Robert Delaney, a senior offensive lineman for the Loyola Academy Ramblers, carries the second place Class 8A football trophy. Loyola lost to Bolingbrook 21-17 in the Illinois State Class 8A football finals on Nov. 26 in Champaign, Ill. (John Smierciak/Catholic New World)

8th grade Saints volleyball player Angie Budzioch of St. Constance during practice at Rosedale Park on Jan. 10. St. Cornelius, St. Constance, and St. Pascal have combined athletic programs to give students the opportunity to compete in sports and create bonds outside their school. (Natalie Battaglia/Catholic New World)

Saints show innovation, cooperation in action

On the city’s northwest side, innovation and collaboration have combined to restore extracurricular opportunities at three Catholic elementary schools. The Saints, a combination of students from St. Constance, St. Pascal, and St. Cornelius, now field athletic teams in seven sports for students in grades 4-8.

“In many cases, we didn’t have the numbers for teams, but we had the interest — and that’s a void many wanted to fill,” St. Cornelius school principal Christina Bowman said.
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Dominican Sr. Dorothy Marie Solak observes the fencing team during practice at Marian High School in Chicago Heights on Jan. 6. (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

Sister oversees only high school fencing program in archdiocese

She may not be as dashing as Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” her hair is certainly not as black, but at 60 inches tall, if she were an 18thcentury pirate, her sword might stand taller than her.

Fortunately for the fencers at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Dominican Sister Dorothy Marie Solak has not called on them to retrieve any heisted gold or reverse any curse. She wants to teach her boys and girls how to salute, retreat and then attack.

But not for stolen treasure.
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