Joseph Patrick Donahue

Joseph Patrick Donahue (November 6, 1870 – April 26, 1959) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1945 to 1959.

Biography

Early life Joseph Donahue was born in New York City on November 6, 1870, to Patrick and Sarah Chambers Donahue. He received his undergraduate education at City College of New York in Manhattan, then attended Manhattan College in the Bronx. He graduated there with a Master of Arts degree in 1891. Deciding to become a priest, Donahue entered St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary in Troy, New York.

Priesthood

Donahue was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York on June 8, 1895, in Troy by Bishop Thomas Burke. The archdiocese assigned Donahue as curate at St. Stephen's Parish in Manhattan, a posting he would hold for the next 19 years. During this period, he also served as priest-secretary to Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Cusack, who was pastor at St. Stephen's.

Auxiliary Bishop of New York Pope Pius XII appointed Donahue, at age 74, as the titular bishop of Emmaüs and as an auxiliary bishop of New York on January 27, 1945. He was consecrated a bishop at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan by Spellman on March 19, 1945. The principal co-consecrators were Bishop John O'Hara and Auxiliary Bishop James McIntyre.