Joseph Casimir Plagens

Background

Joseph Plagens was born in Czeszewo, near Poznań, to Andrew and Constance (née Grygier) Plagens.

Education

University of Detroit Mercy.

Career

He served as Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette (1935–1940) and then Bishop of Grand Rapids (1940–1943). At a young age he came to the United States, where he settled in Michigan. He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Detroit in 1899, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Saint Mary"s Seminary at Baltimore, Maryland in 1903.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Samuel Foley on July 4, 1903.

Plagens then served as a curate at Sweetest Heart of Mary Church in Detroit until 1906, when he became pastor of Saint Michael Church in Portuguese Austin. He was named pastor of Saint Florian Church at Hamtramck in 1911, and returned to Sweetest Heart of Mary as its pastor in 1919.

He was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate of His Holiness in June 1923. On May 22, 1924, Plagens appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Rhodiopolis by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 30 from Bishop Michael Gallagher, with Bishops Paul Peter Rhode and Edward Francis Hoban serving as co-consecrators.

As an auxiliary, he remained pastor of Sweetest Heart of Mary.

He was named the sixth Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette on November 16, 1935, and later Bishop of Grand Rapids on December 16, 1940. Plagens died at Saint Mary"s Hospital, age 63, of coronary thrombosis. He was originally buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Grand Rapids, but was later removed to Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids.

Connections

Father:

Andrew Joseph Plagens

Mother:

Constance (Grygier) Plagens