A surgical suturing apparatus includes a suture housing, a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path, and a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue. The drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of the drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path.