Few views come close the awe-inducing sight of driving up the Seton Hill entranceway, lined with many of the original 109 London plane trees planted by the Sisters of Charity in 1924 (Seton Hill University, 2018). Seton Hill University has been a beauty to behold since before its opening as a four-year institution in June of 1918 and has continued to be for 100 years (Seton Hill University, 2018). In celebration of Seton Hill’s centennial year, it is imperative to not only celebrate our achievements, and history, but to also celebrate the natural life on our campus that has shaped who we are. The trees of Seton Hill have long been an important component of our beauty, identity, and history.

 

Although the architecture of the buildings on campus is astounding, what really makes Seton Hill special is its dedication to our Catholic identity. The Sisters who founded the college recognized that as a Catholic school, certain guidelines should be followed for how we go about our daily lives; this is known as Catholic Social Teaching. The seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching each intertwine with one another and you cannot have one without another. It only makes sense that Seton Hill’s commitment to our Catholic Identity also requires a dedication to the natural world. Themes that call upon Catholics to care for the natural world include: Care for God’s Creation, Rights and Responsibilities, and Call to Family, Community, and Participation (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005). Because the themes are entwined with one another, by caring for the natural world, we also care for the other living beings with which we share the world. Trees provide food, shelter, and oxygen to many living things and are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem.

 

Trees are not only important for their beauty and ecological benefits, but here at Seton Hill, our trees are important to us because they help us tell our story. Trees planted by the Sisters welcome you to Seton Hill as you pull up the driveway and Junior classes has continued the tradition of planting a tree each year since the first tree planting in 1920 (Seton Hill University, 2018). The Sisters planted thousands of trees at once as shown in a news article from 1932 (below) (Seton Hill Photo Archives). Trees are an integral part of being a Setonian and this project helps to honor their presence at our university.