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The Basilica is seeking adults aged 18 and up with experience caring for pre-school-aged children to attend the nursery on Sundays from 8:45am to 1:00pm, for $45/Sunday. Reliable attendance is expected on a rotation to include most Sundays and occasional special events. Practicing Catholics preferred. Safe Environment training and background check required. Interested candidates should email [email protected]

Our Jubilate Deo Youth Schola is a sacred music class and choir for youth 2nd through 12th grade whose voices have not changed yet. It will meet Fridays at 4:30pm beginning September 9 for beginner-level students (advanced students returning October 7). Please sign up here on on our website. Click for more information.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION classes for age 4 through high school will be held Sunday mornings from 10:15 to 11:15, beginning the week of September 11, 2022. 3-year-olds will have a separate class, Friday mornings from 10:30-11:45am (also open to 4-year-olds). Catholics are expected to pursue the Sacraments of Initiation. In addition to the education provided by parents, participation in our parish Religious Education classes is required to prepare for receiving the sacraments. FIRST HOLY COMMUNION is in 2nd grade. CONFIRMATION is in 6th Grade (older youth also welcome). Click for more information including options for ADULTS seeking to complete their Sacraments of Initiation.

Our St. Martha Altar Ministry is a team of ladies who prepares our church and altar for Mass and takes care of the sacred appointments of the altar, such as linens, candles, relics, and flowers. A one-hour detailed training session for Altar Ministry volunteers is being held in the church on Saturday, August 13, and again on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30am. All current and prospective members of the Altar Ministry are encouraged to attend one of the sessions. Click for more infomation.

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.

Marc Aramian was diagnosed with throat cancer on June 30, 2022. The prognosis is good, but he will undergo brutal treatment beginning July 18, and the permanent side effects could be serious. Please pray for Marc and his wife, Veronica DiPippo, for peace during this time of uncertainty and endurance during the treatment ahead. Click to learn more about Marc and see updates.

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.

The Diocese of Office of Vocations and The Office of Young Adult Ministry are hosting a discernment group for Catholic young women ages 18-35 starting August 30, 2022. Join the Religious Sisters of Mercy in discerning your vocation and finding your place in the Church. Click for details.

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. ***UPDATE 8/7/22: 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. *** Click to read more.

On March 17, 2021, Fr. Carter interviewed Nathan Bird, a Basilica parishioner who is engaged in understanding local politics, and the founder of the Chattanooga Civics website and podcast. Watch or read the interview here (as well as in the pastor's notes for March 28 and April 4). Note that Chattanooga has a run-off election for mayor and several city council seats on April 13, with early voting from March 24 to April 8.

Our parish has been chosen to receive a matching grant of $5,000 from the Pope Francis Charitable Trust Fund! These funds will allow our parish to support the needs of our Hispanic Ministry and the families of our Hispanic community. This fund was created through the HOME campaign. 10% of all dollars raised in parish campaigns have been set aside to provide matching grants to parishes to foster or accelerate their local, parish-based charitable efforts. Please join us in prayer that this important work will continue in the future.

Registration is now open for our RCIA program for Becoming Catholic, as well as Religious Education for preK through 12th grade; Youth Group for 6th through 12th grade; and Youth Schola for 2nd grade and up. VOLUNTEERS are needed in these programs at all levels – leadership, teachers, assistants, substitutes, and sponsors. Click for more info.

The Tennessee Pro Life Leadership Conference, hosted by Students for Life of Southeast Tennessee, will be held Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 9am to 3pm, at Apison Baptist Church near Chattanooga. All ages welcome! Conference will feature Tina Whittington, VP of Students for Life of America; Seth Gruber, host of the Unaborted! Podcast; and numerous other inspiring and informative speakers from around the southeast. Register by July 15. Late registrations accepted for an additional $5. Click for details.

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 [email protected] 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.

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.

*** CANCELED *** Unfortunately we have had to cancel our VBS 2022 that was planned for Camp Columbus on July 6 and 13.

Altar server training will be offered for the Latin Mass beginning July 2022. Attendance is required Sundays at 10:30am and some 7am weekday Masses for training. To prepare for the training, it is necessary to learn the Latin prayers and read the altar server manual. For more information and to sign up, visit our Altar Servers page and contact [email protected]

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.