 In 1849, at his request, he was sent by his superiors to work in the Indian missions in the United States, where he first served as a pastor of St. Charles's Church in Saint Charles, Missouri.He later taught moral theology at the Jesuit house of probation in Florissant, and became prefect of discipline and professor at Saint Louis University in 1851.On July 23, 1850, Miège was appointed the first Vicar Apostolic for the Indian Territory east of the Rocky Mountains, as well as Titular Bishop of "Messene", by Pope Pius IX.