Sister Luke Hollerbach, O.P., a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville for 63 years, died September 22, 2023. Born in Chattanooga, she attended Notre Dame High School. After entering the Dominican Sisters she served as teacher or principal in Catholic schools from 1963-2006. The wake will be on Sept. 25 and the funeral will be Sept. 26, both at the Saint Cecilia Motherhouse in Nashville. Click for full obituary and details.
John Mahoney, the Basilica's maintenance supervisor for the past 34 years, passed away on August 27, 2023 at 7:13pm, while hospitalized with pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism. John was about to retire from his job within the week, having completed 34 years of service at Sts. Peter and Paul. His family was by his side, and Fr. Carter administered the full last rites to John. Please pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for John Mahoney's soul. *** FUNERAL Mass at the Basilica Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at 1pm, followed by burial at Mount Olivet. VISITATION Friday, Sept. 1 from 6-8pm at Chattanooga Funeral Home - East Chapel, with a Rosary at 5:30pm.
Request for prayers for Brian Blatchford, the brother of Fr. Colin Blatchford and Fr. Neil Blatchford. Brian was in a bad car accident on 8/11/23 and suffered a serious neck injury. There is a chance he may not walk again or be able to use his hands. The Blatchford family asks for your prayers. Also please consider donating towards the enormous cost of medical care, making his house handicapped accessible, and dealing with lost income. (Click for the requested novenas, Brian's CaringBridge site, and donation link.)
Geraldine DeBoer has been diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. She is the mother and primary caretaker of Daniel Sharkey, who has been on our prayer list for his severe complications from diabetes. Please pray for Geraldine and her care providers as they get her ready to be a candidate for a liver transplant. Also, Geraldine would really appreciate anybody that can help Daniel by sitting with him during the day to keep him company while she is attending to her own health needs. Click for more info and MEAL TRAIN for Geraldine & family.
We are all shocked by the horrible devastation from the fires that ravaged an area of Maui in Hawaii with a death toll hard to imagine. For those who want to assist financially with the disaster relief, we ask that they donate to Catholic Charities Hawaii at https://www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/maui-relief/ (click here to access) as they are closest to the grieving community and can best assist them with their immediate and more long term needs. Please pray for the many victims of this tragedy and for the loved ones who mourn family members and friends who perished in the fires.
Brother Kevin Doerge, from our Sts. Peter and Paul parish, has been a Postulant with the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago since the summer of 2021. He made his first vows on August 14, 2023, and asks for everyone's prayers as he begins this next step on his journey towards the holy priesthood. Click for photos and his address to send cards.
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.
Rose Joanne Mendola Carparelli, mother of Cathy Oliver, Basilica Parish Secretary, passed on 7/12/23, at the age of 97. Please pray for the repose of her soul, and for the consolation of her family. Click to read her obituary.
Robert Lee Martin, father of Basilica parishioner Robert C. Martin, passed away June 30, 2023 following a long illness. Services for Robert at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul will be Sat., July 8, 2023, with VISITATION at 10:30am and FUNERAL MASS at 11:30am. VISITATION also on Fri., July 7 4pm - 7pm at the Cleveland Chapel of Companion Funeral Home. Please pray for Robert's soul. May Robert Lee Martin, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. (Click to read his OBITUARY.)
Basilica parishioner Charlotte Latta passed away on June 22, 2023. She had been suffering from congestive heart failure. FUNERAL MASS of Christian Burial Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Please pray for the repose of Charlotte's soul. Click for more information.
Michael Buendia, a young adult parishioner of the Basilica as well as St. Jude, has passed at the age of 43 after being hospitalized for several days with possible cancer. A large mass was found in his lower abdomen. Michael is survived by his wife Karmel Buendia, daughter of Basilica parishioner Bill Jochym, and their two small children. Please pray for Michael's soul and for his family.
Shirley Ann McCaleb Lautigar passed away on May 7, 2023. Shirley and her husband Ron had been active parishioners at the Basilica until retiring to Alexian Village in 2019. Shirley was the former head of our Altar Ministry, and a dedicated volunteer of our Facilities projects with her husband Ron, our Facilities Coordinator. Shirley died peacefully in her sleep, of complications from several illnesses. Click for details and to read her obituary.
Daniel Sharkey is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 610 and has volunteered as an Usher/Greeter for many years. Daniel suffers from diabetes and related complications, as well as ministrokes, that have limited his activities and mobility. Daniel appreciates prayers, calls, and visits. Daniel is now legally blind and has fallen a few times due to instability. He could benefit from folks to read to him in person or on the phone to engage him. Click to read more.
Laura Duford suffers from complete heart block and several other heart conditions. UPDATE: She had a successful surgery for her 5th pacemaker Feb. 13, 2023, and she is need of prayers for her anticipated 6-week recovery. A meal train will be added soon. Laura and Dave Duford and their four young children are active at the Basilica and appreciate the prayers of the parish family. Click here to read more about Laura's health conditions and suggested prayers.
Kimberly Russell is a recent convert to the Catholic faith. She and her husband Robert and two daughters joined the Basilica parish in 2022. Kimberly had surgery at Vanderbilt on January 24 and is thankful for everyone's prayers. Recovery has been painful, but she is back to her activities including church, and she and her family are preparing to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Click for details.
Ann Fox Miller, who joined the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul when she moved to Alexian Village in 2013, passed away on December 5, 2022. Her funeral Mass was Monday, December 12, 2022, at 11am, at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Signal Mountain. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ann Miller. Click to read a beautiful tribute to Ann in her obituary.
Marc Aramian was diagnosed with throat cancer on June 30, 2022. He underwent brutal treatment beginning July 18, with some side effects which may be permanent. Marc's follow-up PET scan on Dec. 5. showed that he is cancer-free! He is slowly recovering from the harsh treatment on his throat, still impairing his swallow, taste, and voice. Thank you for your prayers for Marc and his wife, Veronica DiPippo, as they went through this trial, and please continue to pray as he recovers. Click to learn more about Marc .
14-year-old Basilica parishioner, Lorelei Truett, daughter of Lance and Ashley Truett, passed away on Dec. 2, 2021, after a seven-month battle with leukemia that was diagnosed on April 27, 2021. Let us surround her family with our prayers. May Lorelei rest in peace. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Lorelei's Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Basilica Saturday, December 11. (Click to read much more about Lorelei, and for ways to support the Truett family.)
Robert Hall Kosky, Sr., passed away on Nov. 23, 2022 at the age of 90. He was a Basilica parishioner and alumnus of Notre Dame High School. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 9:30am, followed by burial at National Cemetery at 11am. Read his obituary here. Please pray for the repose of Robert's soul.
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.
