My name is Karen Hostoffer, I live in Bratenahl, OH which is just outside of the city of Cleveland.  After graduating a lifetime ago from college with a degree in Physics, I married my husband, Bob in 1984. We have five adult children, three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and two granddaughters, one grandson and another grandchild due to arrive in April of 2022. Our family is growing, and we are so
grateful to Our Lord!

Our oldest son, Alex, is a vowed religious lay brother with the Capuchin Franciscans. When I first heard about SoulCore as an apostolate, it was during Lent of 2014. Alex was completing his Postulate year and planning to enter the Novitiate. Our youngest son, Zach was a junior in High School, and I was looking
for something meaningful to do with this new “free time”. The timing, as Mary so often provides perfectly, was providential.

Besides leading SoulCore for the last seven years now, I occasionally co-lead SoulCore Leader Discovery Retreats with my “partner in Mary”, Stacy Lievens. The experience of leading these retreats renews our commitment to SoulCore and brings such grace into our lives for months afterwards.

My other passions include being a longtime volunteer and board member of Zelie’s Home, which is a home of hospitality for pregnant and parenting mothers who have limited or no resources. I also enjoy reading copious amounts of books, drinking cappuccino, bible study, the mass, adoration and walking with good friends.
SoulCore has helped to deepen my faith, through the prayers of the Rosary, the meditations found from spiritual writers and saints, and of course in the scripture readings. What I couldn’t have anticipated is how my faith has grown through the new relationships and friends I have made with the women who pray a SoulCore Rosary with me. The most powerful moment during SoulCore is when I read a scripture passage or meditation that speaks directly to one of the participant’s prayer intentions. It is that overwhelming feeling that the Holy Spirit is at work through this apostolate.

Currently, I offer SoulCore classes on Zoom and in person at St. John of the Cross parish in Euclid and in Bratenahl when the weather permits. We generally meet one to two nights and on Friday & Saturday mornings. I am available by request to come to any parish or prayer group interested in experiencing SoulCore.
My email is SoulCoreCleveland@gmail.com; IG & FB: @SoulCoreCleveland