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On April 24, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Sandy Pricer, Basilica parishioner, and the Founder and Co-Director of the St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op. Click to read or watch the interview and for links to more information about our homeschool co-op.

The Basilica has recently been asked to help with two programs to help seniors and the disabled in our community. Meals on Wheels delivers hot meals and My Ride Tennessee provides rides for essential trips to seniors and disabled folks. They need adults to deliver the meals and/or give the rides. Flexible shifts are available. Please consider volunteering for these corporal works of mercy, in the spirit of St. Joseph the Worker. Find out more here...

On Mar. 18, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Corinne Henderson, Basilica parishioner and board member of La Paz Chattanooga, a social service organization with faith-based roots that serves and strengthens our Latino community via corporal works of mercy. Click to watch the video and read the interview, which is featured in Fr. Carter's pastor's notes for April 18 & April 25, 2021.

Parishioner Katie Bird has organized a new Facebook group called "Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul (TN) - Buy Nothing Group." Basilica parishioners are encouraged to join and post items or services that they are offering to give away or looking to receive for free. The hope is to provide a convenient channel for practicing charity and solidarity within the Basilica community. Click for a link to the group.

On Feb. 24, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Adam Foster, Basilica parishioner and active member of the Knights of Columbus Council 610, and discussed its history, mission, and opportunities to join and support this group of Catholic men. Click to watch the full 02-24-21 interview with Adam Foster and/or read the transcript.

CATHOLIC MEN: The Tennessee Knights of Columbus welcome you to join the largest Catholic fraternal benefits organization in the world for free through June 30, 2021. We are Catholic men building a bridge back to faith, dedicated to lives of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Practicing Catholic gentleman, age 18 or older, join today using the discount code MCGIVNEY2020 at www.kofc.org/join!

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.

On Jan. 12, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Dr. Jimmy Turner, Basilica parishioner and Chief Operations Officer of Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Dr. Turner talks about the causes of homelessness, ways you can best help the poor, the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, other agencies that provide a support network, and even answers the question about how to answer honestly when you are asked for cash. The full transcript of the interview can be found on the Basilica’s website along with Fr. Carter’s Pastor’s Notes for Jan. 24, Jan. 31, and Feb. 6, 2021, accessible at stspeterandpaulbasilica.com/pastors-notes

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.

We are recruiting adult parishioners to join the Sacristan Ministry to set up the sanctuary for Mass. Our Sacristans serve on rotation (about once a month). No previous experience is needed, and step-by-step training will be provided. Please contact Amy Long through the parish office or myParish app.

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.

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.

If you have ever benefitted from a book that we have offered to the parish at Christmas time in the past, and would like to extend that gift to others in the future, please contact the parish to help us be able to order a new book on prayer to give out at Christmas. Click for details. UPDATE - We have received additional donations such that we are able to offer this book as a Christmas gift. Many thanks to those who gave and who prayed about this opportunity.

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

For 2020, Fr. Carter has named two recipients of the Servant of God, Fr. Patrick Ryan Award: Adam Foster and Guadalupe Morales. Please read the Parish Awards page to learn why they were chosen. The Servant of God, Fr. Patrick Ryan Award is given each year to members of the parish who exemplify the theological virtue of charity in imitation of the heroic witness of Fr. Patrick Ryan. Inspired by his example to that same measure of charity toward all our brothers and sisters in need, the recipient of this award has been recognized for selfless service, especially towards the poor and needy.

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.  

Join Catholic Charities of East Tennessee in a virtual fundraising vent to support its Columbus Home Children’s Emergency Shelter, a place to call home when there is nowhere else to go. Columbus Home Children’s Emergency Shelter meets the unique needs for a stable, nurturing environment for children awaiting a custody decision.