The SoulCore story is really a faith journey from suffering to joy and call to mission.
Devastating loss led Colleen to a deeper devotion to the Blessed Mother, and eventually to the conception of SoulCore. She grew up in a close Irish, Catholic family, the fifth of six children. Tragedy hit her young family when her oldest brother died at the age of 15 when he was struck by lightning.
The death of Colleen’s brother inflicted a deep wound in all of her family’s hearts and was the catalyst that eventually led her father to alcoholism and second-oldest brother to drug addiction.
Even amidst their trials, her family home was filled with love, laughter; and the cornerstone was her mom, Marian’s, devout faith. She was a witness of self-giving love, perseverance in adversity and trusting in God’s plan. In no small part to her mom’s years of unwavering faith and prayers, Colleen’s father & brother would each make miraculous recoveries from their addictions.
Marian’s faith was the spiritual glue that bound Colleen’s family together in suffering and in joy. So it was utter heartbreak when her mom died suddenly & unexpectedly. Then two months later as they still navigated through grief another cross was laid upon her family when her father and brother died together in an accident.
In her devastation, the rosary became a source of peace and healing. Colleen’s devotion to the Blessed Mother deepened in a palpable way. She began praying the rosary while running and found the combination a beautiful time of prayer integrating body & soul. A friend suggested adding core exercise to her regimen and the inspiration to incorporate the rosary with core strengthening, functional movement was conceived.
Colleen shared the inspiration with her friend Deanne Miller, who shared a devotion to the Blessed Mother, and had a background in fitness instruction. As a teenager, Deanne had also experienced her own healing of body & soul through the combination of prayer and movement after struggling with disordered eating and excessive exercise. Together they began developing the program and SoulCore was born. Interest in classes grew and beautiful testimony of participant experience shared. Encouraged by Immaculee Ilibagiza, Colleen & Deanne formally launched the movement, released the Joyful Mysteries dvd and opened the SoulCore Marian House studio, named in honor of our Blessed Mother and my beautiful mom, Marian.
SoulCore is now offered as youth, college & adult programs. SoulCore Discovery Retreats are offered to those discerning to become SoulCore Leaders, with the mission of launching classes across the country and around the globe. SoulCore is an invitation to integrate body & soul in prayer while discovering the beauty of the rosary; a gentle path to grow in virtue and interior peace.
