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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.

DYM, the Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul's Downtown Youth Ministry, will be offering Wednesday in-person meetings 6-8pm and Sunday virtual meetings 6:30-8pm beginning in Lent! All 6th to 12th grade students are welcome! Click for schedule details.

During Lent, we will offer Friday Adoration and Stations of the Cross, a virtual Lenten Parish Mission March 1 & 2, a penance service on March 15, and a food drive/collection in conjunction with the Solemnity of St. Joseph. The CSO will be offering concerts Palm Sunday weekend. We have made special accommodations to support the need for social distancing during Holy Week, and we plan to live-stream all the Holy Week liturgies. Click to see the calendar for details.

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.

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 developed a Frequently Asked Questions document to adress questions that have come up about the Under One Roof Campaign. We urge you to review this FAQ document carefully. It is our goal to make sure that everyone is well informed about the projects we are undertaking and how important they are to the future of the Basilica.

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.  

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...)

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.

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). 

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.

Rise UP Cooperative is a new organization in Chattanooga offering life skills for at-risk teens to help them become Responsible, Empowered, and Productive. Virtual classes are offered Tuesdays 7-8 pm via Zoom. Visit riseupcooperative.org or Facebook page Contact Sandy Pricer office@riseupcooperative.org 423-708-5447 to take part in classes or to volunteer. Click for more info.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Accept God’s ways for your marriage. Strengthen, renew, and rekindle your marriage sacrament by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend on November 13-15. This is a virtual experience, so no overnight stay in a hotel. Right from the comfort of your home. You can get more information or apply online at GATN-wwme.org or by calling 678-242-WWME.

Calling all women with a servant's heart! The Altar Ministry (previously known as the "Altar Guild") has been hosting information sessions and is currently looking for new members. To find out more, see the information on our Altar Ministry page, and contact Tia Yunker, our new Altar Ministry Coordinator.

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

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated in our country November 1-7, 2020. Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of a vocation.