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.^[1] When he was age four, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Michigan.^[2] 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.^[1][3]

Priesthood

Plagens was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit by Bishop John Foley on July 4, 1903.^[4] 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)^[1]

The Vatican raised Plagens to the rank of domestic prelate in June 1923, allowing him the title of monsignor.^[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

On May 22, 1924, Pope Pius XI appointed Plagens as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and as titular bishop of Rhodiopolis.^[4] He received his episcopal consecration on September 30, 1924, from Bishop Michael Gallagher, with Bishops Paul Rhode and Edward Hoban serving as co-consecrators.^[4] As auxiliary bishop, he remained pastor of Sweetest Heart of Mary Parish. Plagens was eventually named as vicar general for the archdiocese.^[3]

Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette

Pope Pius XI appointed Plagens as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Marquette on November 16, 1935.^[3][5]

In 1938, a transfer of a priest broke into violence. Plagens had ordered the transfer of Father 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, Father 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.^[6]

Bishop of Grand Rapids

Pope Pius XII named Plagens as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids on December 16, 1940.^[4] He was installed on February 18, 1941.^[4][3]

Joseph Plagens died at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids on March 31, 1943, at age 63 of coronary thrombosis.^[7] He was originally buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Grand Rapids, but was later removed to Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming, Michigan.