St. John's Winfield Woman of the Year, Linda LeBreux
Although a relatively recent newcomer to Winfield and St. John's, our 2017 Woman of the Year, Linda LeBreux was the overwhelming choice of our members. She's a woman of small physical stature, but her interests, endeavors, spirituality and devotion to the Lord and her Catholic faith loom large when one thinks of her.
Linda has a deep concern for the rights of the unborn and this is evident as she serves as CCW's Pro-Life Advocate, and she's also the co-leader for our parish Catholics for Life group. In these positions, she keeps CCW members, and the parish, informed of pro-life efforts and concerns and encourages us to get involved.
Linda leads our prayer at meetings and plans the annual May Crowning mass. When needed, she leads the rosary at funerals, and always represents CCW at 1st Saturday masses.
Despite these responsibilities, Linda readily lends a capable hand with Young at Hearts, CCW fund raisers, and bakes or cooks for our events when the need arises.
This remarkable woman's spiritual nature has also called her to service with the parish Prayer-Line where she prays for parishioners when notified of a need. Linda graciously and prayerfully takes the Body of Christ to patients at Central DuPage Hospital.
The St. John's PADS overnight shift has depended on our Woman of the Year, and the 11 PM to 3 AM time slot doesn't scare her away! She has a long relationship with PADS since, for years, she was a PADS volunteer at her former parish and led that group for many years.
On the home-front and with energy to spare, she has given long-standing support to her children, and she is their "go-to" babysitter for the grandkids. She recently volunteered at her daughter's company to help move their offices and worked with more effort than the employees.
In the wider community of Catholic faith, she works with her Cursillo group weekly and by committing to prayer and sacrifice for those who attend Cursillo weekends.
Linda has also visited many holy places in the world to pray at those sights.
Nominating her for woman of the Year, one CCW member said "Linda is an example to all of her faith being seen in her works." Her daughter stated that "her mom's faith in God is a tangible wonder, devoid of darkness and overflowing with love. It physically moves and mentally inspires people to be more - more caring, more generous, just humbly more."
Linda will be recognized along with women throughout the Joliet Diocese, at the Annual Women of the Year Mass at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet on April 29th. Bishop Joseph Siegel will be the presider and Fr. Matt Pratscher, pastor at St. John the Baptist in Winfield, is concelebrating the Mass along with many priests from the diocese.
Linda will be crowning the Blessed Mother at the May Crowning after the 8:30am Mass at St. John's on Saturday, May 6th.