Rev. Father Thomas McTague

FORSYTH - The Rev. Father Thomas McTague passed to the Lord on April 27, 2008.
He is the beloved uncle of Maureen and Roseleen McTague, Frances McTague Roth (James), Marion Lipinski (Stan) Kathleen Murray (William), Thomas Nugent and Marie Murray (Michael).
Rev. Father Thomas McTague was born in Templeport, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, Ireland, on May 24, 1919, of Hugh and Bridget (Prior) McTague. He received his elementary education in Drumlohler and his secondary education in Aughiwillaugh schools. In 1937, he entered the novitiate of the Fathers of the Sacred Heart in Belgium as a lay brother.
He was forced by the Nazi invasion to flee from Belgium. He escaped to France and served in the French underground. His book "Father McTague: Memories of an Irish Priest" was published in 2007. He made his perpetual vows on March 25, 1942.
In 1946, Brother Thomas obtained a dispensation from perpetual vows in order to study for the diocesan priesthood. He began training at St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minn. After being adopted by the Diocese of Great Falls, he did his theological studies at Regina Cleri Seminary Regina, Saskatchewan. He was ordained for the Diocese of Great Fall by the Most Rev. Walter Foery, Bishop of Syracuse in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, N.Y., on May 18, 1957. He was ordained in Syracuse so that his very proud brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews could attend the celebration.
Father McTague's first assignment was to St. Patrick's Church in Billings. He faithfully served at St. Mary's Church in Livingston, Our Lady of Lourdes in Great Falls, Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Stockett and St. Francis Xavier in Circle. Father McTague lovingly served as pastor of Immaculate Conception in Forsyth, St. Joseph in Hysham and St. Isadore in Sumatra for 12 years. On July 22, 2007, Father McTague celebrated his 50th Jubilee in Billings. Loving family traveled from as far as Ireland to be with him. All his dear friends from all over Montana joined in the celebration.
Father McTague will lie in state Tuesday, April 29, from 1 to 8 p.m. in the Chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home Forsyth and visitation will continue through Wednesday, April 30, until 3 p.m., in the Chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home Forsyth. On Wednesday, at St. Joseph Church in Hysham, there will be viewing from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The wake service will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by refreshments provided by the PCCW of Hysham. The funeral liturgy will be at Immaculate Conception Church in Forsyth at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 1. The PCCW of Forsyth will provide a funeral luncheon after the mass. Rite of committal will be in Cleveland, Ohio, with family.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth have been entrusted with these arrangements.
Although his nieces wanted Father to move east to be near them, Father McTague steadfastly refused wanting to live his life in "Beautiful Montana – God's Country." Father McTague's family will be eternally grateful to the kind and loving people of Montana who have been his "Angels on Earth."

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.