On April 24, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Sandy Pricer, Basilica parishioner, and the Founder and Co-Director of the St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op. Click to read or watch the interview and for links to more information about our homeschool co-op.

Select the title to view a list of our regular scheduled ministry activities, and then click the name of the particular ministry for more information. Please note that parish activities on campus are limited during the coronavirus outbreak. However, many of our groups have resumed on-campus and others are continuing to meet virtually, outdoors, off-campus, etc.  

The Basilica has recently been asked to help with two programs to help seniors and the disabled in our community. Meals on Wheels delivers hot meals and My Ride Tennessee provides rides for essential trips to seniors and disabled folks. They need adults to deliver the meals and/or give the rides. Flexible shifts are available. Please consider volunteering for these corporal works of mercy, in the spirit of St. Joseph the Worker. Find out more here...

Bosco Joseph Paul Cooper, son of Kody and Deirdre Cooper, was stillborn April 20, 2021, 4lbs 4oz. He received the baptism of desire by his parents. A service for Bosco was held at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Saturday, April 24. Click to see what the Church teaches about the baptism of desire, a loving tribute to Bosco written by his father, Fr. Carter's homily at Bosco's service, and a meal train for the Cooper family. Please pray for the Coopers.

We have made special accommodations to support the need for social distancing during Holy Week. We plan to live-stream all the Holy Week liturgies. On Good Friday we will have two services. We will also celebrate a simultaneous spoken Mass in the parish hall on Easter Sunday to allow more people to attend in-person. Click for details and the full calendar.

Thanks to those who have donated flowers to adorn the altar during Easter at the Basilica. Click to see a list of the honorary donations by name.

CATHOLIC MEN: The Tennessee Knights of Columbus welcome you to join the largest Catholic fraternal benefits organization in the world for free through June 30, 2021. We are Catholic men building a bridge back to faith, dedicated to lives of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Practicing Catholic gentleman, age 18 or older, join today using the discount code MCGIVNEY2020 at www.kofc.org/join!

Easter Flowers for our Altar: If you would like to help provide flowers to add our Basilica’s apostolate of beauty on Easter, please return this form with your donation to the parish office, use the Easter Flower Offering envelope (if you receive offertory envelopes), or make an online donation for flowers on WeShare and email the information to office@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com by March 31st to be printed in our Easter Sunday bulletin.

We have an outstanding group of parishioners who have agreed to make up our campaign leadership team. (Click to see the list.) Please give prayerful consideration to serving as a volunteer if you are asked.

The first phase of our parish “Under One Roof” capital campaign is off to a great start.  We have composed a campaign prayer. We invite you to pray it to help invoke God’s blessings in this important project. You can find it in our bulletin, website, and also taped into our pews so that we can pray it together at Mass. 

Dear Parishioners, A campaign planning study was recently conducted at Sts. Peter and Paul to assess the needs of the Basilica and prepare for a major fundraising initiative. Thank you to everyone who participated. Your feedback and insights were extremely valuable in determining our next course of action. I am happy to share this summary report which highlights the key study findings and recommendations for proceeding. (Click to view Fr. Carter's full report from the Planning Study...)

We are recruiting adult parishioners to join the Sacristan Ministry to set up the sanctuary for Mass. Our Sacristans serve on rotation (about once a month). No previous experience is needed, and step-by-step training will be provided. Please contact Amy Long through the parish office or myParish app.

Walking with Moms in Need is a USCCB-sponsored pro-life program launching in 2021 at the Basilica to provide one-on-one assistance to moms as well as dads in our community:  in assessing skills, setting goals, and preparing for an education or job placement. We need volunteers in the following areas:  Topic Developers, Speakers, Dinner Prep and Servers, Childcare, and Leader. Click for details.

Thanks to all who have donated for Christmas flowers and poinsettias to adorn the altar this Christmas! Click to see a list of the honorary donations.

In Fr. Carter’s pastor’s notes for 11/29/20 and 12/6/20, you’ll find instructions about the proper use of a personal hand corporal, as a reverent way to receive the Sacred Host without touching it with your hand. We have a limited number of these hand corporals available in the vestibule for a suggested donation of $1. Or you may also bring a similar cloth of your own.

Beginning January 26th, Fr. Carter will offer altar server training for the Extraordinary Form, Tuesdays at 5:30pm, as well as serving at 7am weekday Masses. To prepare for the training, it is necessary to learn the Latin prayers and read the altar server manual. For more information, visit our Altar Servers page and contact admin@stspeterandpaulbasilica.com to sign up.

Our 130th Anniversary Parish Photo Directories have finally arrived! If you had your picture made for the directory, you may pick up the copy in the vestibule with your name on it or call the parish office to arrange to pick yours up. If you were not pictured but would like a copy, we have a limited quantity available for $8 in the parish office. Many thanks to Cathy Oliver for managing this project, Michael Stradley for his creative design work, and all the parishioners who helped to make this beautiful book a reality!

On Wednesday, Nov. 4th, at 6pm, Fr. Carter delivered his annual State of the Parish Address.

The First Session of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Knoxville for the Inquiry that will examine the life, Christian virtues, heroic offering of life, reputation for holiness and signs of intercessory power of Fr. Patrick Ryan took place Sept. 28, 2020 at the Basilica. Bishop Stika was the celebrant, with Bishop Spalding of Nashville as the primary concelebrant, Cardinal Rigali and many other clergy in attendance. The session began with sung Mid-Morning Prayer (Office of the Dead), continued with the swearing in of officials for the tribunal; commentary on the Life of Fr. Patrick Ryan by Dcn. Gaspar DeGaetano, Diocesan Postulator; and presentation of documents for the archive. The events continued with a sung Mass for the Dead for a Priest, offered for Fr. Patrick Ryan. At the conclusion of that Mass, the officials of the new Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Knoxville were sworn in, and Fr. David Carter was re-installed as pastor of The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. The Gloria Dei Schola sang the service and the Mass as well as an interlude of sacred motets, and the Basilica's recently completed pipe organ was played in full.