New Jesuit residence hosts ceremonial ribbon cutting event

May 03, 2024

Distinguished guests and donors joined Creighton’s Jesuit community to celebrate the official opening of the Jérôme Nadal, SJ, Jesuit Residence.

Donors and guests join Creighton leaders for a ribbon cutting ceremony

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About a dozen people pose behind a ribbon as one uses large scissors to cut it

The members of Creighton’s Jesuit community have a new home. In early May, the University hosted a ribbon cutting event to recognize the donors and leaders who helped make it all possible.

Joining Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, to officially cut the ribbon were Teri and Ron Quinn, BSBA’70, MBA’76; Mary Pat, BS’62, and Dick McCormick, HON’88; Nancy and Mike McCarthy; Nancy Abboud; Nizar Ghoussaini, Chairman of Creighton’s Board of Trustees; and members of the Reed family.

The 37,779-square-foot, building features 28 bedrooms for Creighton’s Jesuits, a 961-square-foot chapel, a dining hall, a library, and several meeting spaces. The donor-funded residence will welcome students, faculty, staff, alumni and Omaha partners and support the Creighton Jesuits’ work in Omaha and the broader global Jesuit community.

Hendrickson told ceremony attendees that a new Jesuit residence has long been discussed – the conversations and planning predated his arrival in 2015, he said. Hendrickson commended the hard work, dedication and generosity of project leaders and donors for bringing the idea to fruition.

“On behalf of the combined Jesuit communities, you have our profound thanks for your generosity and our pledge to preserve and enhance the Ignatian Spirit at Creighton University,” Hendrickson said.

Quotes and photos from the ceremony

Fr. Daniel Hendrickson addresses a crowd

Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD

"Aside from the many ways it will allow us to serve our faculty, staff, students and alumni, the new residence hall will help us to attract international Jesuits to campus, and to inspire and cultivate vocations. Creighton is a leader of AJCU campuses in vocational discernment. How great to invite Jesuits to join us here, to this residence that symbolizes our deep commitment to sustaining and enhancing the Jesuit, Catholic character of Creighton."

The Rev. Nicholas Santos, SJ

"Ignatian spirituality is rooted in community. We are at our best when we’re together. After today, we will have a more cohesive, closely-knit community. We will continue to open our arms to campus, just as campus opens its arms to us; but now, many of those interactions will happen with the welcoming backdrop of the Jérôme Nadal Jesuit Residence."

Lead donor Ron Quinn, BSBA’70, MBA’76

"This residence serves as a visible symbol of the importance and commitment of the Jesuits in this area — at Creighton University, Creighton Prep, the Jesuit Academy, the Creighton Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa, and the Cloisters Retreat Center in Gretna. This new residence also serves as a tangible symbol of the love and gratitude all of us have for the Jesuits in our lives and our appreciation for their commitment and dedication in the Omaha area for the past 146 years and for decades to come. We are grateful that the Jesuits have a beautiful new space to call home."