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The Basilica is looking for volunteer Tribunal Case Sponsors to help parishioners who are seeking an annulment to regularize their marriage situation in the Church. Can you volunteer a few hours a week on a flexible schedule? We are seeking Catholic parishioners in good standing who are personable, compassionate, willing to learn, and committedly faithful. Click for more information.

We welcome Fr. Colin Blatchford, our former Parochial Vicar, as the celebrant of our Masses the weekend of April 18-19. Fr. Blatchford is the Associate Director of Courage International, an apostolate that provides pastoral accompaniment to individuals who experience same-sex attraction and are seeking to live a chaste life in accordance with the Church’s teaching on sexuality. The EnCourage ministry walks with parents, siblings, and friends. During Mass this weekend, a special collection will be taken up to support Courage & Encourage.

We are preparing for an audit of our Safe Environment compliance. All adults age 18 and up must be certified under the Safe Haven program at CMGconnect.org in order to volunteer or work in any capacity within the Diocese of Knoxville. The training takes about 90 minutes, and the training and background check must be renewed every 5 years. Please make sure your certification is current at CMGconnect.org. Click for instructions, and email [email protected] for assistance.

The Basilica is seeking adults age 18 and up with experience caring for pre-school-age children to attend the nursery on Sundays from 8:45am to 1pm, for $50/Sunday, or as a volunteer for the full shift or half-shift. Safe Environment training and background check required. Interested candidates should email [email protected]. Click for details.

Click to see our schedule for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2026 including Friday Adoration, Stations of the Cross, Fish Fry, and all the special liturgies. Also note the rules for fasting and abstinence.

Our prayers have been answered with 22 nominees open to exploring the idea of serving the Lord as either a priest, brother or sister. The parish is sponsoring a private dinner and get together with Fr. Alex for those who have stepped forward. Please pray for them that the Holy Spirit continue to guide their decision in accordance with God's will.

To celebrate the 50 days of Easter, the Basilica Motherhood community is coming together all across the region to host family potlucks. Register here for a potluck near you, mark your calendar, and contact your host for further details. If there isn’t one close to you, and you’d like to host, email [email protected]

St. Ambrose Catholic Homeschool Co-op registration will be open for the 2025-2026 school year from March 1 through May 2. We offer Nursery through High School. We meet on Fridays, at the Basilica, from 8:30-11:30am, as a supplement to our homeschool curriculums. Informational park days at March 20 and April 14. Click for details and forms.

We wish to thank all who participated in Bishop Beckman's Called by Name program. Your prayers have been especially beneficial to the parish as we received 20 names of potential candidates for religious life. Please pray for vocations, and in particular for the nominees as each of them begin the journey of discernment.

Girls ages 4th grade and up are invited to join the St. Veronica Ministry, to learn about the things used during the liturgy and to help care for our church. Our Lent meeting will be Sat., March 7, 2026 from 3pm to 5pm in Varallo Parish Hall. We will learn sewing and ironing. Contact Florence Porter to RSVP. Click for more information.

World renowned speaker and author Christopher West and award winning musician, Mike Mangione, are coming to Notre Dame High School Wed. March 4, 2026 7pm-9:30pm with a beautiful multimedia event called MADE FOR MORE: VISIONS OF THE PROMISED LAND on the Theology of the Body. Bring family and friends (age 16+). Purchase your tickets online here or at the parish office ($25). Brought to you by Our Lady of Perpetual Help, The Basilica, and The Theology of The Body Institute.

Retrouvaille is for couples who want to improve their marriages. It can support couples experiencing serious challenges, as well as couples who simply want to deepen an already good relationship. There is an upcoming Retrouvaille Weekend Retreat in Nashville March 6-8. Click for details

Jacqueline Mathis, mother of Basilica parishioner Anthony Mathis, passed away on Jan. 27, 2026, following a battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. Visitation will be Fri., Feb. 6 from 3pm-5pm, with a Rosary at 4:30pm, at Advantage Funeral, Franklin-Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Ave. Funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul Sat., Feb. 7 at 10:30am, followed by burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery. We ask for your prayers for Ms. Jacqueline's soul.

The men of Sts. Peter & Paul and St. Jude have started an inter-parish Bible study at 6:30pm every Friday (Thursdays during Lent). The group meets at the St. Jude Library, and men from all parishes are invited. We will begin studying the Church Fathers and how we can apply their teachings to modern day. Click for info.

Can you spend 1 hour per week to help the poor? You are invited to the Basilica’s Community Outreach Ministry Open House on Saturday, February 7 at noon-1:30 PM at Oscar & Cathy Palisoc’s house. Also, The Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul is starting a Perpetual Food Drive every week. Our beneficiary through Feb. 15 is CHATT Foundation. Click for details.

The developer, Evelyn Capital, has withdrawn the rezoning petition to build a 12-story building that would have overshadowed the Basilica and threatened its structural integrity. We are collaborating with the developer to discuss alternative solutions that would benefit the community.

Your gift not only funds many of the operations of the Diocese of Knoxville, it funds services that are of great help to the ministries here in our parish, including: Religious Education programs, Campus Ministry, Youth Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Tribunal, and Catholic Charities. Each Appeal gift enables the diocese to build up the kingdom of God throughout East Tennessee.

It is traditional for parish priests to bless chalk for each family so that they may mark the names of the three Magi over their doors, in the blessing of homes as a witness of their faith and protection against evil. After Mass on the weekend of Jan. 3 & 4, 2026, you can pick up blessed chalk in the vestibule, and take it home for a traditional Epiphany House Blessing. Click to see the instructional flyer.

Our Christmas Masses include: a Vigil Mass in English at 5:30pm on Dec. 24 (prelude music at 5pm); Midnight Mass in Latin at 12am on Dec. 25 (prelude music at 11:30pm Dec. 24), Christmas Day English Mass at 10am, and Spanish Mass at 12pm. On January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a holy day of obligation, we will have three Masses: 12pm English, 6pm Latin, and 8pm Spanish. Click for details.

Melvin Freeman, longtime attendee of the Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul, has passed away at the age of 68. A service will be held Sat. Dec. 13 at 2pm at the Advantage Funeral Home, Franklin-Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Ave. The Basilica will also offer a Memorial Mass for Melvin Sat., Dec. 27 at 9am. Please pray for the repose of Melvin's soul, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Click to read his obituary.