Stephen Joseph Donahue

Stephen Donahue was born in New York City, the fifth of ten children of Thomas P. and Dorothy (née Rentz) Donahue.[1] His father was born in England to Irish parents, and his mother was born in Germany.[2] He received his early education at the parochial school of Holy Name Church, run by the Christian Brothers.[2] He was encouraged by one of his teachers to enter the priesthood.[3]

After graduating from Holy Name School in 1906, he attended Cathedral College.[1] He received the Cardinal's Medal for general excellence upon his graduation; the award was presented to him by the college's president, Father Patrick Joseph Hayes (who later became Archbishop of New York in 1919).[1]

He entered St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers in 1912.[3] A year later, he won a scholarship to the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he studied for five years.[1] While in Rome, Donahue was ordained a priest by Cardinal Basilio Pompili on May 22, 1918.[4]

Following his return to New York, his first assignment was as an instructor of Sacred Scripture and Latin at Cathedral College, where he also served for a time as prefect of discipline.[3] He was a curate at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament and at St. Gregory's Church.[2] In 1920, he became assistant secretary to Cardinal Hayes.[2] He was advanced to secretary in 1922, and remained in that position until 1934. In his capacity as the Cardinal's secretary, he traveled extensively with Hayes, including several trips to Rome.[2] He was named a Monsignor in 1924.[3]

On March 5, 1934, Donahue was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New York and Titular Bishop of Medea by Pope Pius XI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 1 from Cardinal Hayes, with Bishop Edward Mooney and Archbishop John Joseph Mitty serving as co-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.[4] He selected as his episcopal motto: Monstra te esse matrem (Latin: "Show thyself a mother").[5] After his consecration, he was made pastor of his childhood parish of Holy Name Church, and frequently represented Cardinal Hayes at religious conventions and other events.[2] When Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, then-Vatican Secretary of State and future Pope Pius XII, visited New York in 1936, Donahue took a leading role in greeting him.[2] He also took a special interest in the Legion of Decency, and served as a member of the motion picture committee of the National Catholic Welfare Council.[2]

Donahue served as Apostolic Administrator of New York between the death of Cardinal Hayes and the appointment of Bishop Francis Spellman, and celebrated Requiem Mass for Hayes.[6] After thirty-eight years as a bishop, he resigned on May 3, 1972.[4] He later died at the Mary Manning Walsh Home in Manhattan, aged 88.[3]