Libya: First Parish Dedicated to St Matthew Ayariga, the Only Ghanaian Among the 21 Martyrs Killed By Isis in Libya, Established in Texas

Libya: First Parish Dedicated to St Matthew Ayariga, the Only Ghanaian Among the 21 Martyrs Killed By Isis in Libya, Established in Texas

Accra -- The first parish dedicated to St Matthew Ayariga, the Ghanaian Catholic who was martyred in Libya on 15 February 2015 together with the 20 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians killed by jihadists of the Islamic State (ISIS), has been established in Texas (see Fides, 16/2/2015).

How a new Texas parish reminds us that the age of Christian martyrs is not over

The newest Catholic parish in Arlington, Texas, is named for Matthew Ayariga, one of 21 men murdered by Islamic State terrorists on a Libyan beach in February 2015.Ayariga was a Ghanaian migrant worker captured alongside 20 Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians. Little is known about his life before then, including whether he was already a Christian. Some accounts say the faith of his fellow prisoners inspired him to convert during their captivity…

AFRICA/GHANA – First parish dedicated to St Matthew Ayariga, the only Ghanaian among the 21 martyrs killed by ISIS in Libya, established in Texas

AFRICA/GHANA – First parish dedicated to St Matthew Ayariga, the only Ghanaian among the 21 martyrs killed by ISIS in Libya, established in Texas Thursday, 3 September 2026 Accra (Fides News Agency) –The first parish dedicated to St Matthew Ayariga, the Ghanaian Catholic who was martyred in Libya on 15 February [...]

Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese Welcomes Historic Ghanaian Parish in Texas

The Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi in Ghana has welcomed the establishment of a Ghanaian parish in Texas, United States, under the patronage of Ghanaian martyr and Saint Matthew Ayariga, describing the development as a “historic milestone.” In a circular following Bishop Michael Olson’s August 28 announcement of the establishment of the parish for the Ghanaian community, the Chancellor of the Kumasi Archdiocese described the development as an ho…

US catholic diocese makes history by naming church after Ghanaian who died for his faith

More than a decade after he was executed by ISIS militants on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the name of Matthew Ayariga has been given a permanent home

Texas Diocese Establishes First Catholic Parish Named After Ghanaian Martyr Matthew Ayariga

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth in Texas has established a new parish in honour of Ghanaian martyr Matthew Ayariga, who was killed by ISIS militants in Libya in 2015. The Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church, located in Arlington, Texas, will serve the Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas. The establishment of the parish marks …