Joseph J. Foy, Ph.D. President | Benedictine University

The Benedictine University community has dedicated a new holy water font in St. Benedict Chapel to honor the memory of Abbot Hugh Anderson, OSB, who passed away in 2023. Abbot Hugh served as superior of St. Procopius Abbey until 2002 before leading Campus Ministry at Benedictine University. He remained in that role until his election as Abbot President of the American Cassinese Congregation in 2010.

During his time as campus minister, Abbot Hugh advocated for a more central and suitable location for the university chapel. He suggested that the former main reading room in Lownik Hall would serve this purpose well. Lownik Hall itself has a notable past, with its groundbreaking held on October 17, 1959, shortly after Abbot Hugh took his monastic vows. The building was named in 1969 after Theodore Lownik, who was Chair of the Board of Trustees. It was built to replace the previous library located in Benedictine Hall's basement. After library collections moved to Kindlon Hall in 2001, Lownik Hall became home to various administrative offices.