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Altar server training will be offered for the Latin Mass beginning July 2022. Attendance is required Sundays at 10:30am and some 7am weekday Masses for training. To prepare for the training, it is necessary to learn the Latin prayers and read the altar server manual. For more information and to sign up, visit our Altar Servers page and contact admin@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com.

Our VBS 2022 for ages 5-12 will include two mornings of Sts. Peter and Paul's Adventures at Camp Columbus in Hixson: Wednesday, July 6 and 13 from 9am to 12pm (or stay until 1pm if you bring a sack lunch). Cost is $10/child or $25/family max. Adult and teen volunteers needed. Turn in registration form for kids and volunteers, along with payment, to the parish office by July 1. Contact Florence Porter at dre@stpeterandpaulbasilica.com with questions.

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. Click for details.

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.

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.

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.

On Saturday, Feb. 12, the Youth Group girls will celebrate “Galentine’s Day” at Polly Claire’s Tea Shop. On Saturday, Feb. 19, the Youth Group boys will have “Fella’s February” at Insane Paintball. See our website for details, and RSVP to JuliAnna Hills by this Feb. 9.

Due to life changes our Trail Life Troopmaster has had to step back. We are in need of a volunteer Troopmaster in order to continue. The Troopmaster organizes the troop leaders, oversees troop meetings. Previous outdoor experience in any capacity is encouraged. Click for more information.  

The Church has begun a Papal Synod. In response to the invitation of our Pope and our Bishop, please visit synodsurvey.org to complete an anonymous 20-minute survey about your experiences with your local church, faith/religion and other circumstances. Catholics and non-Catholics of East Tennessee, ages 14 and up, are invited. Survey will close at 11:59pm Jan. 30. Thank you for your input.

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.)

SEEK is a 3 day conference that will have over 1200 college students seeking an encounter with Jesus while immersed in Catholic community, participating in Sacraments, receiving talks from dynamic Catholic speakers, and prayer. For many students who are on the fence about following Christ this conference is a life-changing event. Please prayerfully consider donating to sponsor a student's conference attendance. Click for more info on donating.

The St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-Op is happy to announce the in-person return of their annual Advent Candle Sales. St. Ambrose families will be selling candles before and after all Masses the weekends of November 6/7, 13/14, and 20/21. Candles are $6 for a box of four 12-inch tapers. To pre-order candles, contact the co-op at stambrosecoop@gmail.com. Friday pickup also available via pre-arrangement at the same e-mail address. Thank you for your support of this Basilica ministry.

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated in our country November 7-13, 2021. Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of a vocation.

Our Downtown Youth Ministry for 6th-12th graders is transitioning to new leadership. Kalista Bartee, who is expecting her fifth child, is passing the torch to Jenny Haug. The Youth Group continues to meet Wednesdays from 6-8pm in Varallo Parish Hall. Click here to find out more.

Autumn Ember Days of 2021 fall on Sept. 15, 17, & 18 or Sept. 22, 24, & 25, depending on the calendar. While a fast is not obligatory, it can be a worthy and traditional spiritual practice to fast or abstain in some way on these days. For folks using the 1962 (or newer) calendar, the Autumn Ember Days will fall on the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the third Sunday in September (i.e., Sept. 22, 24, and 25, 2021). This will always follow Holy Cross Day, but the days might not fall in the same week that honors the Feast of the Holy Cross (which is always September 14). Older calendars will have the Autumn Ember Days as the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday that immediately come after Holy Cross Day, no matter how many Sundays come before. (i. e., Sept. 15, 17, and 18, 2021). Click for more info at https://www.fisheaters.com/emberdays.html

Our Basilica parish supports the Ladies of Charity, who give direct financial assistance to the poor. Besides collecting monetary donations and gently used items, their Greater Goods Gift Store needs volunteers to sort and tag their many donations, assist customers in the store, or cashier. Click for more info.

Registration is open for RE, Youth Group, and Jubilate Deo Youth Schola! Religious Education classes for preK through 12th grade will be offered Sundays at 10:15am beginning September 12. Class attendance is required for First Holy Communion and Confirmation and is strongly encouraged for all grades. Our Youth Group for grades 6-12 will meet Wednesdays from 6-8pm beginning August 25. The Jubilate Deo Youth Schola for grades 2-12 will meet Fridays 4:30-5:30pm beginning Sept. 10 for new students/returning students joining Oct. 1. Please register on our Youth Registration page for this year, even if you registered last year.

In-person VBS for preK through 6th graders will be held August 2, 3, and 4 from 8:45 to 11:45am. Registration is due to Florence Porter by July 25. Register online (click for registration form) or fill out the printed form in the vestibule. Both adult and teen volunteers are needed. Please contact Florence Porter at dre@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com to sign up to volunteer. All volunteers 18 and up must be certified with Safe Haven.

Trail Life is in need of adult volunteers by July 1st in order to be able to field a troop this year. You do not have to be a parent of a Trailman to serve. Please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry for our boys and young men. (Click for details.)

On May 1, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Kevin Doerge, a Basilica parishioner who is involved in ecumenical outreach among friends. Click to watch and/or read the inspiring interview.