More than a decade after his death in Libya, the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has established Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church in Arlington, Texas. Set to open in January 2027, the historic institution marks the first Ghanaian national parish in the United States and the world’s first named after the 2015 ISIS martyr.
A horrific execution on a Mediterranean beach in 2015 is now inspiring a permanent spiritual home thousands of miles away. The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth announced on August 28 the creation of Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church in Arlington, Texas, a historic milestone for both the local immigrant population and the global Catholic Church.
The newly established personal parish will serve the Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas. For nearly two decades, that congregation has met weekly for Mass in the Twi language at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Arlington.
The Legacy of Martyrdom and Ecumenical Recognition
Matthew Ayariga was a migrant worker in Libya and the only Black African among a group of 21 Christian men kidnapped and beheaded by ISIS on a beach near Sirte, Libya, on February 15, 2015. The terrorist group published a video of the atrocity titled A Message Signed with Blood to the Nation of the Cross
. Before his death, Ayariga was given a chance to renounce his faith but reportedly told his captors, Their God is my God.
The Coptic Orthodox Church canonized all 21 men as saints and martyrs just days later on February 21, 2015. In an extraordinary ecumenical gesture, Pope Francis announced on May 11, 2023, that the 21 martyrs would also be inscribed in the Roman Martyrology during a Vatican meeting with Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II.
“These martyrs were baptized not only in water and the Spirit, but also in blood, with a blood that is a seed of unity for all followers of Christ.”
Pope Francis, via The Catholic Herald
Decades of Fundraising and Community Growth
The path to a dedicated parish required nearly 20 years of fundraising by the North Texas diaspora. According to diocesan spokespersons, when the community first began raising money, there was no name attached to the nonexistent parish, though Ayariga’s name rose naturally to the top of the list following his martyrdom.
Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth described the new parish in an August letter as especially significant
given its patron and mission. The growth of the local congregation was fueled by ongoing collaboration between the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Archdiocese of Kumasi in Ghana, which supplied priests to support the expatriate community.
“Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church will provide a place for Ghanaian Catholics to come together in Christ as the Church to worship God, to assist their maintaining bonds with the Church in Ghana, and to strengthen their children sacramentally to grow as part of the local church here.”
Bishop Michael Olson, Diocese of Fort Worth, via EWTN News
Renovation Plans and Dedication Schedule
The physical church itself is taking shape inside a former Methodist church currently undergoing renovation in south Arlington. Three separate Masses are planned for the grand opening weekend of January 29–31, 2027.
Bishop Olson is set to serve as the principal celebrant for the dedication Mass, joined by Archbishop Gabriel Anokye of Kumasi, Ghana, as an honored guest and concelebrant.
Beyond serving as a cultural and spiritual anchor, Bishop Olson noted that the institution will also assist immigrants in their transition to life as citizens and productive contributors to the common good of Texas and the United States.
