Bereavement
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St. Mary Magdalene was present at the crucifixion and was the first of Jesus' disciples to see Him after His Resurrection from the dead.
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St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry
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Our Mission
We, as the disciples of Christ, provide a ministry of accompaniment to all who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The Saint Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry does this by providing comfort, hope, and an invitation to serve for all who seek it. The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, through our Catholic faith, believes that no one should grieve alone.
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Grief Support
We grieving the deaths of fellow parishioners and their families as a community. We have recently expanded our St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry to provide accompaniment to all who have experienced the loss of a loved one, through meetings, prayer partners, and more.
We have started a grief support ministry.Meetings at the Basilica are currently suspended due to travel commitments of our group leaders.
At this time we are recommending professional grief support programs in our area, particularly Avalon Hospice, who welcomes all those who are grieving, regardless of whether their loved ones have been under the care of Hospice. (See Counseling below for a phone and email contact.)More local resources are also listed below.
If you would like to learn more or receive Bereavement assistance, please contact the parish office, or email Amy McKay at Amymckay5122@gmail.com.
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Resources
Videos
- Grieving with Great Hope - by Good Mourning Ministry, a Catholic Bereavement Apostolate, available through our parish FORMED.org subscription.
"Let us not grieve as others who have no hope."
(1 Thessalonians 4:13)- Why, What If, If Only - by Grief Care Fellowship
Books
- Good Grief: A Companion for Every Loss, Granger E. Westberg
- Good Grief: The Complete Set, Granger E. Westberg
- Your Grief Your Way: A Year of Practical Guidance and Comfort after Loss, Shelby Forsythia
- Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love: Daily Meditations to Help You through the Grieving Process, Raymond R. Mitsch & Lynn Brookside
- Beautiful and Terrible Things: A Christian Struggle with Suffering Grief and Hope, Christian M. M. Brady (for parents who have lost children)
- Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold, C. S. Lewis
- On Death and Dying: What the Dying Have to Teach Doctors, Nurses, Clergy and Their Own Families, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
- Healing after the Suicide of a Loved One, Ann Smolin and John Guinan
Online- Dealing with Grief and Coping with Stress - cdc.gov
- Coping With Grief: Helping Others With a Loss, Pamela Blair, PhD
Counseling and Grief Groups
- Avalon Hospice (Please contact Kelsey Payne, Bereavement Coordinator, to discuss groups or individual support that would be best for your situation: 423-892-3737 kelsey.payne@avalon-hospice.com)
- Christy Bonner, LMFT
- Susan Latta, LMFT
- Hospice of Chattanooga grief groups
- La Paz Chattanooga (Español)
- Grieving with Great Hope - by Good Mourning Ministry, a Catholic Bereavement Apostolate, available through our parish FORMED.org subscription.
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Reception following the Funeral
The St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Committee is honored to host a reception for family, friends, and guests following the funeral of your loved one. This reception can be held in Varallo Parish Hall, schedule permitting. If you would prefer, we can also send food to your home or other location to help you host a gathering.
If you would like this service, please speak with our parish office staff when making the arrangements for the funeral.
Visit our Last Rites & Funerals page for more information.
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Pray for Those Who Mourn the Loss of a Loved One
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Recently Deceased
+Luerena Fleming (1/21/1927-9/18/2022) - survived by daughter Rita Fleming Lyttle and daughter-in-law Daisy Fleming
+Oliva Jarquin Peña (5/1/1988 – 8/14/2022) - survived by 12-year-old daughter, and her sister, Eva Jarquin
+James David Poole Sr. (died 7/24/2022) - survived by wife Billie Poole, daughters Jennifer and Jamie Lynn Poole, and son James David Poole Jr. in Texas
+Felipe Ramos-Lopez (11/20/1962 - 4/2/2022)
+Sandra Carter passed 3/20/22- her husband Ralph had passed 1/31/22; mother of Linda Carter and 7 other children
+Rudy Marquez - husband of former Basilica parish secretary, Lupita, passed on 3/9/22.
