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.

Please donate new or barely worn coats, scarves, gloves, and socks appropriate for children ages infant to 18 years in the bin marked “Coats for Kids” the Basilica’s vestibule. Items will be collected through Thanksgiving weekend, December 1, and distributed to children in our parish Hispanic Ministry & the Chambliss Center for Children. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 610.

Please pray for Matt Givens, who was hospitalized with gallstones and had to undergo three surgeries. He is now home from the hospital. The Givens family asks for prayers for his pain relief and his recovery. (Click for more information.)

The Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes (TBCH) provides safe, loving homes and support for children in need across Tennessee, helping them thrive in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment. Adopt a child at TBCH through Dec. 12 by making a $100 or greater gift to provide them with 5-10 of their Christmas list wish items. Email: sandy@riseupcooperative.org. Visit riseupcooperative.org for more info.

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 stambrosecoop@gmail.com. Friday pickup is also available via pre-arrangement at the same e-mail address. Thank you for your support of this Basilica Ministry.

Our Downtown Youth Ministry for 6th through 12th grade will kick off the year with a night at Coolidge Park on Wednesday, September 18 from 6-8pm! We will also meet Oct. 16, Nov. 13, and Dec. 11. In addition, the St. Jude Youth Group that we partner with is meeting Sundays from 6:30-8pm, and all 8th-12th graders are invited. Click to see the Youth Group page for details about our events

In addition to donating to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee relief efforts for Hurricane Helene, Basilica parishioners Dcn. Joe Roy and Hank DeHart and our Motherhood group are collaborating with efforts in Unicoi County and St. Michael the Archangel parish in Erwin, TN, to get supplies to people in need. We are collecting specific supplies at the Basilica through Monday, October 7 at 12pm. Please drop your donations in the marked bins under the steps that go down to Varallo Parish Hall. Please ONLY donate the items listed on the TWO flyers here (click to see the two lists). NO CLOTHING.

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 bnbkaine@gmail.com.

The Basilica Catholic Motherhood ministry is resuming our mothers' morning fellowship meetings in Varallo Parish Hall. Meetings will be held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. The first two meetings will be Tues., Sept. 10 and Tues., Sept. 24, 2024, from 10am to 12pm. Children may attend. Kalista Bartee and Emily Prester are hosting these meetings. For more information contact basilicamotherhood@gmail.com

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.

The Basilica Married & Engaged Ministry is planning a 4-week program for couples to improve communication, called “Resolve”, to help in their vocations as spouses, parents, and Christians. See the Resolve flyer and click here to take the quick survey indicated, to help us build this small-group in-home discussion starting in July.

Cate Mueller passed away on May 11, 2024, a day before her 59th birthday, after a 20-month battle with cancer. We pray that Cate may rest in peace. Visitation will be 1-5pm June 16 with a Vigil Service at 4:30pm at Hamilton Funeral Home on Hixson Pike; Visitation and eulogies 9am June 17, followed by funeral Mass at 9:30am at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, and burial at 11am at Chattanooga National Cemetery. NOTE: The family needs help with MEALS and GARDENING. Click to read more.

The American Heritage Girls Catholic Troop 0629 is having an open house June 27 and July 11, 2024 from 6:40-7:30pm, at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in the small hall. All parents of girls between 5-18 are welcome to attend and get info about the troop.

A "Life in the Spirit Seminar" will be presented by members of the Alleluia Community of Augusta, GA at St. Augustine Church in Signal Mountain, TN on May 10-11. The Seminar helps those who attend grasp, with an adult understanding, our Sacrament of Confirmation and how necessary it is to living a full and abundant life in Christ. Click for details and registration. Discount available if you register by March 15!

The Diocese of Knoxville is sponsoring two retreats for Middle Schoolers this summer, both held at Adventure Ocoee Retreat Center: REACH God Camp for rising 7th & 8th graders will be June 21 7pm -June 24 5pm ($245). DISCOVER God Camp for rising 5th & 6th graders will be June 25 7pm -June 28 11am ($215). Click for flyer and links to register.

JuliAnna & Peter Hills delivered their fourth baby, Maximilian John, on April 8. The Hills family asks your prayers for Max. Max was born with a partially collapsed lung. Update 4/14/24: Maximilian did it! He is home from the hospital, safe and sound! Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray as he develops. Click for info and a meal train for the Hills family.

St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op meets at the Basilica on Friday mornings. Registration is open now until May 10th for the 2024-25 school year. (Families moving to Chattanooga over the summer may apply after that date.) Classes begin August 16 for nursery-aged children through high schoolers. Classes offered include Latin, Sign Language, Art, Science, US Geography, Chemistry, Health, and more. Detailed information and registration forms are posted on our St. Ambrose page (click to access). To schedule a visit or with questions, please e-mail stambrosecoop@gmail.com.

Our Lorelei’s Library in the hallway next to the Basilica is available for every parishioner to check out a single book at a time for up to 3 weeks. We have a few friendly requests: PARENTS, please write in your own name and phone number LEGIBLY on the checkout card so that we can follow up with you if needed. Also, if your child takes some books out to look at, please kindly put them back in the right place, by category and title. THANK YOU for your help so that everyone can find and enjoy the books! Click for more info about Lorelei's Library.

In 2022, Basilica parishioner Lynn Elverd, a veteran servant of our Altar Ministry, Religious Education helper, and Greeter, suffered multiple spinal fractures caused by cancer. After several months of chemo and a stem cell treatment, she has remained in 100% remission since 2023! She will need continued chemo. Thank you for your prayers for Lynn! (Click for more info)

The Diocese of Knoxville is taking a group of teens to Steubenville Atlanta, hosted by the Archdiocese of Atlanta, July 26-28, 2024. The Steubenville youth conferences exist to bring high schoolers into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Click for details. Early bird registration due by March 15.