News - Home RSS Feed

Looking for a Catholic homeschool experience with like-minded families? St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op, meeting in person on Fridays from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in downtown Chattanooga, will take registrations March 1 through June 15 for the 2021-22 school year. Classes begin August 20 for nursery-aged children through high schoolers. Classes offered include Latin, Spanish, Theology, History, Geography, and Science. Details and registration forms are posted on the Homeschool Co-Op page of the Basilica website (Click here.)

We have an outstanding group of parishioners who have agreed to make up our campaign leadership team. (Click to see the list.) Please give prayerful consideration to serving as a volunteer if you are asked.

The Bishop’s Appeal 2021 begins with a mailing that many of our parishioners have received from Bishop Stika asking for a generous commitment to this year’s Appeal. Your gift not only funds many of the operations of the Diocese of Knoxville, but also services that are of great help to our local parish community. For example, funds support our Religious Education programs, Campus Ministry, Youth Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Tribunal, and Catholic Charities. Please answer Bishop Stika’s request and make a commitment to the annual appeal. In-pew pledge commitment will be Feb. 6-7. Click here for more info and to make your pledge online at any time.

La hermana Imelda Quechol ha sido honrada como líder comunitaria destacada en la publicación HEROES 2020 de La Paz Chattanooga, especialmente por sus esfuerzos abnegados el año pasado para coordinar y brindar ayuda a los necesitados en el área de Chattanooga durante la pandemia y después de los tornados. ******** Congratulations to Sister Imelda Quechol, MAG, the Basilica's Hispanic Ministry Coordinator, who has been honored as a featured community leader in La Paz Chattanooga's HEROES 2020 publication, especially for her work this past year to help the needy during the pandemic and following the tornadoes. Click to read Sister Imelda's leadership profile and see a short documentary, and the mayor's congratulatory letter.

On Jan. 12, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Dr. Jimmy Turner, Basilica parishioner and Chief Operations Officer of Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Dr. Turner talks about the causes of homelessness, ways you can best help the poor, the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, other agencies that provide a support network, and even answers the question about how to answer honestly when you are asked for cash. The full transcript of the interview can be found on the Basilica’s website along with Fr. Carter’s Pastor’s Notes for Jan. 24, Jan. 31, and Feb. 6, 2021, accessible at stspeterandpaulbasilica.com/pastors-notes

Due to changes in the tax laws, the parish has mailed 2020 contribution statements only to donors who contributed $5,000 or more. Bishop’s Appeal and Home Campaign contributions are not included. The Diocese will mail a separate statement. If you do not receive a statement and would like one, regardless of amount, contact the parish office at 423-266-1618. Thank you for your generous financial support.

Select the title to view a list of our regular scheduled ministry activities, and then click the name of the particular ministry for more information. Please note that parish activities on campus are limited during the coronavirus outbreak. However, many of our groups have resumed on-campus and others are continuing to meet virtually, outdoors, off-campus, etc.  

The first phase of our parish “Under One Roof” capital campaign is off to a great start.  We have composed a campaign prayer. We invite you to pray it to help invoke God’s blessings in this important project. You can find it in our bulletin, website, and also taped into our pews so that we can pray it together at Mass. 

Dear Parishioners, A campaign planning study was recently conducted at Sts. Peter and Paul to assess the needs of the Basilica and prepare for a major fundraising initiative. Thank you to everyone who participated. Your feedback and insights were extremely valuable in determining our next course of action. I am happy to share this summary report which highlights the key study findings and recommendations for proceeding. (Click to view Fr. Carter's full report from the Planning Study...)

We are recruiting adult parishioners to join the Sacristan Ministry. Step-by-step training will be provided. If you are interested in training to serve as a Sacristan to set up the sanctuary for Mass, please contact Amy Long through the parish office or myParish app.

Chant made easy! Many men never learned to sing after their voice changed. We have a new opportunity to rediscover your God-given voice and use it in His praise. Fr. Carter has begun teaching a Men’s Vespers Schola on Friday afternoons at 4:30pm, open to anyone whose voice has changed into the lower octave. Sung Vespers in English follows at 5pm. No musical experience is required; Father will show you everything you need. On most Fridays, we will meet in the church at 4:30. On First Fridays, we will meet in the Nursery at 4:30 for training, while First Friday Adoration is in the church. Then at 5pm we will move into to the church to sing Vespers. Click on the title above to see a video with the kind of chant we are singing. Our Vespers will be in English. We will start with very simple melodies and work our way up. However, newcomers are welcome any Friday. Contact music@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com with questions and to be added to the email list.

UPDATE Jan. 6- We are happy to report that our boiler system is now working and the church is warm again! Thanks be to God and thank you for your prayers!

Call to service from Fr. Carter:  We are still looking for more technical volunteers to operate the live-stream, as well as ushers and cleaning volunteers for each weekend Mass. We have a particular need for people to commit to the 11:30 Extraordinary Form Mass.

We have over 50 RCIA candidates in our parish this year, and they have been meeting weekly since September to learn the Catholic faith. Sunday, Jan. 10th, at the 9:00 English Mass and the 1:30 Spanish Mass, they will participate in the Rite of Welcome. We need sponsors to accompany the candidates on this important faith journey, especially this year, as we’ve had less opportunity for the candidates to meet parishioners in person. Please pray for our candidates, and contact our RCIA Director, Dan Pacitti, through the parish office (rcia@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com) if you would like to help.

Walking with Moms in Need is a USCCB-sponsored pro-life program launching in 2021 at the Basilica to provide one-on-one assistance to moms as well as dads in our community:  in assessing skills, setting goals, and preparing for an education or job placement. We need volunteers in the following areas:  Topic Developers, Speakers, Dinner Prep and Servers, Childcare, and Leader. Click for details.

Parents and other adults who serve in ministries that involve youth are now required to be certified under the “Safe Haven” program, which has replaced the previous VIRTUS Safe Environment program for the Diocese of Knoxville. All adult volunteers who are in contact with youth, including those who have already been VIRTUS-certified, must complete this new program prior to serving The registration and training is available to everyone online at your convenience (allow 2 hours). 

Thanks to all who have donated for Christmas flowers and poinsettias to adorn the altar this Christmas! Click to see a list of the honorary donations.

In Fr. Carter’s pastor’s notes for 11/29/20 and 12/6/20, you’ll find instructions about the proper use of a personal hand corporal, as a reverent way to receive the Sacred Host without touching it with your hand. We have a limited number of these hand corporals available in the vestibule for a suggested donation of $1. Or you may also bring a similar cloth of your own.

On the Feast of Christ the King (November 22 for the Ordinary Form), we will recite the traditional Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at our Sunday Masses. It can be found in the leaflet at the entrance, and is also posted here. There is the opportunity for a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, for those who recite the prayer publicly on the feast of Christ the King.

Our Annual Stewardship Appeal is in progress and we are aiming for 100% participation from all parishioners. (Click to review and submit the appeal on our Stewardship page at any time.) NOTE: We have increased expenses because of the additional third priest to minister to the growing Hispanic community. We are especially worried about the facilities of the parish, including our roof and HVAC, both of which are substantial capital investments. As of yet, only 109 of the 498 households in our parish have made a pledge for the coming year. That's just 22%. Please help us reach 100% participation!  Thank you for your generous support to our parish.