Your gift not only funds many of the operations of the Diocese of Knoxville, it funds services that are of great help to the ministries here in our parish, including: Religious Education programs, Campus Ministry, Youth Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Tribunal, and Catholic Charities. Each Appeal gift enables the diocese to build up the kingdom of God throughout East Tennessee. Please answer Bishop Stika’s request and make a commitment to the annual appeal.
We have a few spots left for women of all ages for a retreat Feb. 3-5 at the Bethany House in Dickson, TN! The title is Beyond the Noise and it will be led by Fr. Christopher Floersh. Afternoon walks, rosary, lectio divina, divine chapter, quiet time, holy hour, fellowship, and daily Mass. The Dominican Sisters pamper us with home-cooked meals and top-notch accommodations. Friday evening at 5 through Noon on Sunday (Central Time).
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. 7 & 8, 2023, 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.
Fr. Christopher Riehl passed away on the night of November 10, 2022, of complications from diabetes. Fr. Riehl was a priest in residence at the Basilica in 2018. He celebrated his 45th birthday on Monday, November 7. A Traditional Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 10:30am at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, with receiving of friends at 9:30am. Fr. Riehl will be laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chattanooga, on Priests' Mound at 3pm on Nov. 16.
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 5/6, 12/13, and 19/20. 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 2022-23 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 22 & 23 (Click to view and submit the pledge on our Stewardship page at any time.) Thank you for your generous support for our parish.
The Cause for Sainthood for former pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul, Fr. Patrick Ryan, has many costs associated. The Ombrellino Gift Shop now has mugs, pens, pencils, as well as medals to offer for a donation to the Cause of Sainthood of Fr. Patrick Ryan. If you would like to make a monetary donation to support the Cause, you can do so on our Online Giving or by donating cash or a check to the Basilica, marked "Cause of Fr. Patrick Ryan". Contact Dcn. Gaspar DeGaetano at [email protected] for more information.
Join Fr. Alex Hernandez on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain August 29-September 8, 2023. Follow this Catholic pilgrim path that has existed since the 9th century. See the relics of St. James the Greater, the Apostle. Experience the culture, history, and countryside of Spain. Cost: $4,199. Call Pro Catholic Tours at 508-505-6078 to register. Click for more information.
Marc Aramian and his wife Veronica DiPippo are filming a professional docu-drama on the life of Servant of God Fr. Patrick Ryan and the yellow fever epidemic, and they are holding auditions for various off-camera speaking parts. They would like to include talented speakers and actors from Sts. Peter and Paul and the Chattanooga Catholic community. The roles will be assigned within the next couple of weeks, so if you would like to be a part of this exciting project, click for details.
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 1:00pm, for $45/Sunday. Reliable attendance is expected on a rotation to include most Sundays and occasional special events. Practicing Catholics preferred. Safe Environment training and background check required. Interested candidates should email [email protected]
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.
The Basilica St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry is now hosting a grief support meeting twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, from 6:15-7:15pm (please note the new, earlier time) - in the St. Dominic Religious Education Building. All who have lost a loved one are invited. Find out more about our ministry and explore bereavement resources on our web page.
On March 17, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Nathan Bird, a Basilica parishioner who is engaged in understanding local politics, and the founder of the Chattanooga Civics website and podcast. Watch or read the interview here (as well as in the pastor's notes for March 28 and April 4). Note that Chattanooga has a run-off election for mayor and several city council seats on April 13, with early voting from March 24 to April 8.
The Tennessee Pro Life Leadership Conference, hosted by Students for Life of Southeast Tennessee, will be held Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 9am to 3pm, at Apison Baptist Church near Chattanooga. All ages welcome! Conference will feature Tina Whittington, VP of Students for Life of America; Seth Gruber, host of the Unaborted! Podcast; and numerous other inspiring and informative speakers from around the southeast. Register by July 15. Late registrations accepted for an additional $5. Click for details.
Mr. Bobby Denne, a seminarian of the Diocese of Knoxville, who has been studying at St. Meinrad Seminary, has been assigned to serve at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul this summer. He will be serving in our Masses and various activities this summer until he returns to the seminary. Please welcome him to our parish and keep him in your prayers during his time with us.
The Diocese of Knoxville Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry is sponsoring GodCamps for rising 5th-8th graders this June. 7th-8th grade camp is June 20-23. 5th-6th grade camp is June 23-25, both at Harrison Bay State Park. Register by Friday, May 27, 2022 to avoid late charge. Click for details.
The Diocese of Knoxville Office of Christian Formation is offering the workshop "Diving into Baptism", Thursday nights in May 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom, presented by Rod Bennett. To register and receive the Zoom link email Chris Kite at [email protected]
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting for adults age 18-59. Ash Wednesday and all Fridays are days of abstinence from meat for those over the age of 14. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. Those that are excused from fast and abstinence include the physically or mentally ill, including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women.
This past season in our parish, there have been several deaths of parishioners and family members, and we are grieving these losses as a community. We are expanding our St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry to provide accompaniment to all who have experienced the loss of a loved one. We have started a grief support program, offering meetings, prayer partners, and coping resources. If you would like to learn more and participate, click for details.