Tonawanda, NY

Sue Ann and her husband Michael are Co-Directors of Faith Formation at their parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Tonawanda, NY.  They have 4 living children, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and many “adopted” youth from their community who they share their faith with!  Sue Ann found SoulCore on the web as she began searching for a Catholic alternative to yoga.  They bought the DVD’s and began inviting youth and friends to join them in praying and exercising along with the DVD.  Their oldest daughter, Anna, also joined them and found it to be a beautiful prayer and workout.  After receiving a grant from the diocese of Buffalo, they hosted a SoulCore training retreat, subsidizing the 3 of them and 7 more folks from their parish to attend.  Sue Ann and Michael have been practicing SoulCore faithfully together for many months and find that Mary has drawn them closer to herself, to her Son Jesus, and to each other!  And the bonus: Michael’s migraines are gone, and they both have never felt stronger physically, emotionally and spiritually.  All glory be to God!!

A Few of Sue Ann‘s Favorite Scripture Verses:

John 20:27-28; Luke 2:28-32

My faith story has been a gradual journey with the help and intercession of our Blessed Mother. My mother had prayed and completed the consecration to Jesus through Mary by St Louis De Montfort in high school. She was brought up with a beautiful devotion to Mary. She had difficult pregnancies, delivering my only living brother first and then lost 2 premature boys before miraculously giving birth to me. She and my father named their 5 girls beginning with me after our Blessed Mother Mary; Judith Marie, Mary Louise, Margaret Mary, Carol Marie and Maureen Elizabeth. We said the rosary with families in our parish when I was a child.

In a difficult time in my own marriage I said the rosary daily for over a year for one of my cousins, not even thinking to pray for myself. And again, miraculously, my marriage survived and I am in love with my husband of 40 years! We have 3 wonderful children, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law and 5 beautiful grandchildren.

My very good friend, Sue Ann, found SoulCore, shared it with me and I feel that I am being called to share my love of the rosary and this gift of strengthening our souls and bodies and offering our prayers to Jesus through Mary.

I have again been saying the rosary daily with or without the exercises! I feel stronger in my faith, more joyful in my days, even when my dad died two years ago.

I chose to share with you my first communion picture and a recent picture of my Mom and myself feeding my twin granddaughters. Great Grandma is such a blessing! Thank you Jesus!

Sarah Burton grew up in North Tonawanda and discovered SoulCore through her church when she was 12. She became a leader in 2021 while in college. She graduated from Houghton University in 2023 with an Adolescent and History Education Degree. She will begin teaching at Chesterton Academy of Buffalo in the fall of 2024 all Theology classes, as well as a Literature class to 11th grade. She is a devoted and active member of her parish, with SoulCore being one of the various activities!