17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025 (Mission Coop)

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Have you ever knocked on someone’s door and waited, heart pounding, wondering if anyone would answer? In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us about prayer—and He paints a vivid picture of someone knocking on a neighbor’s door at midnight, pleading for help. Jesus tells us to pray like that—with persistence, boldness, and trust that someone will answer. Because our God is not distant. He hears. He responds. I couldn’t help but think of that Gospel image when I read about what happened this past year in the Diocese of Latakia in Syria. During five days of bombing and fighting, hundreds of people—families with children, elderly men and women—fled to their local churches. They knocked on the church doors, looking for shelter. And Bishop Chbeir and his priests opened those doors. They made the churches a refuge—just as the Church is meant to be. Can you imagine the prayers that were whispered in those pews during those five terrifying days? “Lord, keep us safe.” “Lord, let it end.” “Lord, be with us.” And Jesus was. Through the shelter of the Church. Through the courage of priests and people. Through the solidarity of Catholics like you. Our diocese has a special relationship with the Diocese of Latakia. We are “sister dioceses.” And over the past year, the support we’ve provided has been truly life-changing: helping to feed the poor, pay priests and parish workers, support displaced families, and educate seminarians. Bishop Chbeir recently wrote to us and said, “We cannot thank you enough for your unwavering support. It is nice to know you have brothers and sisters at the other end of the world who are supporting you every month.” Today, through our prayers and generosity, we are continuing to knock—on behalf of those who suffer. We are asking, seeking, trusting that God will provide. And maybe we’re also being called to be the answer to someone else’s prayer. Jesus says, “Ask, and you shall receive.” When our brothers and sisters in Syria asked for help, you responded. Thank you for being a Church that answers the door. Let’s continue to pray for peace in Syria and around the world. And let’s never forget that we are part of something bigger than ourselves—one Body of Christ, united in hope.

Click here to learn more about the partnership between the Diocese of Ogdensburg and the Diocese of Latakia.

Would you like to give a donation to help the ministries of the Diocese of Latakia?  Send your check (with 'Diocese of Latakia' in the memo) to:

The Pontifical Mission Societies of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, INC. 
P.O. Box 369 
622 Washington Street Ogdensburg, NY 


Location: Morrisonville, NY, USA

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