Great Praise and acclaim precede his coming to our Diocese. We are honored to have Bishop Jacobs here in the Houma Terrebonne diocese. Bishop Jacobs was installed as our new bishop on October 10th, 2003.

Bishop Jacobs has served as bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria for the past 14 years.

Third Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux Most Rev. Sam Jacobs (2003 to present) Born in Greenwood, MS, on March 4, 1938, Bishop Sam G. Jacobs was reared in Lake Charles, LA. He studied at Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette from 1951-57 and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from 1957-1964. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette by Auxiliary Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux in 1964. Bishop Jacobs served as pastor, chaplain and associate pastor of several parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette and the Diocese of Lake Charles. He has served as chairman of the National Service Committee for the Charismatic Renewal and Diocesan Director of Vocations and Seminarians for the Diocese of Lake Charles. Bishop Jacobs was appointed the 10th Bishop of Alexandria in 1989 and was ordained by Archbishop Francis B. Schulte and co-consecrators Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux and Bishop Jude Speyrer. Bishop Jacobs was installed as the third Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux on Oct. 10, 2003.

Here is an article written by Bishop Jacobs for a publication from the Diocese of Alexandria, The Church Today;

June 4, 2003 Successful Spiritual Life Requires A Vision      The prophet Isaiah says that without a vision the people perish. Do you have a vision for your life? What do I mean? Do you have an idea what God is expecting of you as you make your journey in life? Is your vision one that comes from God? Is your life guided by this vision or by whatever happens day by day? By vision I do not mean do you know what will happen to you in the future. Rather, what God’s call for you is and how do you plan to fulfill that call accordingly.      I would dare to say that the majority of people have no clear vision of God’s plan and call in their life. There is nothing acting as a plan of life for them by which everything else is measured and judged appropriately or not. Some may feel as long as they live a fairly decent life, that is sufficient. They don’t break any of the major commandments. They try to be kind to others and to treat each person justly. They mind their own business.      There is nothing wrong with any of this, but imagine trying to build a two story house with no blueprints. How will the house look if everything is left to chance and change of plans? Imagine planning to go from here to New York without any map to follow. What certainty will you have as you start the journey of ever arriving in New York in one piece?      Yet that is what happens when we have no vision for our life. This is true whether we are called to marriage or priesthood, to be a professional or an ordinary worker.      Do not most successful businesses have a business plan which sets the direction for their future? Is the success of a business more important than our spiritual life or our vocational life, which have eternal consequences? Should we not also have a vision plan for these as well?      If I have been called to the sacrament of marriage as my vocation, did I have a vision of what kind of husband or wife I wanted to be in this marriage before I solemnized my commitment? If I did, is that vision now used as a corrective tool when I begin to fall short of my understanding of my role as a spouse? However, if I didn't start out with a vision plan, is it too late to begin now so that I can complete my vocation according to God’s desire? If I am a priest or religious, is the vision I had prior to my ordination or first profession still the guiding principle of my life?      How far off the mark am I at this point in my journey from the original embracing of that vision in my life? Was my vision realistic or unrealistic? Has the vision changed or have I fallen so short that I have given up on the vision and have settled for something much less? In that case is it not necessary to return to my original vision and start again?      Jesus had a vision of what it meant for him to be the Messiah. It was clear. No matter what happened to him on the road from his baptism in the Jordan till his death on the cross, he never allowed that vision to become clouded. Even when he faced distractions that could have gotten him off course, he kept his eyes on the vision that the Father had given him.      Jesus gave the apostles insight into his vision for them after he would return to the Father. As long as they kept that vision in mind, they saw the marvelous works of God in their lives and ministry. Over the years when the Church fell short of the original vision, it experienced great difficulties which sought to destroy it. However, when it returned to the vision with resoluteness, the Church flourished again.      So back to the original question: Do you have a vision for your life? If not, could that be the reason you feel lost and adrift in life? Maybe it is time to formulate such a vision so that you can be better guided in your spiritual and vocational journey. Where do you start? Begin in prayer with God, seeking his plan of life for you. Then, write the vision down and be guided by it.      Above all be patient with yourself as you seek to implement the plan in your daily life. God is looking for faithfulness more than success.