A native New Yorker, Archbishop Donnellan was born in the Bronx on Jan. 24, 1914, the son of the late Andrew and Margaret (Egan) Donnellan. He received his early education at Saints Peter and Paul Parochial School, Bronx, and graduated from Holy Family Parochial School, Bronx, in 1927, from Regis High School, New York City, in 1931, and began his studies for the priesthood at Cathedral College.

He entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1933 and was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Spellman on June 3, 1939 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City. His was the first class ordained by Cardinal Spellman after his installation as Archbishop of New York.

Archbishop Donnellan’s first parochial assignment was to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, two weeks after ordination. He served there for the summer, and in September of 1939 began his graduate studies at Catholic University Washington, D.C., where he received a Doctorate in Canon Law in June of 1942. During his time at Catholic University, he served in summer parochial assignments at Holy Innocents, New York City, and Our Lady of Mercy, Port Chester.

In June of 1942, he was appointed assistant pastor of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In April 1944, he became assistant chancellor; in 1954, vice chancellor; and in 1958, chancellor. In 1950, he was named a Synodal judge. He was secretary to Cardinal Spellman in 1954, became Archdiocesan Vocations Director in 1957, and was appointed rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1962.

The late Pope Pius XII honored Archbishop Donnellan in June of 1954 by raising him the rank of Papal Chamberlain, with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor, and again in March of 1958, when he named him a Domestic Prelate, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. In December of 1962, Pope John XXIII elevated him to the rank of Prothonotary Apostolic.

Archbishop Donnellan has served as moderator of the Coordinating Committee of Lay Organizations of the Archdiocese of New York, as co-chairman of the Mayor’s Committee of Religious Leaders, as moderator of the Archdiocesan Clergy Conference, and as vice president of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission.

He was consecrated bishop in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, April 9, 1964, by Cardinal Spellman, and was installed in Ogdensburg See April 13, 1964.

Archbishop Donnellan was appointed Archbishop of Atlanta, May 29, 1968, and was installed July 16, 1968.