Born in Hudson, Michigan, Henry Donnelly was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on August 17, 1930. On September 6, 1954 Pope Pius XII appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Tymbrias and Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit. He was consecrated a bishop by Cardinal Edward Mooney on October 26, 1954. The principal co-consecrators were Bishop Allen Babcock of Grand Rapids and Detroit auxiliary bishop Alexander M. Zaleski. He continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop until his death on November 4, 1967, at the age of 63.[1][2]