Members of the Seton Hill community and the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill reaffirmed their commitments to sustainability efforts during a ceremony on April 27 on the Administration Building Lawn. Seton Hill University President Mary C. Finger and Sister Jane Ann Cherubin, General Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, formally presented both organizationsʼ Laudato Siʼ Action Platform Commitments.

Laudato Siʼ, Pope Francisʼ second encyclical, subtitled “On Care for Our Common Home,” calls on all people to be stewards of Godʼs creation and to take “swift and unified global action” on issues of sustainability and climate change and recognize how those issues impact the most vulnerable in our world.

“As we celebrated Earth Day last week, we are reminded of the fragility of the planet – and how we all must do our part to protect it,” President Finger said.

“Indeed, as Seton Hill University fulfills its mission to educate students to think and act critically to become global citizens – and as the Sisters of Charity continues its work with the most vulnerable among us – it is important that we affirm our commitment to take action to care for our common home and to work toward a better future.”

Both Seton Hill University and the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill have committed to participation in developing a seven-year plan to preserve the earth and to foster learning and care for creation, in all its forms.

“To that end, we pledge to educate our students through principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition to value all of creation and to work through action plans and advocacy to enhance the beauty of Godʼs creation,” the Seton Hill University commitment states.

The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill commitment renews their General Chapter Statement from 2019.

“The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill move beyond frontiers to witness charity and justice to our wounded world. We advocate for and serve with those who live in poverty. We model interculturality and reconciliation. We restore and protect the earth. This commitment is made in faith, hope, and love, recognizing that the Charity of Christ urges us, knowing that we are participating in Godʼs work of transformation, for we know that things can change.”