Blessing of the bells at Creighton Prep

A milestone in the development of the new Lannon Learning Commons at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha was achieved June 11 as President Jesuit Father Tom Neitzke and his predecessor, Jesuit Father Tom Merkel, blessed three bells to be installed in the 116-foot tower under construction at the front of the complex. 

The Lannon Learning Commons, named for Jesuit Father Tim Lannon, president of Creighton Prep from 1988 to 1995, will provide a new space for student support services including academic and mental health counseling. The project is made possible by an $8 million gift from the Heider family. 

Plans for the building’s construction were announced in May 2018. The addition and associated renovations at the northwest corner of Prep’s campus are expected to be completed in April 2020. The space will also house offices for campus ministry and school administration along with classrooms for fine arts. 

Each of the three bells is inscribed with a dedication, one to the Heider family, one to the Society of Jesus and one to its founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola.