Catholic Central High School - Spires Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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V IN MEMORIAM Bishop Plagens 11880-1943l 'Remember always that the sole anchor to which you can cling when lite becomes rough are your religion and the sound principles of character imparted to you by your teachers in Catholic Central High School. These were the Most Reverend Bishop Ioseph C. Plaqens parting words to the graduating class in l94l, his first year as Bishop ot Grand Rapids. Bishop Plageris carrie as a ruler ot the Grand Rapids Catholic diocese from Marquette only two short years ago and won the hearts of many by his kindly, friendly manners As he traveled on his confirmation tours throughout Western Michigan he gained recognition as the kindest shepherd ot Gods flock. His death, on March 3l, shocked everybody, As a child of four, Bishop Plagens settled with his parents in Detroit, Michigan, and received his early education there. He was awarded his master of arts degree lrom the University of Detroit, then entered St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, to study for the priesthood, and was ordained in l9U3 in Detroit, Alter serving in many parishes he was made aux- iliary bishop ot Detroit in l924 and ten years later was named bishop of Marquette. At the resignation ot the Most Reverend Bishop loseph G. Pinten he was appointed bishop ot Grand Rapids and was installed in St. Andrew cathedral, February, l9fll. Although his stay was short the memory of Bishop Plagens shall never die in the hearts ot those who knew him

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ii 55 I Am Thy Servant A TRIBUTE f 1 Jggixxf ,b A kindly face, a loving smile, I yf flf fj.-jj!! A crown of silvery hair: A gentle hand, a heart of gold, p A 5 .r t Ah, such 3 MAN is rare! -it ,it j 3 fs! 1 C .X ' 1 -H ' ' He lived for His flock, he treasured '- 'V A' 'f his fold All this uiith ardent care. 5-:Q,yg L-kvv hp'qwM My God! Open the gates of Paradise! ' Y' L ' You have an ANGEL there! --jean Dutmer, '43

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X WN X XQX Q3 if so 'W Ri ww QQ ,ff yell! ably if pa X f uh XJR ,, 1 fi-' 2 S' ,xi Q Xa, ff f Ziff 63, ' ' JW ,Q x I fy' ff ' KNXX MLN l . K I I X i 'l-if . ff' ' -' X K H. wx ffl W I N '1 A W ,7 Xing ' - '--vc ,', 4 X 10,5 I Xl '7, ' N fl ' , X T it fe if iss' it eblf f g cf 1 ...A, .5 -7 , . I! 1 T L, 47 ' in A Q I : ily. DE,-DICATION To our heavenly Mother, the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of these United States, and to Her special wards, our boys in the service, this book is humbly dedicated, Pledged to avenge an atrocity for which war was declared on her feast day, our boys are enduring sacrifices which words alone can never express. The blood they sweat, the pain they feel, the horrors of war they experience, - these can never be repaid. Nor can we ever hope to express sufficient gratitude to our Lady for the miraculous work she is doing in their behalf as well as our own. These things are beyond the scope of mortal man and can never be fully repaid. We can only pray - and pray hard - that We may soon become worthy of a lasting peace in this world, and one day enjoy an everlasting victory with Her in Heaven. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did , . . CLincolnD