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On the cusp of Thanksgiving, CatholicPhilly.com thanks you for subscribing to this newsletter, vol. 3, no. 31, and for your support throughout the year. Due to the holiday this week, there will be no newsletter on Friday, Nov. 28. Remember that items in this newsletter represent only a sampling of the content available on the website of CatholicPhilly.com, which is updated every day.

Archbishop to celebrate Mass for start of Advent, with family theme

All families coming to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul this Sunday, Nov. 30, will receive a replica of the 2015 World Meeting of Families icon to be blessed by Archbishop Chaput. The official hymn for the World Meeting will also debut.

Back from Rome, archbishop looks toward pope’s visit to Philadelphia

Archbishop Charles Chaput is back from Rome where he caught a glimpse of the discussions that promise to take place at the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The congress and visit by Pope Francis, he said, “could be the rebirth of the archdiocese.”

See more on the World Meeting of Families, including a daily reflection, in our special section for the congress next year.

New head of Hispanic Catholic ministry seeks diversity and unity in church

Kathia Arango, the new director of the archdiocesan Office for Hispanic Catholics, comes to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at an exciting time when Hispanic ministry is growing every year. She wants to help Latinos express their common Catholic faith in their language and with their distinctive cultural traditions.

In Philadelphia, married priests and wives find respect and acceptance

The Vatican’s recent lifting of a ban on ordaining married men as priests in the Eastern Catholic rites in the U.S. just formalized a process that had already been in practice, said Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia.

See all our Local News stories.

Coming to a pew near you

Many educational, social and spiritual events are coming soon at parishes in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. See them all on our Calendar of Events. Don't miss the vigil Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Nov. 11 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
Send us your parish or community event and we'll add it to the calendar.

Mass on U.S.-Mexico border marked by painful reunion through the fence

The 18-car Union Pacific train blew its horn about 50 feet from the U.S.-Mexico divide. There, in a dusty one-acre lot, an American road ends — literally. And it was where 12-year-old Yoryet Lara hoped to get a glimpse of her mother.

See more National News stories.

Break down isolation and stigma of autism, pope says

Pope Francis called the daily challenges for people with autism spectrum disorders and their families “a cross” and noted the need to develop more “comprehensive and accessible” support networks.

Pope says he would ‘never close the door’ on talks with Islamic State

The door to negotiations with ISIS "is always open," the pope told reporters. He also said “terrorism” could describe not only the actions of such extremist groups but also those of some national governments using military force unilaterally.

See more World News stories.

Cultivate a ‘spirituality of encounter’ this Advent

This Advent, Sister Constance Veit invites everyone to begin the season by skipping a trip to the mall in order to visit a sick family member or an elderly neighbor. Follow Mary’s way to an Advent of joyful, loving encounters, she advises.

Do beliefs matter? Yes, they do

Father Ken Doyle offers an answer to a reader seeking a retort when people say, “It doesn’t matter what your beliefs are.” He also offer pastoral advice to a divorced and remarried Catholic.

Have some time? We have some movies

If prefer not to watch wall-to-wall football when friends and family are visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday, browse our reviews of eight recently released films on DVD and Blu ray.

See more in our Culture section.

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