News - August 2023 RSS Feed

John Mahoney, the Basilica's maintenance supervisor for the past 34 years, passed away on August 27, 2023 at 7:13pm, while hospitalized with pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism. John was about to retire from his job within the week, having completed 34 years of service at Sts. Peter and Paul. His family was by his side, and Fr. Carter administered the full last rites to John. Please pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for John Mahoney's soul. *** FUNERAL Mass at the Basilica Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at 1pm, followed by burial at Mount Olivet. VISITATION Friday, Sept. 1 from 6-8pm at Chattanooga Funeral Home - East Chapel, with a Rosary at 5:30pm.

Request for prayers for Brian Blatchford, the brother of Fr. Colin Blatchford and Fr. Neil Blatchford. Brian was in a bad car accident on 8/11/23 and suffered a serious neck injury. There is a chance he may not walk again or be able to use his hands. The Blatchford family asks for your prayers. Also please consider donating towards the enormous cost of medical care, making his house handicapped accessible, and dealing with lost income. (Click for the requested novenas, Brian's CaringBridge site, and donation link.)

Geraldine DeBoer has been diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. She is the mother and primary caretaker of Daniel Sharkey, who has been on our prayer list for his severe complications from diabetes. Please pray for Geraldine and her care providers as they get her ready to be a candidate for a liver transplant. Also, Geraldine would really appreciate anybody that can help Daniel by sitting with him during the day to keep him company while she is attending to her own health needs. Click for more info and MEAL TRAIN for Geraldine & family.

We are all shocked by the horrible devastation from the fires that ravaged an area of Maui in Hawaii with a death toll hard to imagine. For those who want to assist financially with the disaster relief, we ask that they donate to Catholic Charities Hawaii at https://www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/maui-relief/ (click here to access) as they are closest to the grieving community and can best assist them with their immediate and more long term needs. Please pray for the many victims of this tragedy and for the loved ones who mourn family members and friends who perished in the fires.

Brother Kevin Doerge, from our Sts. Peter and Paul parish, has been a Postulant with the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago since the summer of 2021. He made his first vows on August 14, 2023, and asks for everyone's prayers as he begins this next step on his journey towards the holy priesthood. Click for photos and his address to send cards.

Calling all women who appreciate our priests: A new Seven Sisters Apostolate for Basilica women is beginning. The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a call to strengthen the Church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop—a “holy wasting” (cf. Mt. 26:10) or lavishing of prayer for his deeper conformity to Christ. Click for more information.