that are really meeting the needs of our students.”

Catholic education is one of the largest ministries in which the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese and its parishes are engaged, Bishop Shelton Fabre said.

“It’s an important ministry,” Fabre said.

“The ministry of our Catholic schools is undertaken to prepare children not only academically, but to also prepare them to be the best disciples of Jesus Christ that they can be when they complete their Catholic school education.”

Bonnaffee hopes both appointees achieve success and promises to work cooperatively.

“They will have the cooperation totally of the schools in Morgan City at Central Catholic High and Holy Cross Elementary schools,” Bonnaffee said.

He says his plans are “to work with them to make sure our schools continue to be schools of excellence in curriculum content and academics, as well as working with the total child in the formation of our students.”