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Our VBS 2022 for ages 5-12 will include two mornings of Sts. Peter and Paul's Adventures at Camp Columbus in Hixson: Wednesday, July 6 and 13 from 9am to 12pm (or stay until 1pm if you bring a sack lunch). Cost is $10/child or $25/family max. Adult and teen volunteers needed. Turn in registration form for kids and volunteers, along with payment, to the parish office by July 1. Contact Florence Porter at dre@stpeterandpaulbasilica.com with questions.

Mike Bennett learned on Holy Thursday (April 14, 2022) that his cancer has returned after 13 months. He will need to have 3 or 4 rounds of chemotherapy. Mike and Ashley Bennett are young parents of three children. The Bennett family joined the Basilica parish this past fall and are active in our ministries. Mike was able to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, prior to his chemo treatment. Mike is in the middle of his first treatment, administered at Erlanger, and he will have two more. Please pray for healing for Mike and strength for him and his family during this difficult time.

The Basilica St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry is now hosting a grief support meeting twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Our next meeting is this Tuesday, June 14, from 6:15-7:15pm (please note the new, earlier time) - in the St. Dominic Religious Education Building. All who have lost a loved one are invited. Find out more about our ministry and explore bereavement resources on our web page.

Altar server training will be offered for the Latin Mass beginning July 2022. Attendance is required Sundays at 10:30am and some 7am weekday Masses for training. To prepare for the training, it is necessary to learn the Latin prayers and read the altar server manual. For more information and to sign up, visit our Altar Servers page and contact admin@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com.

The Tennessee Pro Life Leadership Conference, hosted by Students for Life of Southeast Tennessee, will be held Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 9am to 3pm, at Apison Baptist Church near Chattanooga. All ages welcome! Conference will feature Tina Whittington, VP of Students for Life of America; Seth Gruber, host of the Unaborted! Podcast; and numerous other inspiring and informative speakers from around the southeast. Register by July 15. Click for details.

Please pray for Tony Ackaouy, brother of Basilica parishioner Andrea Tartar. Tony was admitted to surgical ICU with multiple organ failures following an accident he suffered in November. Update 6/7/22: Tony has defied the odds and pulled through the surgeries! He has a long recovery road ahead. Click for details.

Daniel Sharkey is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 610 and has volunteered as an Usher/Greeter for many years. Daniel suffers from diabetes and related complications, as well as ministrokes, that have limited his activities and mobility. Daniel appreciates prayers, calls, and visits. ***UPDATE 6/6/22: Daniel has now lost vision in both his eyes. *** Click to read more.

Mr. Bobby Denne, a seminarian of the Diocese of Knoxville, who has been studying at St. Meinrad Seminary, has been assigned to serve at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul this summer. He will be serving in our Masses and various activities this summer until he returns to the seminary. Please welcome him to our parish and keep him in your prayers during his time with us.

The Ombrellino Gift Shop would like to train volunteers so that we can open the store more often. If you are interested, please contact the gift shop and take our Safe Haven training if you have not already done so.

We are planning an outdoor Basilica party after the Under One Roof construction is completed! If you would like to help us plan this special event, please contact Debbie Cliche.

Carlos Guerra lost his balance while taking a shower and seriously injured one of his knees. He has swelling, pain, and bruises. (He has knee replacement in both knees.) Carlos is working with a surgeon to determine the best plan for healing. We appreciate you including Carlos in your prayers for the sick in our Basilica. Carlos and his wife Viola and adult children, Carlo and Carol, have been parishioners at the Basilica for about three years. The family thanks you for your kind gesture and understanding.

A special advisory about PARKING: We appreciate the privilege to park in the lot behind the Carnegie Building directly to the west of the Basilica on 8th St., during our weekend Masses. The owners of that building have advised us that their parking lot is being re-paved and will be unavailable the weekend of May 7 & 8 only. Weekend parking will still be available next to the church, across from the church entrance, at All Saints Academy (310 E 8th St), and in the UTC parking lot across from All Saints.

Young Keely Jochym Briggs, daughter of Bill Jochym and mother of two-year-old Jack, was recently hospitalized in Atlanta with a severely painful bout of ulcerative colitis and a C-diff infection. Late in 2021, Keely moved back to Atlanta so that both parents can be with their son, Jack. Please continue to pray for long-term healing for Keely and for her son Jack. (Update 5/6/22: Keeley has just undergone two procedures following a flare-up.) Click to learn more about the trials Keely has suffered over the past year.

On May 8 and May 29, the Nursery will be open during the 9:00 Mass only. We expect to open the nursery for the 9:00 Mass through the 11:30 Mass for the other Sundays in May.

The Diocese of Knoxville Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry is sponsoring GodCamps for rising 5th-8th graders this June. 7th-8th grade camp is June 20-23. 5th-6th grade camp is June 23-25, both at Harrison Bay State Park. Register by Friday, May 27, 2022 to avoid late charge. Click for details.

The Diocese of Knoxville Office of Christian Formation is offering the workshop "Diving into Baptism", Thursday nights in May 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom, presented by Rod Bennett. To register and receive the Zoom link email Chris Kite at ckite@dioknox.org.

Many thanks to all who donated flowers to adorn the altar for Easter. Click to see a list.

Our Under One Roof projects to replace the Basilica's roof and HVAC system are about to begin. Due to the sharp price increases since the projects were originally quoted, we are asking everyone to consider helping us reach our $500,000 Stretch Goal of additional pledges, by making a new pledge or increasing your pledge by contacting the parish office or picking up a pledge form in the vestibule. Click for more information on the campaign and the additional costs.

Bishop Stika issued a declaration on April 8, 2022, regarding three named Hispanic speakers, to prevent them from teaching within the Diocese of Knoxville until they renounce their previous statements that criticized Pope Francis and mischaracterized the Catholic faith. The purpose of the declaration is to prevent scandal among the faithful. Read the declaration and the Chattanooga Times-Free Press article here. **** El Obispo Stika emitió un declaración el 8 de abril de 2022, con respecto a tres oradores, para evitar que enseñen dentro de la Diócesis de Knoxville hasta que renuncien a sus declaraciones anteriores que criticaron al Papa Francisco y caracterizaron erróneamente la fe católica. El propósito del declaración es evitar el escándalo entre los fieles. Lea el declaración aquí.

+Felipe Ramos-Lopez, Basilica parishioner, died on April 2, 2022 at the age of 59. Survivors include his wife Maria Florinda Simon Ramirez, and ten adult children. A funeral prayer service will be held Saturday, April 9, at 12pm at Advantage Funeral Home on McCallie Ave. Please pray for the eternal repose of Felipe's soul.