Joseph G. Pinten

Joseph Gabriel Pinten (October 3, 1867 – November 6, 1945) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Superior in Wisconsin (1922–1926), and as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan (1926–1940).

Biography

Early years Joseph Pinten was born on October 3, 1867, in Rockland, Michigan, the son of Joseph and Anna Pinten. He grew up in Calumet, Michigan. In 1881, deciding to become a priest, Pinten entered Saint Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin. Pinten traveled to Rome in 1885 to attend the Propaganda Fide University in Rome.

Priesthood Pinten was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Lucido Parocchi on November 1, 1890, at Trinità dei Monti Church in Rome for the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette. After returning to Michigan, the diocese assigned Pinten as an assistant pastor at St. Paul's Parish in Negaunee, Michigan, in 1892 and then assistant pastor of St. Fidelis Parish in Detour, Michigan. Pinten spent 1893 on medical leave, then had the following parish assignments in Michigan:

Administrator at St Fidelis in Gladstone (1894) Pastor at Holy Rosary (Assumption) in Iron Mountain (1894 to 1895) Pastor at St. Barbara's in Vulcan (1895 to 1898) Pastor at St. Joseph's in L'Anse (1898) Rector at St. Peter's Cathedral in Marquette (1899)

After his arrival in Superior, Pinten purchased a home for himself. When he learned that a local community of sisters was living in an overcrowded residence, he remodeled the house and quietly turned it over to them. He oversaw numerous building and expansion projects throughout the diocese.

Ground breaking for the new cathedral began on June 23, 1926.

Death and legacy On November 1, 1940, Pope Pius XII accepted Pinten's resignation as bishop of Superior and appointed him as titular bishop of Sela. In poor health after his retirement, Joseph Pinten moved back to Marquette, Michigan, where he died at St. Mary's Hospital on November 6, 1945.