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Click to see our schedule for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2025 including Friday Adoration, Stations of the Cross, Fish Fry, and all the special liturgies during these high holy seasons. Also note the rules for fasting and abstinence.

Thank you those who donated for flowers to beautify the Basilica at Easter. Click to see the list of those who donated and the people who are honored with their donation.

Our parish is on a journey to know, love, and serve Christ as a parish community. We are asking EVERY INDIVIDUAL PARISHIONER age 18 and up to take the Basilica's Disciple Maker Index Survey HERE. The survey is anonymous and takes only 15 minutes or so. Your input helps strengthen our parish. Results help leadership prepare for the future. A report of the findings will be shared after the results are compiled.

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul is seeking volunteers to run the livestream of the Basilica 9:00 Mass on Sundays. Simple training will be arranged. We need several volunteers to help us continue the livestream consistently. Contact [email protected] if you are interested in helping with this vital ministry.

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 1pm, for $50/Sunday, or as a volunteer for the full shift or half-shift. Safe Environment training and background check required. Interested candidates should email [email protected]. Click for details.

The Men's Discernment Group is for men who are interested in discerning if God is calling them to the priesthood. Hosted by Father Mark Schuster every fourth Saturday of the month at 9am in JPII conference room at the Chancery. If you are interested, fill out the form (click here) or email [email protected]. Zoom option for those not in the Knoxville area. If you know someone who might have a calling, please invite them to this opportunity to discern God's call. Interest form: https://forms.office.com/r/CmSwudiVnf

Our Basilica young mother, Lauren Serio, is suffering from cancer in her brain, lungs, and spine. She is now halfway through chemotherapy. Lauren believes in the power of prayer and asks that all pray for God's will to be done. She ask for prayers for clear scans and for her family. Click here for updates.

Fr. Carter announces to parishioners: If the weather makes it impossible or even dangerous for you to travel, consider your obligation to attend Mass this Sunday, Jan. 12, to be dispensed. (Click to read Fr. Carter's full letter.) NOTE: Religious Education and Coffee Bar are CANCELED Jan. 12 and will resume Jan. 19. RCIA class will meet by Zoom at 9:30.

Our 2024-25 Annual Stewardship Appeal is to support the regular operation of our parish through Offertory giving. We are aiming for 100% participation in our Offertory by all parishioners. The pledge was conducted during Mass on October 26 & 27. (Click to view and submit the pledge on our Stewardship page at any time.) Thank you for your generous support for our parish.

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. 4 & 5, 2025, 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.

Former Basilica parishioner +Sherry Ohotnicky passed away on Dec. 26, 2024, after a recurrence of cancer. Sherry and her husband Pete and their children were very active parishioners at the Basilica for several years until they moved to Michigan in 2019. Sherry started the first Catholic American Heritage Girls troop in Chattanooga here at the Basilica. Read more about Sherry's life and legacy in her obituary here. We pray that Sherry may rest in peace and that her family be comforted.

Thank you to all who donated for our Christmas poinsettias and flowers. Click to see a list of honorary donations.

The traditional Ember Days of fasting for Advent are Wed., Fri., and Sat., Dec. 18, 20, and 21. While a fast is not obligatory, it is a worthy traditional spiritual practice to fast or abstain in some way on one or more of these days.

St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op is happy to announce our annual Advent Candle fundraiser. St. Ambrose families will be selling candles after all Masses and before the 1:30 Mass the weekends of November 9/10, 16/17, and 23/24. 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.

Leroy Talbert Altman III, former parishioner and lector at Sts. Peter and Paul, passed away on Oct. 20, 2024 at the age of 74. His funeral Mass will be at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Monday, October 28, at 9:30am. May his soul rest in peace. Read his obituary here.

We are seeking volunteers to join our multi-faceted Usher/Greeter ministry and our Sacristan ministry to prepare for Mass. Both ministries are vital to our parish and the celebration of the Mass. Click for details.

We are offering a Theology of the Body Read Along Class this school year for adults, led by Barb Kaine, based on Pope John Paul II's book, Man and Woman He Created Them. The Basilica will host classes Wed. mornings from 9am to 11am in Varallo Parish Hall. Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish will host Tues. evening classes from 6pm to 8pm. Classes begin September 17th & 18th, 2024. RSVP to [email protected].

Registration is now open for our RCIA & Mystagogia programs for Becoming Catholic, as well as Religious Education for preK through 12th grade; Youth Group for 6th through 12th grade; and Youth Schola for 2nd grade and up. *** PreK is full. *** VOLUNTEERS are needed in these programs in various roles. Click for more info.

Lorelei’s Library, located in the Basilica's hallway, is available for parishioners to check out one book at a time for up to three weeks. We have completed our annual inventory and discovered that over 90 books are missing without being checked out, and many books are overdue. Since these books will be expensive to replace, Please review the list of missing books (click here) and check around your house and car, and return them to the basket at Lorelei's Library. REMINDER: To check out a book, please mark your full name, and preferably a phone number, LEGIBLY on the checkout card. Thanks for these efforts so that everyone can enjoy these special books.

In July we received a 2024 update from our parishioner, Brother Kevin Doerge, who joined the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in 2021. After a year of parish ministry at St. John Cantius, he renewed his vows on August 14, and he will enter Mundelein Seminary this fall. Click to read his full update. Please keep Brother Kevin in your prayers as he takes this next step towards the priesthood.