Franciscan Sister Grateful for Call to Consecrated Life

April 29, 2015

During this Year of Consecrated Life, Franciscan Sister Dolores Herrmann  reflects on her call to be a consecrated religious.

My love for being a Franciscan Sister began at an early age. I am Sister Dolores Herrmann, the daughter of Mary Lemberger and Richard Herrmann, Senior. I grew up on a dairy farm southeast of Whitelaw, WI and attended St. Michael’s Grade School where our Franciscan Sisters taught. After graduation I went to high school here at Holy Family Academy with our Sisters for teachers. I am second oldest of five children. My family consists of two brothers, Richard Jr. and Jerome; two sisters, Alice and Marilyn.

Franciscan Sister Dolores Herrmann

Having had three great aunts in this community who were siblings, Sisters Bartholomew, Christina, and Elizabeth Lemberger, I wanted to imitate them and follow in their footsteps.

After my novitiate I was assigned as homemaker in the kitchen here at Holy Family Convent. Then I was missioned as homemaker to the Marist Seminary, Washington, D.C. for three years. The next assignment took me to Chicago, IL for six years as driver for the Regional Director, Sister Bernetta Brislen, who was succeeded by Sister Frances Kurran.

Franciscan Sister Dolores Herrmann Jubilee BreakfastFollowing that I was homemaker in Appleton, New Berlin, and Waukesha, all in Wisconsin. From 1999-2004 I was permitted to live at home and be a caregiver for my elderly mother. Following that period I was assigned to St. Mary Convent at Clarks Mills, Wisconsin and to Roncalli Convent in Manitowoc as homemaker. While living at Clarks Mills and Roncalli I also served the Motherhouse Health Clinic and St. Rita Health Center as driver/medical companion to our Sisters.

Since 2010 I have been living at the Motherhouse and serving again as driver/medical companion to our Sisters in St. Rita’s and the Motherhouse. In addition, I help at the switchboard, work in the kitchen by washing pots and pans and doing other general assigned tasks.

Franciscan Sister Dolores Herrmann familyMy special enjoyment through the years has been working in the outdoors doing the vegetable garden during the summers of 1975-1999. I still have a great desire for nature!

My present hobbies are making plastic canvas creations, such as seasonal candy baskets and other decorative items, some of which I donate for events at my home parish of St. Michael’s, Whitelaw, and other places. Also in my spare time I design and make note cards for correspondence.

I am grateful for all the years of religious life and the opportunities to grow closer to Jesus and walk in His footsteps.

Are you being called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus? We invite you to click here.

 

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