Joseph C. Plagens

Plagens previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Marquette in Michigan from 1937 to 1941, as bishop of the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette from 1935 to 1937 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan from 1924 to 1935.

Biography

Early life Joseph Plagens was born on January 29, 1880, in Czeszewo, near Poznań in the German Empire (present day Poland) to Andrew and Constance (née Grygier) Plagens. When he was age four, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Michigan. Plagens earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Detroit in 1899, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1903.

Priesthood Plagens was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit by Bishop John Foley on July 4, 1903. After his ordination, Plagens filled the following pastoral assignments in parishes in Michigan:

Assistant pastor at Sweetest Heart of Mary in Detroit (1903 to 1906) Pastor of St. Michael's in Port Austin (1906 to 1911) Pastor of St. Florian's in Hamtramck (1911 to 1919) Pastor of Sweetest Heart of Mary in Detroit (1919 to 1935)

Bishop of Marquette On January 4, 1937, Pius XI suppressed the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette and erected in its place the Diocese of Marquette. In 1938, a transfer of a priest broke into violence. Plagens had ordered the transfer of Reverend Simon Borkowski, pastor of St. Barbara's Parish in Vulcan, Michigan, to a seminary in Wisconsin. However, Borkowski had refused to go, instead remaining inside his church with 20 supporters picketing outside. One day, a group of sixty men arrived at St. Barbara's, pushed past the picketers, and brought Borkowski out of the building. The newly appointed pastor, Reverend Erasmus Dooley, was allowed to enter. However, a group of 100 Borkowski supporters soon arrived and a full-scale brawl erupted. In the end, Dooley left the church and Borkowski re-entered it.

Bishop of Grand Rapids Pope Pius XII named Plagens as bishop of Grand Rapids on December 16, 1940. He was originally buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Grand Rapids, but was later removed to Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming, Michigan.