Our History
Committed to Catholic Education
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For several decades, there had been discussion by many individuals in the local community about the desire to have a Catholic high school in Keene to serve the Monadnock Region. In the fall of 2016, a group of enthusiastic parents approached Christopher Smith, Principal of Saint Joseph Regional School (SJRS) with an official request that he expand the school through 12th grade. Given the tremendous enrollment growth of the pre-k through 8th grade in the last five years at SJRS, the Diocese of Manchester officially approved the request and the process began.
With those same parents spearheading the project, a search for a location was initiated. At the end of an exhaustive search of the region, when it became apparent that a perfect home could not be found, the Pastor of the Parish of the Holy Spirit, Father Alan Tremblay, stepped forward to offer the use of 161 Main Street, known locally as the Clairvaux Center.
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From that day forward, we drew together all resources, the original parent group, the staff of SJRS educators, and the Parish of the Holy Spirit community, and moved forward together toward the opening date of Fall 2020. We remain committed to faith formation throughout primary and secondary education, and are proud to be part of the long process that has brought Our Lady of Mercy Academy to reality.
Keene's Catholic High School Graduates First Class -- The Keene Sentinel -- 6/16/2023
Our official ribbon cutting on August 26, 2021. Photo by Rachel Reekie.