Texas Diocese establishes first parish named after Ghanaian killed by ISIS

More than a decade after Matthew Ayariga's death at the hands of ISIS in Libya, the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth in Texas has established a permanent tribute to the Ghanaian martyr. The new parish, Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church in Arlington, is the first Ghanaian National Catholic parish in the United States and marks a historic milestone for North Texas' growing Ghanaian Catholic community.

Ayariga's story gained global attention when ISIS militants beheaded him and 20 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians in 2015, despite offering him the chance to renounce his faith. His unyielding Christian conviction in the face of death has since become a powerful symbol of Christian martyrdom. The diocese's announcement of the parish's establishment is described as a significant moment in the life of the Church, reflecting the growing Ghanaian Catholic community's aspirations for a dedicated spiritual home.

The journey to this moment began in 2007 when Ghanaian Catholics started gathering for Mass in Twi at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Arlington. As the congregation flourished, the need for a permanent space to serve their spiritual and cultural needs became apparent. With the support of the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Archdiocese of Kumasi, Saint Matthew Ayariga Parish will now stand as a beacon of faith, culture, and unity for generations of Ghanaian Catholics living thousands of miles from their homeland.