New Parish Named After Saint Matthew Ayariga in Arlington, Texas
We present this article courtesy of the North Texas Catholic:
The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has announced the establishment of Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church in Arlington, Texas, as its newest parish — the first in the world dedicated to this patron saint Catholic Diocese of Fort WorthCatholic Diocese of Fort Worth.
The parish is a personal parish created to serve the growing Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas. Since 2007, this community has met weekly at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Arlington, celebrating Mass in the Twi language. The Diocese of Fort Worth and the Archdiocese of Kumasi in Ghana have collaborated, with Ghanaian priests providing pastoral care to shepherd the community Catholic Diocese of Fort WorthCatholic Diocese of Fort Worth.
Saint Matthew Ayariga was a Ghanaian migrant worker in Libya who, in early 2015, was abducted by ISIS alongside 20 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians. Faced with the choice of renouncing his faith or being executed, he chose to remain steadfast.
When asked if he was a Christian, he reportedly replied, “Their God is my God”, affirming his solidarity with his fellow captives. He was beheaded on February 15, 2015, with his companions.
Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria canonized Ayariga and the other 20 martyrs in 2015, and Pope Francis later recognized them as saints, adding them to the Roman Martyrology.
Bishop Michael F. Olson described the parish’s creation as a moment of grace, reflecting the universality and diversity of the Catholic Church. He emphasized that Ayariga’s martyrdom is a testament to the triumph of Christ, noting that the violence intended to extinguish the light of faith instead illuminated a path toward unity and remembrance.
The dedication Mass for Saint Matthew Ayariga Parish is scheduled for January 29, 2027, at 1400 South Cooper Street, Arlington, Texas. The church, located in a former Methodist church in south Arlington, is currently undergoing renovations to meet the worship needs of the Catholic community. Completion is scheduled for January 2027.
During the weekend of Jan. 29-31, 2027, Bishop Olson will celebrate three Masses to dedicate St. Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church. The Most Reverend Gabriel Anokye, the Archbishop of Kumasi, is expected to attend along with representatives of the Ghanaian community and dignitaries from Ghana, the United States, the State of Texas, the city of Arlington, and local communities.
St. Matthew Ayariga will be the 93rd parish in the Diocese of Fort Worth, which comprises 28 counties and 23,950 square miles in North Texas. It is the fifth parish established by Bishop Olson, who was ordained and installed as the bishop of Fort Worth on Jan. 29, 2014.
This parish will not only serve Ghanaian Catholics but will also welcome all members of the Catholic faithful, embodying the mission of the Church to be a community of faith, family, culture, devotion, and service. It is located at 1400 South Cooper Street in Arlington, Texas.