Joseph Casimir Plagens (January 29, 1880—March 31, 1943) was a Polish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette (1935-1940) and then Bishop of Grand Rapids (1940-1943).
Joseph Plagens was born in Czeszewo, near Poznań, to Andrew and Constance (née Grygier) Plagens.[1] At a young age he came to the United States, where he settled in Michigan.[2] He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Detroit in 1899, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from St. Mary's Seminary at Baltimore, Maryland in 1903.[1]
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Samuel Foley on July 4, 1903.[3] Plagens then served as a curate at Sweetest Heart of Mary Church in Detroit until 1906, when he became pastor of St. Michael Church in Port Austin.[1] He was named pastor of St. Florian Church at Hamtramck in 1911, and returned to Sweetest Heart of Mary as its pastor in 1919.[1] He was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate of His Holiness in June 1923.[1]
On May 22, 1924, Plagens appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Rhodiopolis by Pope Pius XI.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3]
Plagens died at St. Mary's Hospital, aged 63. He was originally buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Grand Rapids, but was later removed to Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming.[1]
| Preceded by Paul Joseph Nussbaum |
Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette 1935–1940 |
Succeeded by Francis Joseph Magner |
| Preceded by Joseph G. Pinten |
Bishop of Grand Rapids 1940–1943 |
Succeeded by Francis J. Haas |