For over 40 years, Linda Contant has been a dedicated parishioner and volunteer at St. Francis de Sales parish. She has helped out in many different capacities including being an aide to Rita Leahy for Wednesday Night Religious Ed, teaching her own CCD class, and acting as an usher. Currently she helps out at Mass as a Eucharistic Minister. You will probably recognize her also as a wonderful lector at 10:30 Sunday Mass (and other special liturgies), a ministry that she started when Fr. Dave Braun was the pastor. Linda studies the readings ahead of time to help her to convey the message effectively to the congregation. What motivates her to proclaim the Word of God? “I love the insights to the readings. I like that I have a better understanding of that passage and how they relate to the Gospel. Doing the readings has helped me to understand my faith better.”
Family is everything to Linda! She is married to her wonderful husband Randy. They have a daughter and two sons as well as 5 beautiful grandchildren (2 girls and 3 boys), ranging in age from 9 months to 21 years. They also have two beautiful great granddaughters! Every week (as they have done for the past 17 years) Randy and Linda cook and they all come over to Grandma’s house for a meal. “We all talk about what is going on in our lives. From softball games on Fridays, to band concerts at school and anything in between.” Linda has been in the printing industry for the past 31 years and currently works for a company that does direct mail in Milton, WI. She also loves to cross stitch, cook, get together with friends to make cards, sit around campfires, and go up north.
Linda’s favorite thing at St. Francis is Hospitality Sundays. “It is a wonderful way to get to meet other people of our parish, to actually get to know who you sit with or near in church”. She has seen lots of physical changes to the buildings over the years including the addition of the Day Chapel and Parish Center. She loves the recent church renovation. “I cannot get over how beautiful it is!” She has also been involved in many bi-lingual liturgies and has witnessed the growth of inclusion of our Hispanic members and is very proud of that as well.
What advice would she give to others who are considering sharing their time and talent? “It is a great way to meet people, develop friendships, and have fun. It opens all kinds of doors.” Linda, you are an inspiration to all and we are blessed to have you helping to “open doors” for others as well! Thank you for your many years of service!