Saint Bernard Robotics Club

A new robotics team at Saint Bernard School in Uncasville has earned a spot in the largest robotics competition in the world.

The Saints are the only team from southeastern Connecticut to qualify for a spot in the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas, in April.

The three-day competition is the final tournament of the VEX Robotics competition season. Winning teams from around the world will gather to compete April 25-27.

Teams have to be invited to attend, based on their performance at previous competitions. More than 2,900 teams from 40 countries participate in World’s.

“The idea that our team, which is fairly new, got an invite to one of these competitions with all these really experienced teams was very exciting,” Blake Murray, a sophomore on the team, said.

Saints Robotics made its competition debut in October.

“At the beginning of the year I thought we’d have a good learning experience,” said Ann Marie Jakubielski, Saint Bernard’s computer science teacher and technology coordinator who moderates the robotics club. “I thought at best we’d do some tournaments around here.”

But the Saints have done much more.

In March, the team also competed by invitation with teams from all over the country in the US CREATE Open in Iowa.

Robotics is new this year at the Catholic secondary school largely because of sophomore student William O’Donnell, who previously competed on a successful robotics team when he lived in Nebraska.

“I love robotics so much. I thought that if I loved it that much, other people would like it too,” O’Donnell said. “I wanted others to have that experience of going to competitions and having fun.”

His experience, along with funding Saint Bernard School received last year from Montville Education Foundation and Mohegan Sun, enabled the robotics program to get off the ground.

In VEX robotics, each competition features engineering challenges to be completed by the robots, which students build and program.

VEX Robotics Competition is played on a 12 x 12-foot square field. Two alliances – one “red” and one “blue” – composed of two teams each, compete in matches consisting of a 15-second autonomous period, followed by a one minute and forty-five second driver controlled period.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by scoring discs in goals, owning rollers and covering field tiles at the end of the match.

By its nature, the study of competitive robotics not only encompasses all four pillars of STEM education, but also encourages important life skills like teamwork, communication and project-based organization.

“The kids are having fun and learning a lot,” Jakubielski said. “You get the rules and field, and the rest is up to you.

Living Pentecost during the Eucharistic Revival

We are often encouraged to “use our gifts.” Well, how often do we forget that God Himself waits for us in the Eucharist. We have the God of heaven and earth entirely accessible to us, vulnerably exposing His heart to us, ready to consume us in our consumption of Him. What a gift.

As we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, we are reminded of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit; God’s revelation of Himself as the Spirit of Love that breathes among us. Among us! Truly! At the first Pentecost, the Spirit was gifted to all gathered.

There is always a perfect movement to the breath of the Holy Spirit. We pray to be open to however He affects change in our hearts. The Church names seven particular gifts of the Holy Spirit. And there are ways we can nurture an openness to these gifts in our hearts via the Eucharist. During this time of Eucharistic Revival, let us pay special attention to the Spirit striking our hearts through the Eucharist. Let us go to Jesus in the Eucharist and ask for these gifts.

THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

Jesus is the source of all knowledge. All we need to do is ask.

THE GIFT OF FORTITUDE

In our adoration of Him, He adores us. This gives us strength.

THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING

Jesus waits for us in the Eucharist, day and night. He receives us as we are, He understands.

THE GIFT OF PIETY

Since love bows to the other, we are led by the Spirit to bow to the Eucharist.

THE GIFT OF COUNSEL

The Spirit beckons us to follow, to defer to the movement of the Spirit through the Eucharist.

MORGAN MARTENS is a lifelong member of the Diocese or Norwich and strives to bring the light of Christ to everyone she encounters.

THE GIFT OF WISDOM

The Spirit gently beckons us to listen to His wisdom. Jesus often speaks, heart to heart, through the Eucharist.

THE GIFT OF FEAR OF THE LORD

Giving Him space to move is the greatest gift we can give ourselves.

