Since 2018, The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has been in a special partnership of faith and solidarity with the Maronite Archeparchy of Damascus, Syria. The partnership was born out of concern for Christians in the Holy Land and an invitation for our Church to become more engaged with Church in the Middle East. This partnership finds inspiration in the biblical account of St. Paul’s conversion beginning on the road to Damascus. The Church in Damascus welcomed Paul, baptized him and sent him forth as an apostle to the Gentiles. This partnership began on January 25, 2018, on the Feast Day of the Conversion of St. Paul and is a kind of return for the Church named after St. Paul to the Church of Damascus that formed him.
Goals of the Partnership
• The Damascus Partnership has four primary goals:
• Sharing stories of faith and praying for each other.
• Sharing relationships through regular correspondence and visits when possible.
• Sharing resources to support the ministries and needs of the people in Damascus.
• Sharing annual forums on the situation of Christians living in the Holy Land and fostering deeper understanding between the Eastern and Western Rite Catholic Churches.
Milestones
• 2018 – Hosting Archbishop Samir Nassar in St. Paul and formalizing the goals of the partnership and visit ministries and parishes named after St. Paul.
• 2020-21 – Commissioning Icon of the Conversion of St. Paul to be shared in both dioceses as way to learn about the partnership, prayer together and learning about Eastern spirituality. Icon is permanently hanging in both cathedrals.
• 2022 – Hosting of Archbishop Samir Nassar to visit parishes and schools to share about the partnership. Beginning of the Family-to-family sponsorship program to assist in providing basic stipends to needy families in Damascus for basic subsistence.
• 2024-25 – Hosting of Pilgrimage of the relics of the Martyrs of Damascus in Parishes of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Hosting Archbishop Nassar to renew relationship and discern next steps. Consider need to support children in Damascus suffering from the effects of War and trauma and offer mental health resources.
Ways to Participate
1. Family to Family Sponsorship – Individuals and parishes may sponsor needy families in Damascus by contributing funds to The Center for Mission to provide family stipends for basic needs of food, medicine, care for sick and elderly.
2. General Donations – Give to the annual collections for the Archdiocese of Damascus on Good Friday.
3. Host a Partnership Forum – Host an educational forum at your parish to learn more about the Church in Holy Land, the challenges for Christians in the Middle East and gain understanding of the Eastern Rite Maronite Catholic Church.
More Information
To learn more, Contact Deacon Mickey Friesen / 651-291-4445.
