[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).
[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.
[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.