Why is allowing the Holy Spirit to take hold of us through the Eucharist so important for us right now? Bishop Cozzens, leader of the Eucharistic Revival, began with this mission: “We want to start a fire, not a program.”

Fires need fuel. Our hearts are the fuel for this revival; the way it survives, moves and grows. Just as the disciples’ hearts received the Holy Spirit for the sake of inspiring conversion among all peoples, we receive this movement of the Holy Spirit, this Eucharistic Revival, for the same reason. Let us let Him give us His gifts and change us.

Come Holy Spirit, light Your fire in our hearts.

Sr. Claudette Huot, DHS (Sr. Hélène Roger)

January 3, 1934 – March 7, 2023

Religious Profession- August 18, 1953

In 1956 Sr. Claudette was one of seven sisters who opened St. Bernard High School for girls in New London, CT within the newly formed Diocese of Norwich. Sr. Claudette served there until 1976 at which time she took a nursing course in Waterbury and went to work as a dialysis nurse.

Sr. Claudette held a B.A. in Education from Diocesan Sisters’ College in Putnam, CT and an M.A. in Business Education from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

In 2002 Sr. Claudette was appointed Provincial Secretary and served in that capacity until 2018. She joined the community at St. Joseph Living Center in 2020. She was laid to rest Saturday, March 11, 2023 at St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam.

Rev. Izidor Sadowski

(Isidorius Sadauskas)

April 3, 1934 – February 28, 2023

Ordained to the Priesthood-June 4, 1961

Rev. Izidor Sadowski, a Salesian of Don Bosco, Province Pita, Poland studied at Salesian High School and Seminary in Poland, and at the Catholic University of Lublin, also in Poland.

Fr. Sadowski was the resident chaplain at the Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam.

In an interview documented in a booklet published on Father’s 70 years of ministry with the Salesian congregation, he remarked, “All my life my own ideal was St. John Bosco.” Fr. Sadowski radiated joy and brought a smile to every person he met. When making Communion visits to residents, he would always say, “Jesus comes to you – be happy!”

Fr. Sadowski was laid to rest on Saturday, March 4th at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Putnam.

Sr. Catherine Sottak, DHS (Sr. Catherine Thérèse)

August 1, 1929 – February 7, 2023

Religious Profession - August 16, 1949

Sr. Catherine Sottak received a B.A. in education from Annhurst College in South Woodstock, CT and taught in a number of area schools, including All Hallows in Moosup and St. Mary in Putnam. She was the principal of St. Martin de Porres School in Gadsden, AL for 15 years.

After receiving her LPN certificate in 1978 from Windham Tech she worked in migrant ministry in Princess Ann, MD. Later, she continued nursing at St. Joseph Villa and the Provincial House, both in Putnam. Sr. Catherine had long felt a call to become a missionary and in 1983 she became a missionary-nurse in a prenatal clinic in Ile Ife, Nigeria.

Sr. Catherine became part of St. Joseph Community at St. Joseph Living Center in 2016. She was laid to rest Monday, February 13, 2023 at St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam.

Sr. Clémence Croteau, DHS

(Sr. Marie Clément)

August 3, 1927 – February 1, 2023

Religious Profession - August 16, 1949

Sr. Clémence Croteau’s first assignment in 1949 was as sacristan at Assumption Parish in Chicopee, MA and from 1950-1976 she was dietician in Wauregan and Bridgeport, CT, Annhurst College in Woodstock, CT, Uncasville, CT, Burlington, VT and the Provincial House in Putnam. She especially enjoyed decorating cakes.

Sr. Clémence was certified as a Nursing Assistant in 1993 and then worked in private nursing and as a homemaker until retiring in 1999. She moved to Holy Spirit Provincial House in 2000 and provided transportation for sisters to medical appointments.

In 2018 Sr. Clémence moved to St. Joseph Living Center where she was an active member of the community there until shortly before her death. She was laid to rest Saturday, February 8th at St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam.