News - March 2022 RSS Feed

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.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Chattanooga is looking for a full-time Bookkeeper. Must be an active member of a Roman Catholic parish. Interested parties should contact Robert Jones at OLPH 423-622-7232 or rjones@myolph.com.

Después de revisar los resultados de la encuesta del Sínodo Papal a los feligreses de la Basílica de San Pedro y San Pablo, facilitamos dos sesiones de escucha: una en inglés y otra en español. Lo siguiente transmite los frutos del discernimiento en nuestra parroquia. Presenté este informe para que se incorpore como aporte de nuestra diócesis, y nuestro aporte diocesano finalmente llegará a Roma. ¡Estoy agradecido con nuestro equipo de voluntarios y todos los que dieron su opinión! -Padre David Carter

After reviewing the results of the Papal Synod survey of Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul parishioners, we facilitated two listening sessions: one in English and one in Spanish. We produced a report to convey the fruits of the discernment in our parish. (Click to read the report.) This report was sent to be incorporated as input from our diocese, and our diocesan input will eventually make its way to Rome. We are grateful to our volunteer team and all who gave input!

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, over a million refugees, mostly women, children, and the elderly have fled to Poland along its 330-mile border. This sudden and unanticipated surge of refugees in such a short period of time has created a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. The St. John Paul II Shrine in Kraków, Poland is helping thousands of refugees by offering shelter and assisting with meals, clothing, and basic needs. Bishop Stika has asked that a special collection be taken on the weekend of March 19-20. Any assistance given will go to the St. John Paul II Shrine's support of Ukrainian refugees. Click to learn more about the help the Shrine is providing refugees.

Our immediate neighbors to the right (west) in the Carnegie Building generously allow us to park in their upper parking deck on the weekend. They have kindly informed us that the weekend of March 19-20 they are having work done on their parking lot and so it will not be available to us. There should be plenty of parking available in the other lots we normally use. Next weekend the Carnegie Building lot is expected to be available again.

+Marsha Conway Salter, a longtime Basilica parishioner, passed on Feb. 22, 2022, following a period of illness. She and her husband Jim had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Basilica in 2019. Visitation will be held at the Basilica on Saturday, March 19, at 12:30pm, followed by her funeral Mass at 1:30pm. A reception will follow in Varallo Parish Hall. Please pray for the repose of Marsha's soul.

Frank Villegas recently returned to the Catholic Church, along with his wife Jerry, a new convert, and he immediately became active in our parish, especially as an altar server. Frank began suffering from debilitating headaches, tinnitus, and memory difficulties in February. After nearly a year of waiting, Frank was able to see a specialist in Florida and has been diagnosed with a Eustachian tube dysfunction and is now awaiting Eustachian tube dilation surgery on March 18. Frank appreciates your prayers. Click for more info on Frank and please contact him if you would like to offer some spiritual support.

Rudy Marquez passed away the morning of 3/9/22 after pneumonia following COVID-19. Rudy was an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council at St. Jude. Rudy's wife Lupita was the Basilica's Parish Secretary for several years. Funeral followed by burial will at St. Jude on 3/16/22 at 11am. Please pray for Rudy's soul, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Click for more information and to access a meal train for the Marquez family.

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. We will also offer an afternoon option of life skill classes 1:30-2:30 on the 1st & 3rd Fridays each month. We meet at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in downtown Chattanooga. Registration is open March 1 through May 15 for the 2022-23 school year. Classes begin August 19 for nursery-aged children through high schoolers. Classes offered include Latin, Sign Language, Theology, Greek & Egyptian Mythology, and Biology/Animal Science. To schedule a visit or with questions, please e-mail stambrosecoop@gmail.com. Detailed information and registration forms are posted on St. Ambrose Homeschool Co-op page. Click here.

Bishop Richard F. Stika has removed all previously decreed COVID-19 restrictions and directives regarding the liturgy and celebration of the sacraments at Diocese of Knoxville churches, effective March 3, 2022. Click to read the full decree. 

Martha Rose Skelly, sister of the late pastor of the Basilica, Msgr. George Schmidt, and wife of Lawrence Skelly, passed away on 3/2/22, after several years with Huntington's disease. Visitation will be from 7-8pm Sun. 3/13/22 at the Chattanooga Funeral Home. Her funeral Mass will be 12pm Mon. 3/14/22 at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul (in place of the regular 12pm Mass), followed by a reception in Varallo Parish Hall. Click to see Martha's obituary and photos.

Joseph Shramko, a teen in our parish and an NDHS student, suffered a serious fall on April 8, 2022. He began a lengthy healing process from several brain injuries, including rehabilitation at Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Six months since the accident, he returned home in Chattanooga to complete rehab and the family was finally reunited! Joseph continues rehab and has returned to high school and is doing well taking two classes. The Shramkos ask our prayers for Joseph's full functional recovery, especially through the intercession of Fr. Patrick Ryan. Click for updates, ways to help, and to access Joseph's Caring Bridge site.

We have finally been able to hire two nursery attendants for Sunday mornings! Provided that both our nursery attendants are able to be present, our Nursery is now open during the 9:00 and 11:30 Masses, as well as the class time between Masses, for children under 5 years old.  We are in need of gently used toddler-safe toys and board books. (Please no riding toys.)

Long-time Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul parishioner, Elizabeth (Betty) Hogan, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2022, at the age of 92. Betty had been attending the Basilica faithfully until she moved to The Bridge assisted living facility. A Funeral Mass will be offered Sat., March 12, at 1pm at the Basilica. Please join in praying for her soul, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet.