New parish is 93rd for the Diocese of Fort Worth, but a first for the U.S.
ARLINGTON — On Aug. 28, Bishop Michael Olson announced the establishment of St. Matthew Ayariga Parish in Arlington as a personal parish for the Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas.
St. Matthew Ayariga Parish is the first Ghanaian National Catholic parish in the United States, and the first Catholic parish anywhere in the world to be established under the patronage of St. Matthew Ayariga, the Ghanaian Catholic migrant whose courageous profession of faith in Jesus Christ led to his martyrdom in Libya in 2015.
Since 2007, the Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas has celebrated Mass weekly at St. Joseph Church in Arlington in the Twi language. Bishop Olson observed, “The development of this community has flourished so that a full parish is now required to meet the spiritual needs of this vibrant Catholic and immigrant community.”
The Diocese of Fort Worth and the Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana, have a longstanding collaboration, and the Archdiocese has provided Ghanaian priests to help shepherd this community.
Bishop Olson expressed “profound gratitude to Almighty God” and great joy when he announced the new parish, which reflects the universality and diversity of the Catholic Church.
He wrote, “St. Matthew Ayariga Parish will also mark an important chapter in the growing presence and contribution of Ghanaian Catholics within the Diocese of Fort Worth and within the Catholic Church in the United States. The Catholic faith is truly universal. The establishment of this parish recognizes the gifts of faith, family, culture, devotion, and service that Ghanaian Catholics bring to the life of our local Church and wider community while establishing a parish whose doors and mission are open to all of God's people.”
Patron saint
Matthew Ayariga, a Ghanaian, was working as a migrant in Libya when he was abducted by ISIS with twenty of his coworkers, who were Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians. The 21 captives were led to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. His captors offered Matthew an opportunity to be released when they asked him if he was a Christian.
“His response in the face of certain death was heroic,” said Bishop Olson. “The words attributed to Matthew at that moment when he was asked about his faith have borne witness to Christ throughout the world: ‘Their God is my God.’ He professed publicly his faith in Christ, and he was beheaded on February 15, 2015, with his Christian companions,” which ISIS recorded on video.
Preparations underway
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
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