To make a donation for Christmas flowers for our altar in memory or honor of a loved one in any amount, please indicate with names on the payment envelope, or contact the parish office if donating online. Thank you for your gift!
On the Feast of Christ the King (November 25-26), 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.
Elizabeth (Liz) Barham, long-time parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul, passed away on Nov. 17, 2023, at the age of 79. Liz used to lead our prayer card ministry at Sts. Peter and Paul and is remembered as a sharp-witted, lovely lady. Visitation will be Nov. 20 5-7pm with a prayer service at 7pm, and Funeral Mass will be Nov. 21 at 2pm, both at St. Jude Catholic Church, 930 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415. May Liz, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Najah Dabit, age 90, of Chattanooga, who passed away at home surrounded by her loved ones on Nov. 2, 2023. Najah along with her husband, Milad established Giorgio Men’s Warehouse in 1973. Selfless, generous, and loving are just a few words to describe Najah. Her funeral will be at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Wed., Nov. 8, at 2pm, Fr. Valentin officiating. Interment to follow at Greenwood Cemetery. A reception will follow in Varallo Parish Hall at 4pm. Click to read her obituary.
Our 2023-24 Annual Stewardship Appeal has begun. This appeal is to support the regular operation of our parish through Offertory giving. It is separate from the Under One Roof campaign to replace our roof and heating & air conditioner systems. We are aiming for 100% participation in our Offertory by all parishioners. The pledge will be conducted during Mass on October 28 & 29 (Click to view and submit the pledge on our Stewardship page at any time.) Thank you for your generous support for our parish.
Traditional Lighting of Luminaries on All Souls Day Thurs. Nov. 2 at 6pm in the Basilica, with a Rosary in remembrance of our loved ones, To honor a deceased loved one at this service, please submit his/her name by Sun., Oct. 29. Click for details.
"Called to Mission", sponsored by the Vocations Office of the Glenmary Home Missioners, is a day-long retreat for men ages 16-25 who are seeking to understand God's will in their lives, whether that be within marriage, single life, holy orders, or consecrated life. Topics range from following Jesus as Christian disciples to recognizing signs of religious calling to engaging in missions in rural America. Located at St. John Paul II Mission Parish in Rutledge, TN on Sat., Dec. 2 from 8:30 am-5pm. Registration is free! Call or text Glenmary Vocations Office at 513-319-9572 or email [email protected] for more info.
St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op is happy to announce our annual Advent Candle fundraiser. St. Ambrose families will be selling candles following all Masses the weekends of November 4/5, 11/12, and 18/19. Candles are $7 for a box of four 12-inch tapers. To pre-order candles, contact the co-op at [email protected]. Friday pickup is also available via pre-arrangement at the same e-mail address. Thank you for your support of this Basilica ministry.
This year the Fourth Sunday of Advent falls on December 24, which has raised the “two-for-one” question: Can attendance at a Sunday Christmas Vigil Mass fulfill the obligation for both the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas? The prevailing answer of canonists is “No,” each obligation must be fulfilled with a separate Mass. This is also the desire of Archbishop Fabre. He asks that parishioners should make every effort to attend both a Fourth Sunday of Advent Mass (either Saturday evening or Sunday morning) and a Christmas Mass (either Sunday evening or Monday). Click to see the Basilica Mass schedule for Dec. 23, 24 & 25.
Catholic Chatt presents a Fall Retreat Oct. 27-29, 2023, for young men and women ages 18-39. Led by Fr. Michael Zimmerman, topics will include The Sacred Heart & Divine Mercy. Held at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton, TN. Click for details and registration, open through Oct. 20.
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.)
Registration is now open for our RCIA & Mystagogia programs for Becoming Catholic, as well as Religious Education for preK through 12th grade; Youth Group for 6th through 12th grade; and Youth Schola for 2nd grade and up. VOLUNTEERS are needed in these programs at all levels – leadership, teachers, assistants, substitutes, and sponsors. Click for more info.
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.
Deacon Renzo Alvarado Suarez, a newly ordained transitional deacon from Colombia, South America, just moved in at the Basilica yesterday and will begin serving at our Spanish Masses. We look forward to his serving both of our communities when he is ordained a priest. We will soon be introducing Dcn. Renzo to the community, and we thank God for sending him to our parish. Please pray for Dcn. Renzo and welcome him to our parish!
Our block of East 8th Street will be closed all day (DATE TBA) in front of the church, while a crane is on-site repairing loose mortar on the bell tower. During this time, you can access our parking lot from Lindsay St, by going the wrong way on 8th St., or park at All Saints Academy.
Fr. Christopher Floersch, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Knoxville and Parochial Vicar for St. John Neumann, suffered a stroke on Saturday, July 9. [UPDATE 8/6/22: Fr. Floersh returned home on July 17 and is making considerable progress towards recovery. Bishop Stika shared that he has progressed from using a walker to a cane. He and his medical team believe that he will be able to return to full ministry in a few months.] Please pray for his full recovery. Fr. Floersh previously served at Sts. Peter and Paul as a transitional deacon in 2016. Click to read more.