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Joseph Shramko suffered a serious fall on April 8, 2022, at the age of 16 and began a lengthy healing process from several brain injuries. Joseph continued rehab and was able to finish high school and begin college. In March 2019 he was able to move into his own place. The Shramkos thank you for your prayers for Joseph's full functional recovery, especially through the intercession of Fr. Patrick Ryan. Click for updates.

Christina and Matt Nuar had their fifth child on March 10, and he is in NICU with breathing problems. The family would appreciate prayers for baby Augustin (Gus) Maximus. Click for updates and a meal train for the Nuar family.

Our parish is on a journey to know, love, and serve Christ as a parish community. Take the Basilica's Disciple Maker Index Survey here today! The survey is anonymous and takes only 10-15 minutes. Your input helps strengthen our parish. Results help leadership prepare for the future. A report of the findings will be shared after the results are compiled.

Women's Lenten Retreat with Sarah Hart at St. Therese of Lisieux, Cleveland, Saturday, March 22, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Cost: $20, includes continental breakfast after Mass and lunch. Sarah Hart is a Catholic singer, songwriter, musician, and retreat speaker.

St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op registration will be open for the 2025-2026 school year from March 1 through May 2. We offer Nursery through High School. We meet on Fridays, at the Basilica, from 8:30-11:30am, as a supplement to our homeschool curriculums. Informational park days at March 18 and April 15 at Pioneer Frontier Park. Click for details and forms.

The Basilica is seeking adults aged 18 and up with experience caring for pre-school-aged children to attend the nursery on Sundays from 8:45am to 1pm, for $50/Sunday, or as a volunteer for the full shift or half-shift. Safe Environment training and background check required. Interested candidates should email [email protected]. Click for details.

Our Basilica young mother, Lauren Serio, is suffering from cancer in her brain, lungs, and spine. She is now halfway through chemotherapy. Lauren believes in the power of prayer and asks that all pray for God's will to be done. She ask for prayers for clear scans and for her family. Click here for updates.

The Basilica has started a Pro-life Crochet, Knitting, and Quilting Club. Find out more at stspeterandpaulbasilica.com/crochet (click here). Email [email protected] for more information and to sign up.

It is traditional for parish priests to bless chalk for each family so that they may mark the names of the three Magi over their doors, in the blessing of homes as a witness of their faith and protection against evil. After Mass on the weekend of Jan. 4 & 5, 2025, you can pick up blessed chalk in the vestibule, and take it home for a traditional Epiphany House Blessing. Click to see the instructional flyer.

All women are invited to a retreat hosted by the Dominican Sisters at the Bethany House in Dickson, TN, Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, 2025. Gather with other women in this beautiful setting for a weekend of prayer, community, and silence to deepen your relationship with and encounter Our Lord. Click for registration details.

The traditional Ember Days of fasting for Advent are Wed., Fri., and Sat., Dec. 18, 20, and 21. While a fast is not obligatory, it is a worthy traditional spiritual practice to fast or abstain in some way on one or more of these days.

The Basilica Outreach Committee is collecting items in November to meet the needs of individuals using the services of the CHATT Foundation. Fall and Winter clothing and accessories, socks, underwear, unused pillows, bed linens, blankets, handwarmers, pop-top cans, deodorant razors, towels/washcloths, laundry detergent, napkins/cups, and canned vegetables. Drop off donations in the Basilica vestibule by Nov. 24.

Please donate new or barely worn coats, scarves, gloves, and socks appropriate for children ages infant to 18 years in the bin marked “Coats for Kids” the Basilica’s vestibule. Items will be collected through Thanksgiving weekend, December 1, and distributed to children in our parish Hispanic Ministry & the Chambliss Center for Children. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 610.

Please pray for Matt Givens, who was hospitalized with gallstones and had to undergo three surgeries. He is now home from the hospital. The Givens family asks for prayers for his pain relief and his recovery. (Click for more information.)

The Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes (TBCH) provides safe, loving homes and support for children in need across Tennessee, helping them thrive in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment. Adopt a child at TBCH through Dec. 12 by making a $100 or greater gift to provide them with 5-10 of their Christmas list wish items. Email: [email protected]. Visit riseupcooperative.org 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 after all Masses and before the 1:30 Mass the weekends of November 9/10, 16/17, and 23/24. 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.

Our Downtown Youth Ministry for 6th through 12th grade will kick off the year with a night at Coolidge Park on Wednesday, September 18 from 6-8pm! We will also meet Oct. 16, Nov. 13, and Dec. 11. In addition, the St. Jude Youth Group that we partner with is meeting Sundays from 6:30-8pm, and all 8th-12th graders are invited. Click to see the Youth Group page for details about our events

In addition to donating to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee relief efforts for Hurricane Helene, Basilica parishioners Dcn. Joe Roy and Hank DeHart and our Motherhood group are collaborating with efforts in Unicoi County and St. Michael the Archangel parish in Erwin, TN, to get supplies to people in need. We are collecting specific supplies at the Basilica through Monday, October 7 at 12pm. Please drop your donations in the marked bins under the steps that go down to Varallo Parish Hall. Please ONLY donate the items listed on the TWO flyers here (click to see the two lists). NO CLOTHING.

We are offering a Theology of the Body Read Along Class this school year for adults, led by Barb Kaine, based on Pope John Paul II's book, Man and Woman He Created Them. The Basilica will host classes Wed. mornings from 9am to 11am in Varallo Parish Hall. Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish will host Tues. evening classes from 6pm to 8pm. Classes begin September 17th & 18th, 2024. RSVP to [email protected].

The Basilica Catholic Motherhood ministry is resuming our mothers' morning fellowship meetings in Varallo Parish Hall. Meetings will be held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. The first two meetings will be Tues., Sept. 10 and Tues., Sept. 24, 2024, from 10am to 12pm. Children may attend. Kalista Bartee and Emily Prester are hosting these meetings. For more information contact [email protected]