New Parish Honors Martyr Beheaded by ISIS

A recent addition to the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has been named after a Christian martyr whose remains were left unclaimed in his home country.

In early 2015, a group of Muslim terrorists aligned with ISIS abducted 21 Christian construction workers in Libya, mostly Coptic Orthodox, along with one migrant worker from Ghana, Matthew Ayariga.

Faced with the choice of renouncing their faith or facing death, all 21 men chose to remain steadfast, ultimately being beheaded, some while praying, on a beach in western Libya on February 15, 2015.

The harrowing ISIS video, referred to as “A Message Signed in Blood to the Nation of the Cross,” depicted Ayariga and the other captives being forced to kneel before their execution. As their blood flowed into the Mediterranean Sea, one of the terrorists proclaimed, “We will conquer Rome.”

While it’s unclear if Ayariga was a Christian before his captivity with the Copts, his conviction in those final moments is well documented. Reportedly, when asked, “Do you reject Christ?” he replied, “Their God is my God,” affirming his solidarity with the Coptic men.

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria canonized Ayariga and the other martyrs in 2015. Years later, Pope Francis acknowledged their sacrifice, stating that their blood serves as both the “seed of Christians” and a catalyst for Christian unity. He subsequently recognized the 21 as saints, adding them to the Roman Martyrology.

Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth announced the establishment of the diocese’s 93rd parish—Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church in Arlington. This parish aims primarily to serve the Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas and is the first of its kind dedicated to this martyr globally.

The bishop described Ayariga’s response to impending death as heroic, noting that his assertion of faith resonated around the world: “Their God is my God.” He also remarked on the irony that the perpetrators sought to instill fear through their actions, yet the martyrs’ legacy has instead become a powerful testament to the triumph of Christ.

In Bishop Olson’s words, Ayariga’s martyrdom highlights that, “in Christ there is much more that we hold in common than anything that divides us.” He emphasized that the violence and hatred of the attackers were meant to extinguish the light of Christ, but instead, it illuminated a path towards unity and remembrance. “Where death boasts to have the final word, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ declares otherwise,” he continued, referencing John 1:5.

The dedication Mass for the new parish, located at 1400 South Cooper Street in Arlington, is set for January 29, 2027.