 While serving as vicar general, in 1919 purchased dormitory property of Northern Normal College and donated it to the diocese to use as a church with conditions that it be named after Saint Michael and that the new parish build a school.On November 30, 1921, Pope Benedict XV appointed Pinten the third bishop of the Superior Diocese.He was ordained bishop on May 3, 1922 at St. Peter Cathedral with Archbishop Sebastian Messmer of Milwaukee presiding.