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Enjoy the weekly newsletter of CatholicPhilly.com, vol. 3, no. 6. Visit CatholicPhilly.com on your smartphone or tablet computer's browser, then use the "Add to homescreen" tool for an icon that lets you experience a handy mobile app. Ask a friend to sign up for this free newsletter and join our 4,000 subscribers at CatholicPhilly.com!

Taney Dragons lose a game, but everybody wins

A member of the Little League World Series team that stole the hearts of Philadelphia and the nation is a parishioner and student of St. Francis de Sales in West Philadelphia, where the community was moved by a special group of kids.

St. Louis archbishop urges prayers for peace to calm chaos in streets

Archbishop Robert Carlson prayed at the memorial of slain teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and and later celebrated Mass in St. Louis where he outlined specific steps to "dismantle systemic racism."

Pope talks of airstrikes in Iraq, and possible Philadelphia visit

On the plane back to Rome from his trip to Korea, Pope Francis said force can be justified to stop “unjust aggressors” such as Islamic State militants in northeastern Iraq. He also said he would travel to Iraq if necessary — and he spoke at length about other travel plans including possibly to Philadelphia next year.

Elderly Iraqi Christians stand up to extremists

A group of 11 sick, disabled and elderly Iraqi Christians scolded terrorists who ordered them to convert to Islam or be beheaded, saying they preferred death to giving up their faith. The Islamic State extremists dropped their demands and ordered the Christians to leave their village. Meanwhile, an envoy of Pope Francis to Iraq told him about conditions there, while an ecumenical delegation visited in support of the 100,000 displaced Christians.

Pope phones family of slain U.S. journalist

Pope Francis called relatives of the late James Foley in a “long and intense” conversation Aug. 21 to console them for their loss and assure them of his prayers, even as he was grieving deaths in his own family from an accident. Foley was killed by Islamic State militants in Syria.

Archbishop Chaput hears of suffering in Syria first hand

The Catholic archbishop of Damascus wrote a letter to Philadelphia’s archbishop detailing violence in Syria and an upswing in religious vocations among the young, despite persecution of Christians in the Middle East.

Philadelphia priest visits North Korea as silent ‘apostle of peace’

Pope Francis thanked an 81-year-old Maryknoll priest from West Philadelphia for his 51 trips to the country where religion is prohibited and few outsiders are permitted. Father Gerard Hammond brings medicines and wordless witness in an “apostolate of presence.”

What's coming up soon?

Learn about interesting events taking place in the Catholic community throughout the Philadelphia region on our Calendar of Events. Send us your parish or community event and we'll add it to the calendar.

Priest brother-in-law won’t attend the beach wedding

A bride wonders why her groom’s brother will attend the wedding reception but not the non-Catholic wedding ceremony on a Cancun beach. There are good reasons, explains Father Ken Doyle in his weekly Q & A column.

Come to the quiet

Michelle Francl-Donnay hears that silent retreats in the Buddhist tradition are becoming popular. So she traces the ancient Catholic practice of seeking silence – perhaps by taking a retreat — and finding God.

Stem cell issue throws cold water on Ice Bucket Challenge

After you get a bucket of ice water dumped over your head to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig’s disease, direct your donation away from embryonic stem cell research, writes CatholicPhilly.com editor Matthew Gambino.

How to live our proclamation of Christ

Msgr. Joseph Prior explains how the Gospel readings for the last few weeks culminate this Sunday as Jesus gives Peter the keys to the Kingdom, and to us a model for following the Lord in his church.

Ready for football? Give a cheer for ‘When the Game Stands Tall’

Catholic movie goers in particular will appreciate this likeable, fact-based sports drama that promotes humility, teamwork, good sportsmanship and, in passing, premarital chastity. Also in our Culture section, see a review of "The Giver," in which Hollywood continues to make the future a dangerous and challenging place to be a teenager.

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