Frederick Donaghy graduated from Holy Cross in 1925 and started his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.
[2] On July 20, 1939 Pope Pius XII appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Setea and Vicar Apostolic of Wuzhou.
Donaghy was then named Dean of Miaoli and Group Superior for Maryknoll in Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
He continued to be recognized as the diocesan bishop of Wuchow until his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II in 1983.
Donaghy continued to live and work in Taiwan until 1987 when his decline in health forced his retirement to the St. Teresa Residence at Maryknoll in New York.