text: Msgr. said his parents were talented musicians and there was always music in his home. They sang a lot in Mass in those days, with singing throughout the Mass even during the prayers of the priest. He spent two years at Boston College and then moved to the seminary. In the seminary, he was in the choir. He eventually did some cantoring and really enjoyed that.
  After ordination, he was assigned to St. James the Greater Parish in Boston. He was invited to formally study music at the New England Conservatory so he could eventually teach it at the seminary. The parish was in Chinatown and the theater district and garment district, and they had a lot of city ministry to workers downtown. His degree at the conservatory was in voice and conducting and theory.
  Msgr. Strahan taught full-time at the seminary for 18 years. He said it was a challenge, especially in the late 60s to 70s, with the change of the Mass from Latin to English. Most of the men were very dedicated to the learning. Those who sang in the choir still say that it was an enjoyable time. The Christmas choir was half men who couldn’t almost sing and half who could sing very well.
  Msgr. Russell Davis was the one who recruited Msgr. Strahan to replace him teaching music at the seminary. Davis had been at the seminary for 18 years himself. Msgr. Strahan taught at both St. John and Blessed John XXIII seminaries.
  Scot asked Msgr. Strahan how he worked with a seminarian who wasn’t a good singer. Msgr. said he told the men who felt they couldn’t sing that everyone has one note and you could sing any prayer with that one note. Scot noted how he’s heard priests who sung the whole Mass, who didn’t have good voices, but yet it was prayerful and sounded beautiful. Msgr. said when the priest sings the consecration, even with one note, the whole church becomes silent.
  3rd segment: The segment began with a soundbite from Pope John Paul II during his visit to Boston in 1979. Msgr. Strahan built a choir of 350 people for the papal Mass. Msgr. said at first they weren’t sure the pope would be coming to Mass to celebrate a Mass. when they found there would be a Mass, they started to think about a choir. They had just had the funeral Mass for Cardinal Wright in August when they heard about the papal visit coming in just six weeks. They had many more than 350 people who wanted to take part. They rehearsed twice a week at St. John Seminary. People would come from business trips in New Jersey for the rehearsal and then drive back to New Jersey.
  On Boston Common, they had a great sound system and choir stands. Msgr. said the Secret Service people were very impressive and he appreciated working with them. They said their job was made easier by the fact that this was a friendly crowd that would love them. At the cathedral on that same day, the St. Paul’s boy’s choir performed for the Holy Father. While they waited for the Pope at the Common, the choir lead the crowd in song, until the Holy Father appeared and the crowd roared so loud they drowned out the choir.
  They entitled the Mass: the Mass of Christ the Redeemer of Man. Msgr. Strahan wrote the Mass with some help for accompaniment of orchestra. They sang the Mass in the pouring, driving, windswept rain. They had to give up the instrumental accompaniments because of the rain. Everyone who wore the red choir robes ended up dyed red underneath. One of the songs they didn’t get to sing at the Mass was “Simon, son of John.” Fr. Mark said every priest wants to hear Msgr. sing it. For years it was sung at every priest’s funeral. It comes from the three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. It is based on the same tune as the Salve Regina. Fr. Mark said Msgr. still sings it at every priest gathering.
  The song was eventually sung in Rome when Cardinal Law was made a cardinal at an audience for the people from Boston. He was asked at the last minute to sing it as a prayer with Pope John Paul II. As he ended the song, his voice cracked a little., but he hoped no one noticed. After he sang, the Pope greeted everyone and when he came to him, said, “Nice voice. Too bad about that last note.”