Downtown Greensburg Banners Honor Hometown Heros
Mother Aloysia Lowe among the featured heros.
In late 2019, the Greensburg Community Development Corporation planned to honor “Hometown Heroes” by hanging banners with photos of local veterans throughout the business district. Although the project planners had military heroes in mind when they offered the opportunity for the public to submit photos and sponsor the production of the banners, The Sisters of Charity felt that the term “Hometown Heroes” could include persons who made an impact on the culture and economy of the community. A photo of Mother Aloysia Lowe was provided for consideration as part of the project. GCDC Executive Director Ashley Kertes was thrilled to include the submission as part of the display.
The Development Corporation replaces decorative banners on the city lampposts every two years, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the furlough of public works staff members who were responsible for hanging the banners when work was originally scheduled in Spring 2020. The employees are now back on the job and began hanging them in March.
A total of five banners honoring Mother Aloysia Lowe are included in the 100 banners that will be on display in Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg. An outdoor ceremony will be held on May 22 to honor the Hometown Heroes. An announcement will be made when details are finalized.
Mother Aloysia Lowe served as Mother Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill from 1870 until 1889. She is considered the foundress of the Seton Hill community, which has numbered over 1,000 women religious. During her tenure, she oversaw the staffing of over 15 Catholic schools in western Pennsylvania. In addition, she was the driving force behind the congregational move from Altoona to Greensburg in 1882. In the years before her death in 1889, Mother Aloysia focused on the building of an imposing new motherhouse and academy facility in Greensburg. This “crown jewel of Pennsylvania” eventually became the Administration Building, the heart of Seton Hill University. Her spirituality, wisdom, and business acumen set the tone for subsequent generations of influential Catholic women religious.
Banner Locations:
1. Academy Hill across from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
2. St. Clair Park Entrance
3. Seton Hill Performing Arts Center on Otterman Street
4. Main Street and Third Street in front of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church
5. South Pennsylvania Avenue and Kaylor Way.