Ghanaian Catholics in the United States have reached a historic milestone following the establishment of the country’s first Ghanaian National Catholic parish in Arlington, Texas.

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has officially established St. Matthew Ayariga Parish, creating a dedicated spiritual home for the growing Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas. Bishop Michael Olson announced the establishment of the new parish on August 28, 2026.

The development is particularly significant because St. Matthew Ayariga Parish becomes the first Ghanaian National Catholic parish in the United States. It is also described as the first Catholic parish anywhere in the world established under the patronage of St. Matthew Ayariga.

Matthew Ayariga was the Ghanaian Christian migrant who was killed in Libya in 2015 alongside 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians. His story became internationally recognized as one of courage and commitment to the Christian faith.

The historic parish is the result of years of growth within the Ghanaian Catholic community in North Texas. Since 2007, Ghanaian Catholics have gathered for weekly Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Arlington, including celebrations conducted in the Ghanaian Twi language. As the community expanded, the need for a parish specifically serving its spiritual and pastoral needs became increasingly evident.

The new parish will give Ghanaian Catholics an opportunity to maintain their faith while also preserving important elements of their cultural heritage, including language, music and traditional forms of worship within the Catholic faith.

The church, located in a former Methodist facility being renovated in south Arlington, is expected to hold dedication celebrations from January 29 to January 31, 2027.

For Ghanaian Catholics across the United States, the establishment represents more than the creation of another church. It marks a historic recognition of a community that has spent nearly two decades building its Catholic presence in North Texas.