Very Rev. J. David Carter, JCL, JV

Fr. David Carter was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, but moved with his family when he was young to Knoxville. He is the second of four children. During high school, he felt the Lord calling him to the priesthood. After graduation, he entered the seminary at Conception Seminary College in Northwest Missouri. Upon graduation, he was sent to the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy. He studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and was ordained on July 1st, 2005. After ordination, he was assigned to St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga.

From 2008 till 2010, Fr. Carter was sent again to Rome for graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he received his License in Canon Law (JCL). He was then assigned as Vice Chancellor for Canonical Affairs for the Diocese of Knoxville, as well as Associate Vocation Director and Associate Master of Ceremonies. He currently still serves as Vice Chancellor for Canonical Affairs. 

From 2010-2013 he was Parochial Vicar at All Saints Parish and was the Chaplain at Knoxville Catholic High School until his assignment to the Basilica in the fall of 2013. 

In preparation for establishing the Tribunal of the Diocese of Knoxville, Fr. Carter was appointed Adjutant Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Nashville. As of July 1, 2020, Fr. Carter was named as the Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal of Knoxville. 

Fr. Carter is an Eagle Scout and enjoys hiking and backpacking. He has hiked the Philmont High Adventure Base in New Mexico three times with the Catholic Committee on Scouting’s “St. George Trek.” He is also a leader in the newly formed “Melchizedek Trek” in the mountains of East Tennessee, including the Great Smoky Mountains and the South Cumberland Mountains. He currently serves as Chaplain to the parish’s Trail Life troop. Among other adventures, he has hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. In 2013, he earned his Private Pilot's license as a culmination of a boyhood dream, and he continues to enjoy flying. 

In addition to English, Fr. Carter speaks Italian and Spanish. He is also proficient in both Latin and Greek.

Fr. Carter’s tenure as the Rector of the Basilica has included many building projects, bringing the aging infrastructure of the parish up to date as well as restoring the historic and traditional beauty of the Basilica’s sanctuary. It has also been accentuated by the themes of the Joy of Tradition; Christ as the source of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness; the theme of Unity and of Discipleship. He invites all to partake in the rich patrimony of the Catholic faith expressed here at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. 

Fr. Carter encourages everyone to pray that more young men will answer the call to leave everything to serve the people of God as a priest!

The video below highlights the years of Fr. Carter's ministry at the Basilica from 2014-2020.