The superintendent of schools for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has decided to step down at the end of the school year, the diocese announced Wednesday.

Superintendent for 21 years, Sister Rosemary Donahue oversees 10 Catholic schools in the state, from Biddeford to Bangor, including St. Brigid in Portland and Holy Cross in South Portland.

Donahue said in a statement that the installation of a new bishop in February made it “the appropriate time” for her to resign in order “to pursue other opportunities and, more importantly, enjoy my family and community.”

The Most Rev. Robert Deeley recently replaced Bishop Richard Malone, who left for the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, in August 2012.

Deeley said Donahue “was a driving force in the raising of funds and the building of the new Saint Dominic Academy in Auburn.”

Originally from Philadelphia, Donahue has worked in school systems in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami, where she was the archdiocese’s coordinator for curriculum and testing before coming to Maine.

The diocese said the search for a new superintendent will begin in the next few weeks.

Other schools overseen by the superintendent are: St. Michael in Augusta, All Saints in Bangor, St. James in Biddeford, St. John in Brunswick, Holy Savior in Rumford, St. Thomas in Sanford and St. John Regional in Winslow.

The superintendent also works with other Catholic schools in the state, including Catherine McAuley and Cheverus high schools in Portland and Mount Merici Academy in Waterville.

Leslie Bridgers can be contacted at 791-6364 or at:

lbridgers@pressherald.com

Twitter: @lesliebridgers

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