Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Community Director, Sister Natalie Binversie, reflects on the life of Sister Ronald Held. Read the entire document here: Franciscan Sister Ronald Held Reflection
Dolores Marie Held was born on April 14, 1925 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Frank and Veronica (Hartmann) Held. She was Baptized at St. Michael’s Church in Milwaukee on April 19, 1925 and received the Sacrament of Confirmation there on October 7, 1938 by Bishop Samuel A. Stritch, later to be known as Cardinal Stritch.
Dolores was the oldest of six children. She attended St. Michael’s Elementary School and was taught by the Notre Dame Sisters whom she admired very much. Her vocation story is rooted in her infancy. As a very small child, she was choking and turning blue. Her mother told God that she would give Dolores to Him if He saved her life. God took her up on that promise. Dolores did not know of her Mother’s prayer until many years after her profession. Her strong desire to become a Sister was first realized when she was in the Third Grade. Her mother supported and nurtured her vocational desire, however, she told Dolores that she would have to wait until she was 18 if she wanted to be a Notre Dame Sister.
Dolores’ Mother had been educated by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Kiel, Wisconsin. She told Dolores how wonderful the Sisters were and what a beautiful Motherhouse they had. So at the age of 14, Dolores wrote to Mother Generose on May 12, 1939… Read more: Franciscan Sister Ronald Held Reflection