Texas' newest Catholic parish takes name of martyr beheaded by ISIS: 'A testimony to the victory of Christ'

Texas parish first in world named after 2015 Ghanian martyr

St. Matthew Ayariga was one of 21 Christian migrant workers kidnapped and then beheaded by the terrorist group ISIS on a beach near Sirte, Libya, on Feb. 15, 2015. [...]

Texas' newest Catholic parish takes name of martyr beheaded by ISIS: 'A testimony to the victory of Christ'

The newest parish in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has taken the name of a Christian martyr whose remains went unclaimed in his own homeland.Muslim terrorists pledging allegiance to the Islamic State in Libya tracked down and abducted 21 Christian construction workers in early 2015. Twenty of the men were Coptic Orthodox, and the 21st was Matthew Ayariga, a migrant worker from Ghana.'Those who sought to silence the name of Jesus instead gav…

Historic: Fort Worth parish becomes first in the world named for man martyred by ISIS in Libya - Deacon Greg Kandra

From North Texas Catholic:  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 The post Historic: Fort Worth parish becomes first in the world named for man martyred by ISIS i…

Texas parish first in world named after Ghanian martyr St. Matthew Ayariga

The first Catholic parish in the world founded under the patronage of Ghanaian martyr and saint Matthew Ayariga will open in Arlington, Texas, in January 2027. Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth announced on Aug. 28 the opening of the church. Ayariga was one of 21 Christian migrant workers in Libya kidnapped and then beheaded by the terrorist group ISIS on a beach near Sirte, Libya, on Feb. 15, 2015. Originally from Ghana, Ayariga…