“If I have to die, I’ll die, but I won’t let you in.”

Akash was born on June 22, 1994, in the village of Risalpur, Pakistan. He was the 2nd youngest of 5 to a poor Catholic family in a nation that is traditionally Islamic.

As an infant, he was physically malnourished and struggled to survive his first summer.

Persecution and violence against Christians was strong, causing his family to move across the country to Lahore.

He studied at Salesian schools in the Christian quarter of the city of Lahore and as he grew, was active and deeply committed to the Church.

He volunteered as a security guard at Saint John’s Catholic Church in response to rising threats against Christians in the region. At 18, he was the youngest security guard and had received special permission from the pastor.

On March 15, 2015, during Sunday Mass, 2 suicide bombers went to both his Church and an Anglican church. Akash, who was guarding the front, heard the explosion at the other, identified the bomber, and stopped him at the door, preventing him from going inside. The terrorist would not back off. His last words were, “If I have to die, I’ll die, but I won’t let you in.” He went up to the bomber and locked his arms tightly around him just before the bomb exploded, killing him and 2 other Catholics, one of which was a young girl. Inside the Church were roughly 1,500 people who were unharmed.

His funeral began the next day with gatherers in the streets naming him a “hero”.

In a world often clouded by violence and fear, he stood firm in his faith.

Today, more than 800 Baptisms are celebrated annually at Saint John’s Church in Lahore, and many young people have joined the active life of the parishes.

In January 2022, he was officially recognized by the Vatican as a Servant of God, the 1st step in the process of canonization. In 2024, the diocesan phase of the cause for beatification and canonization concluded. He is the 1st Pakistani Christian layperson to be considered for sainthood.

For God’s Glory.