+Marsha Salter - wife of Jim Salter, mother of Paige Hassel, passed on 2/22/22
+Ralph Carter (5/29/34-1/31/22) - husband of Sandy Carter, father of Linda Carter and 7 other children
+Catherine Ann Nuccio (4/18/57-1/26/22) - sister of Robert Nodes
+Ruby Hearon - mother of Lori Fountain
+Natalia Perez Soto - mother of Teresa Ortiz Perez
+Betty Hogan
+Gwenivere Owen - grandmother of Rachel Williams (who is married to Jack Williams)
+Jo Anne Gore Schmitt - mother of Julie Schmitt Gersch (married to Kevin Gersch) and grandmother to Harrison, Holden, and Hannah
+Betty Rodela - mother of Lou Rodela (who is married to Laina Rodela)
+James Williams Sr - grandfather of Jack Williams (who is married to Rachel Williams)
+Maureen Cliche - mother of Debbie Cliche
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Basilica parishioner Luerena Fleming, 95, of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday, September 18, 2022, at her residence. Dcn. Gaspar DeGaetano will lead a Graveside Service at Chattanooga National Cemetery Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022 at 2pm. Among others, Luerena is survived by her daughter Rita Fleming Lyttle and her daughter-in-law Daisy Fleming. Click to read Luerena's obituary. Please pray for Luerena's soul and for her family.Read More -
Oliva Jarquin Peña passed away on August 14, 2022, at the age of 34. She is survived by 12-year-old daughter, and her sister, Eva Jarquin. Please pray for Oliva's soul and her family. May she rest in peace. Visitation is being held on August 27 from 10am to 5pm, with a funeral service at 2pm, at Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services, Franklin Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN.Read More -
James David Poole Sr., 79, died peacefully with his family on July 24, 2022. A lifelong Catholic, David was a devotee of the traditional Latin Mass and continued to watch the Basilica's Sunday livestream when he could no longer attend in person due to Alzheimer's. Please pray for James David Poole's soul. Click to read about his life.Read More -
This past season in our parish, there have been several deaths of parishioners and family members, and we are grieving these losses as a community. We are expanding our St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry to provide accompaniment to all who have experienced the loss of a loved one. We have started a grief support program, offering meetings, prayer partners, and coping resources. If you would like to learn more and participate, click for details.Read More -
+Marsha Conway Salter, a longtime Basilica parishioner, passed on Feb. 22, 2022, following a period of illness. She and her husband Jim had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Basilica in 2019. Please pray for the repose of Marsha's soul.Read More -
Rudy Marquez passed away the morning of 3/9/22 after pneumonia following COVID-19. Rudy was an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council at St. Jude. Rudy's wife Lupita was the Basilica's Parish Secretary for several years. Click for more information and to access a meal train for the Marquez family.Read More -
Martha Rose Skelly, sister of the late pastor of the Basilica, Msgr. George Schmidt, and wife of Lawrence Skelly, passed away on 3/2/22, after several years with Huntington's disease. Visitation will be from 7-8pm Sun. 3/13/22 at the Chattanooga Funeral Home. Click to see Martha's obituary and photos.Read More -
Long-time Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul parishioner, Elizabeth (Betty) Hogan, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2022, at the age of 92. Betty had been attending the Basilica faithfully until she moved to The Bridge assisted living facility. Please join in praying for her soul, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet.Read More -
+Catherine Ann Nuccio, sister of Basilica parishioner Robert Nodes, passed away on Jan. 26, 2022. She will be buried at Mount Olivet on Friday, Feb. 4, at 10am. May her soul rest in peace. Please pray for her family during this time of mourning. Click to see her obituary and a video tribute.Read More -
14-year-old Basilica parishioner, Lorelei Truett, daughter of Lance and Ashley Truett, passed away on Dec. 2, 2021, after a seven-month battle with leukemia that was diagnosed on April 27, 2021. Let us surround her family with our prayers. May Lorelei rest in peace. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Lorelei's Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Basilica Saturday, December 11. (Click to read much more about Lorelei, and for ways to support the Truett family.)Read More -
Please pray for the soul of +James Monroe Price - age 81, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021, after a time of illness. He was born on February 17, 1940. Mr. Price had been a long-time member of Sts. Peter and Paul. Graveside service and burial will be held January 7, 2021, at 2pm, at Mount Olivet Cemetery. May he rest in peace.Read More -
On All Souls Day, Nov. 2, The Basilica will honor our loved ones who have gone before us with a traditional lighting of luminaries and Rosary service outdoors following 5pm Vespers. If you would like to honor a deceased loved one with a dedicated luminary (whether or not you can be present), submit orders to Debbie Cliche after Mass on Oct. 23 & 24, or to the parish office. Orders are due by Thurs. Oct. 28. Click for the order form.Read More -
+ Gustavo Espino Serano murió 16 de octubre 2021 de complicaciones de la diabtes, a la edad de 52 años. Participó en la Basílica, así como St. Stephen y OLPH. *** +Gustavo Espino Serano died Oct. 16, 2021, of complications from diabetes, at the age of 52. He participated at the Basilica, St. Stephen, and OLPH. May he rest in peace. Descanse en paz.Read More -
María Juan Tomas-Manuel, de 76 años, de East Ridge, Tennessee, falleció el miércoles 13 de octubre de 2021 después de luchar contra el cáncer. D. E. P. Haga clic para ver los arreglos funerarios. ****** Maria Juan Tomas-Manuel, age 76, passed away on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, after a short battle with liver cancer. May she rest in peace. Click for funeral arrangements.Read More -
Moisés Rosario Pérez falleció a las 6:50 pm del 9 de octubre de 2021, a la edad de 44 años. Tenía cáncer en los huesos. Misa Exequial 12 de octubre 5:30pm. Le sobreviven su esposa, María Rosa Miranda Pérez, y sus 6 hijos. Descanse en paz. Moisés Rosario Pérez falleció died on October 9 of bone cancer. An active parishioner of the Basilica, he is survived by his wife and six children. May he rest in peace.Read More
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October 7 - October 9
Rachel’s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. The weekend offers a supportive and non-judgmental environment to transform the pain of the past into love and hope. We encourage women, men and couples to attend this free and confidential retreat. Space is limited so sign up now!Read More
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All Souls Day Luminary Blessing
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Charter
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