WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — Rev. Robert Marciano is stepping down from his role as president of Bishop Hendricken High School, 12 News has learned.

Marcino’s term as president will officially end on Sept. 1. He was first appointed to the helm of his alma mater back in December 2018 by then-Bishop Thomas Tobin.

The Diocese of Providence announced that principal Mark DeCiccio will take the presidential reins from Marciano as Bishop Hendricken “aligns with the model of principal-led schools already in place in its other diocesan high schools.”

“It has been the honor of my lifetime to have served as president at the school that I love and will always call home,” said Marciano, who graduated from Bishop Hendricken in 1975. “My prayers and support for our green and gold family will continue now and in the future. As I have often said: ‘Once a hawk, always a hawk.'”

Marciano’s five-and-a-half-year tenure as president extended beyond his initial appointment, according to the Diocese. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest back in 1983 and has more than 40 years worth of experience, which includes serving as chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, a pastor at St. Kevin Parish and an administrator at St. Benedict Parish.

The Diocese said Marciano will continue on with those assignments after he steps down. He will also still serve as chaplain of the Providence and Warwick fire departments, the Warwick police department, the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy and the 100 Club of Rhode Island.

“We thank Father Marciano for graciously serving even longer than originally asked to as president of Bishop Hendricken while keeping full time roles at multiple parishes,” the Diocese of Providence’s Michael Lavigne said. “The Diocese is grateful for his service.”

“We have great confidence that Principal DeCiccio will continue to grow the school in the Hendricken tradition of excellence [by] educating and making disciples of hundreds of young men from Rhode Island each year,” Lavigne continued.

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