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After years of faithful leadership, Rachel Wesson has graciously passed the reins of the Catholic Motherhood Ministry to Diane Tobin. To stay informed, mothers of all ages are invited to join the brand new email group from the Catholic Motherhood page of our website. Many thanks to several mothers who continue to lead various aspects of this thriving ministry that nurtures our parish.

SPEAK FOR LIFE! The Greater Chattanooga Right to Life 2021 Oratory Contest for high school students will be held March 27. This event involves researching, writing, and presenting a short speech. Entries must be received by March 23rd. The competition offers cash prizes and a chance to compete at the state and national level. Click for details.

On Feb. 5, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Sandy Pricer, Basilica parishioner and President/Co-founder of the RISE UP Cooperative, a social service initiative to help at-risk teens and young adults gain life skills. The interview is presented in Fr. Carter's pastor's notes for Feb. 14 and Feb. 21, 2021, and the full transcript and video are included below.

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.)

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.

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.  

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.

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.

We are conducting a comprehensive survey of the parish. This planning study follows an extensive process that helped produce our strategic priorities. Before we make any final decisions regarding proposed plans for our Basilica and our parish, we would like to hear from you regarding our needs and the possibility of conducting a major fundraising effort. Your feedback will enable us to determine potential support for several projects. Your input is valuable as we plan for the future of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Pre-Order Advent Candles NOW! St Ambrose Homeschool Co-op is selling Advent candles at $6/set of 4 - 12” tapers. Deadline to pre-order is Nov. 6 for Nov. 23 – Dec 4 pick-up in the parish office during M-F, 9am-4pm office hours. Click for details

Their food pantry at OLPH is most in need of: canned tuna, vegetables, and fruit, cereal, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, pasta and spaghetti sauce. Please place non-perishable food items in the basket in our Basilica church vestibule.  

You can make a difference in the life of a mother and child without leaving the comfort of your own home. Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s five Pregnancy Help Centers are now providing online pregnancy, parenting and life-skills classes. Volunteers follow up weekly with clients via phone to review the material - it’s that easy and convenient! Training is provided, so if you have a couple of hours a week to help a mother in need, call 423-826-0673 to volunteer.