By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer

Cardinal Justin Rigali recently announced the appointment of John J. Tague as director of the archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults.

Tague, 45, said he is happy and humbled by the appointment. “I’m grateful to Cardinal Rigali, to Bishop McFadden and to Dr. McCarron for having considered me for this appointment and for the confidence they have in me to carry out the responsibilities.”

OYYA operates under the Secretariat for Catholic Education, which Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. McFadden assists the Cardinal in overseeing. Richard McCarron serves as secretary for Catholic education.

“I am well aware of the legacy that I have inherited and all that has been accomplished by those who had oversight of the office before me,” Tague said. He added that he and his OYYA staff “stand at the ready” to be a resource to parishes, schools and other archdiocesan institutions in serving youth and young adults entrusted to their care. “No director is a one-person operation,” he said of his reliance upon his prayerful, dedicated and driven staff.

A lifelong member of Our Lady of Ransom Parish in Northeast Philadelphia, Tague is the youngest of Anthony and Frances Tague’s four living children. Tague’s twin brother, James, died of leukemia at age 3.

A 1976 alumnus of Our Lady of Ransom School, Tague graduated from Father Judge High School for Boys, also in Philadelphia, in 1980.

He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in religious studies, with a concentration in moral theology, from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

From 1994 to 2007, he worked at the Archdiocesan Office Center in Philadelphia in various capacities. Last year he served on the staff of St. Mary Parish in Philadelphia’s Manayunk section.

Tague was a youth active in the Church just like those he now serves through OYYA. At Judge, he was a member of the crew team and played clarinet in the school band. “The Church has always been a part of my life,” he said.

His proximity to the church also helped. Because he grew up across the street from Ransom, Tague was a popular altar server in grade school and sacristan during high school.

He considered it a privilege to assist his parish, even if that meant opening the church and assisting with preparations for the 6 a.m. daily Mass, all weekend Masses and for various parish functions weekday nights. In addition, he was on call to assist at weddings and funerals.

At Ransom, Tague has also served as a lector, cantor, usher and extraordinary minister of holy Communion.

One of Tague’s top priorities is to encourage youth to remain active in the Church and Church-related activities after they receive the sacrament of confirmation. “We need to be pro-active in extending that invitation so they know they are welcomed, appreciated and needed.

“My primary goal is to give tirelessly of myself so that my efforts, along with others, can help create a highly visible, dynamic and vibrant youth and young adult ministry,” he said.

For more information, contact OYYA at (215) 965-4636 or visit the Web site www.oyya.org.

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.