Career

Born in New York City, Joseph Donahue was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York on June 8, 1895. Pope Pius XII appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Emmaüs and Auxiliary Bishop of New York on January 27, 1945. He was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop Francis Spellman on March 19, 1945.

The principal co-consecrators were Bishops John O"Hara, Computer Sciences Corporation of Buffalo and New York Auxiliary Bishop James McIntyre.

Bishop Donahue continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop until his death on April 26, 1959 at the age of 88.