From 1840 to his death, he ministered to the immigrants who came to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to work in the iron and copper mines of the region. About the same time, he began the practice of rising at 3:00 a.m. in the summer and 4:00 a.m. in the winter to spend three hours in prayer, which he continued until the end of his life. His responsibilities grew to be even greater when he was named bishop of the newly created Vicariate of the Upper Michigan. He was consecrated bishop in Cincinnati on November 1, 1853. The lack of priests and money weighed heavily on his heart. Due to his hard work and dedication, Bishop Baraga was able to report to the Holy See a year before his death that his diocese rested on a firm foundation, with enough priests and churches for the fast-growing area. Sault Ste. Marie was his See City until 1866, at which time he moved to Marquette, a more centrally located and accessible city by both ship and train. Bishop Baraga suffered a severe stroke in the Fall of 1866 while attending the Council of Baltimore. Understanding his bishop wanted to die among his flock, Rev. Bourion carried Baraga from the hospital to the train for the long trip back to Marquette. Death came to the Shepherd of the Wilderness on the early morning of January 19, 1868, the feast of the Holy Name to which he was especially devoted. January 30th, the day of his funeral, was declared a civic day of mourning in the city of Marquette. Despite the bitter cold and blizzard conditions, St. Peter Cathedral was filled to capacity and people stood outside the building to attend the funeral. Both written and oral accounts from the time show that Catholics and non-Catholics alike believed that a Saint lived and died in their midst.