Stang immigrated to the United States in September 1878, settling in Providence, Rhode Island. He primarily ministered to the German Catholic community while also serving as a curate at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Providence. He was named pastor of St. Anne's Parish in Cranston, Rhode Island, in 1884. He then served as rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Providence, celebrating mass in German there. Stang's ambition was to establish a German language parish in the diocese, but it never became feasible.
