Diocese of Portland

A statement from the Diocese of Portland regarding the independent St. Dominic Regional High School

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Statement

In March of 2025, the Diocese of Portland made the decision to close the high school division of St. Dominic Academy. The reasons for this decision are well-documented, rooted in unsustainable financial and enrollment losses. The diocese continues to run St. Dominic Academy’s pre-k to grade 8 programs, which are slated to move to the Auburn campus next month, given stronger than anticipated enrollment. The vibrancy of our elementary and middle school programs is a testament to the community’s commitment to Catholic education, as well as school leadership and teacher dedication to a quality, faith-based experience for children and families.

Over the course of the last nine months, the diocese has corresponded with an independent board seeking to establish a new high school. Recently, the independent school, "St. Dominic Regional High School," has secured a location and launched enrollment for fall 2026. It is imperative for the public to understand that this entity is in no way affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and is a new school, not a continuation of the high school division of St. Dominic Academy, nor the former St. Dominic Regional High School.

The Diocese of Portland has not objected to the endeavor to establish an independent private Catholic high school in Maine. The diocese shared with the independent that to identify as Catholic, the following provisions would be met:

  • Review and approval of Theology curriculum by the bishop

  • Teachers of religious instruction would be outstanding in the following qualifications, and credentials would be submitted to the bishop for approval prior to employment:

    • Correct doctrine

    • Witness of a Christian life

    • Teaching skills

  • Review and approval of the school’s policy manual and handbooks by the bishop

The above is not a lengthy canonical process. The Catholic Schools Office was offered as a resource for establishing Catholic identity. The independent group has opted to not pursue permission to be a Catholic entity in the Diocese of Portland, therefore is not canonically authorized to characterize itself as Catholic. While the independent group has communicated this on its website and via the media, misunderstanding in the public remains.

Permission was granted to the independent group to use the name St. Dominic Regional High School, a long-standing name of a widely recognized Roman Catholic entity, because the initiative's organizers gave every indication that they intended the independent school to be officially recognized by the bishop as Catholic. However, the current organizers have pivoted, causing confusion among the general public.  

Priests of the Diocese of Portland, retired or otherwise, will not be offering Mass or spiritual support at the independent school.

Should the independent school wish to pursue Catholic identity in the future, the diocese remains open and willing to assist in the process.