CELEBRATING

In the midst of Elizabeth Seton’s deepest suffering, she wrote, “Faith lifts the staggering soul on one side, Hope supports it on the other, Experience says it must be and Love says let it be.” The pillar of Celebrating encourages gratitude in the face of suffering. The Catholic Mass, a celebration of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is a communal act devoted to the recognition of both loss and love, suffering and joy. It is a moment to reflect, recommit, and express gratitude. Gratitude in community is a central tradition of the Catholic faith. 

The spirit of celebration - especially in the face of adversity - has continued to shape Seton Hill’s identity. In 1975 when Elizabeth Seton was canonized, Sister Mary Schmidt, then-President of Seton Hill, wrote a cantata called “Look to the Skies,” in honor of Elizabeth. The lyrics celebrate Elizabeth’s life and her deep faithfulness. The finale of the cantata reads, “what light is this that wakes the night with splendor’s glad release, the star of hope outrides the dark to galaxies of peace…what name is this the heavens sing of woman glorious found, Elizabeth, our holy one, with many daughters crowned.” Through song, the Seton Hill community lifted its collective voice to praise Elizabeth’s enduring hope - an embodiment of the pillar of Celebrating. 

This commitment to celebration extends far beyond music and the canonization. Seton Hill has a long tradition of amplifying and celebrating the human condition in works of mind, body, and soul. Prior to the foundation of the college, Seton Hill was perhaps best known for its Seton Hill Schools of Art & Music where the talents of young women were fostered to produce artists, musicians, and educators. Theatre, too, has played an important social and academic role in the life of the early college and, in later years, under the leadership of Zoe Dorsa and Gene and Iva Saraceni. The tragic deaths of Seton Hill students Elyse Saraceni and Beth Ann Johnson in the Pan Am 103 Bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 provoked a reckoning with the spirit of gratitude. The Seton Hill community learned, in the face of loss, that art heals and art endures. Student-produced plays, formal recitals, and art exhibitions became expressions of resilience and shared humanity.

These moments of artistic and communal expression are closely intertwined with Seton Hill’s cherished traditions. For generations, events like Christmas on the Hill, Labor of Love, and Commencement have offered moments for the community to engage in communal joy and reflection. The first Christmas on the Hill took place during one blustery winter in the late 1890s when a snowstorm prevented several students of St. Joseph Academy from returning home during Advent. There were no decorations, no parties, no gifts exchanged, but the Sisters prepared and served a beautiful Christmas dinner to the snowed-in students of St. Joseph’s, demonstrating that joy and gratitude can thrive even in unexpected circumstances.

Ultimately, the pillar of Celebrating is about recognizing and uplifting the dignity of every person. Jacinta Mann, former Sister of Charity and professor of statistics, exemplified this celebratory spirit in her work as a feminist and human rights advocate. In the face of harsh criticism, Jacinta harnessed the power of her voice to uplift others, a celebration of humanity itself.