News - Pray for Us RSS Feed

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 will be Monday, December 12, 2022, 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!. Thank you for your prayers for Marc and his wife, Veronica DiPippo, as they went through this trial. 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.

Basilica parishioner Lynn Elverd, a veteran servant of our Altar Ministry and Religious Education program, had been having severe back pain with difficulty walking and lifting her arms for several weeks. She went to the ER on August 26, 2022, and discovered she had multiple spine fractures. Oncology tests have revealed she has a form of cancer, Kappa Light Chain Myeloma. She is in chemo treatment, with a good prognosis, but she is in a great deal of pain. Please pray for Lynn's healing and the ability to manage her pain. (Click for more info)

Basilica parishioner Alex Reynolds, young adult son of Jim & Susan Reynolds, was hospitalized and in critical condition with sepsis and not breathing on his own. Alex’s doctors indicated that his passing was imminent. UPDATE 10/16/22: Alex has been anointed and is currently breathing on his own! The Reynolds family requests prayers for Alex.

Mary Cecilia Brewer, who had been a parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul and OLPH, has passed away at the age of 98. Please pray for the repose of her soul. A funeral Mass will be offered at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Friday, October 14, at 9:30am. All are invited. Mary Cecilia Brewer worked in the offices of Sts. Peter and Paul and Notre Dame High School in the mid-20th century. Click to read Mary Brewer's obituary.

On Sept. 29, 2022, Cate Mueller went to the hospital for what she thought was a stroke, and she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that has also spread to parts of her brain. A PET scan shows that it has not affected other organs. She has begun radiation treatment for her brain tumors, and her full treatment plan is being worked out. Cate is married to Dan Mueller, our Basilica Usher Coordinator and Knights of Columbus Liaison, and she is active at the Basilica as a Lector and a member of the Finance Council. Please pray for Cate and her family. Click to read more.

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. *** UPDATE 10/10/22 - Help the Knights purchase him a suitable bed so that he can sleep adequately. *** Click to read more.

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 finally diagnosed with a Eustachian tube dysfunction and underwent Eustachian tube dilation surgery on March 18, 2022. His recovery is progressing slowly. Frank appreciates your prayers. Click for more info on Frank and please contact him if you would like to offer some spiritual support.

Basilica parishioner Luerena Fleming, 95, of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday, September 18, 2022, at her residence. Dcn. Gaspar DeGaetano will lead a Graveside Service at Chattanooga National Cemetery Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022 at 2pm. Among others, Luerena is survived by her daughter Rita Fleming Lyttle and her daughter-in-law Daisy Fleming. Click to read Luerena's obituary. Please pray for Luerena's soul and for her family.

Oliva Jarquin Peña passed away on August 14, 2022, at the age of 34. She is survived by 12-year-old daughter, and her sister, Eva Jarquin. Please pray for Oliva's soul and her family. May she rest in peace. Visitation is being held on August 27 from 10am to 5pm, with a funeral service at 2pm, at Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services, Franklin Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN.

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.

The Basilica St. Mary Magdalene Bereavement Ministry is now hosting a grief support meeting twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, from 6:15-7:15pm (please note the new, earlier time) - in the St. Dominic Religious Education Building. All who have lost a loved one are invited. Find out more about our ministry and explore bereavement resources on our web page.

Mike Bennett learned on Holy Thursday (April 14, 2022) that his cancer has returned after 13 months. Mike and Ashley Bennett are young parents of three children. [UPDATE 7/29/22: Mike has now finished his prescribed chemo and his test results show that he is CANCER-FREE!] Please continue to pray for long-term remission for Mike. Thank you for your prayers!

James David Poole Sr., 79, died peacefully with his family on July 24, 2022. A lifelong Catholic, David was a devotee of the traditional Latin Mass and continued to watch the Basilica's Sunday livestream when he could no longer attend in person due to Alzheimer's. Please pray for James David Poole's soul. Click to read about his life.

Lorelei Truett (6/3/2007 - 12/2/2021) LOVED to read, and especially the classics. As part of Lorelei's legacy, her family is establishing a lending library for our Basilica parish. As the library is being started, the Basilica Catholic Motherhood group and any other interested parishioners are invited to review the proposed book lists. If you have any concern about any of the books, email admin@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com with the name of the book and the concern. We would like your feedback by July 13. Click for the book lists and more information.

Please pray for Tony Ackaouy, brother of Basilica parishioner Andrea Tartar. Tony was admitted to surgical ICU with multiple organ failures following an accident he suffered in November. Update 7/23/22: Tony defied the odds and pulled through the surgeries, and has been able to go home! He has a long recovery road ahead. Click for details.

Carlos Guerra lost his balance while taking a shower and seriously injured one of his knees. He has swelling, pain, and bruises. (He has knee replacement in both knees.) Carlos is working with a surgeon to determine the best plan for healing. We appreciate you including Carlos in your prayers for the sick in our Basilica. Carlos and his wife Viola and adult children, Carlo and Carol, have been parishioners at the Basilica for about three years. The family thanks you for your kind gesture and understanding.