The longtime parishioner is stepping down from her role as Sunday-morning music leader she has held since 1993
After 31 years as the Sunday-morning music director at St. John XXIII Parish on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Nancy Brennan Strange is stepping down from the role.
The parish hosted a retirement party for Ms. Brennan Strange after the 11:15 a.m. Mass on Sept. 22.
Ms. Brennan Strange shared her memories with the St. John XXIII family in the Sept. 22 parish bulletin.
A graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School in 1969, she came to the parish—which had just been established the year of her graduation—during the winter of 1970. Its Catholic Center worship space would be dedicated in April 1970.
“St. John XXIII was brand new,” she recalled. “The music director was Kay Bacon, and the secretary was Mary Claire Sheridan, who I had known as the secretary of Knoxville Catholic High School.
“St. John XXIII was a wonderful, warm, and welcoming place. I didn’t live on campus, and it was my place to hang out and feel a sense of belonging.”
The idea of a “folk Mass” was new at that time, “having guitars at Mass and new songs, many of which were written by seminarians,” Ms. Brennan Strange said.
She said she played music then at clubs on “The Strip” (Cumberland Avenue).
“It does not look anything like it does now!” she said.
Ms. Brennan Strange became a newly single mom in 1993 and “needed to find a stable job to support myself and my young daughter,” Stella, when she read a notice in the university’s campus newspaper.
“In 1993, I picked up a UT Daily Beacon and looked at the job-opportunity section,” she said. “There was an ad for a song leader at St. John XXIII! At the time, Father Stan McNevin was the pastor, and Father John Ardis was the associate pastor. I went for an interview with Father Stan, and he hired me to lead the music at the morning Masses.
“So, I started working at St. John XXIII in November of 1993. I met so many wonderful people, including Rosey and John Platfoot. Both are still active members at our church. Rosey plays guitar and sings at the Sunday 9 a.m. Mass, and John clicks the slides. Back then, we had an old slide carousel, and we had to climb up a giant ladder (about 10 feet up!) to put the physical slides in the projector.”
Ms. Brennan Strange has known many of the Paulist Fathers who have served at St. John XXIII since the community came to the parish in 1973, as well as founding parishioners, other longtime members of the campus parish, and numerous fellow musicians.
“In my 31 years at St. John XXIII, I have enjoyed working and singing with so many wonderful musicians. It has been a ‘good stop,’ as Father Bob Scott would say.”
She recalled working with Father Eric Andrews, a former St. John XXIII pastor who went on to become president of the Paulist Fathers. Before he became a priest, Father Andrews served as a producer for Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets. Father Andrews and Ms. Brennan Strange once did a jazz show at the Knoxville Museum of Art.
“Another great memory is Father Eric’s 40th-birthday party, when his former roomie from the seminary dressed up as Big Bird,” she said.
She talked about her “favorite thing” about St. John XXIII.
“There is a strong, upbeat sense of community at St. John XXIII,” she said. “People are friendly, and there’s a very warm and welcoming atmosphere in our parish. The Christmas children’s Mass is always so much fun (even with the pandemonium rehearsal!). It’s always packed with parishioners and their families wearing crowns and halos. Last year, a lot of former choir members (like Moira Ely and Charlie Riddell) attended with their now-adult children, who used to be in the pageant, and their grandchildren!”
Ms. Brennan Strange will remain in her position as a receptionist at Knoxville’s other Paulist parish, Immaculate Conception. She also plays with the Tennessee Sheiks, a Knoxville band that performs jazz, swing, and blues.
