WINTER PARK | On Sept. 6, 2025, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish received six lay Carmelites. After one year of formation, this is the first step toward their temporary profession. They will study five more years before their final profession.
Maria Balisado is a lay Carmelite helping form the small group ranging from age 21 to seniors. “I know it seems rigorous but if one is called to this vocation, usually one attains desired status for the glory of God,” she said explaining God provides the will and perseverance for the calling.
Geoffrey Brooks is the youngest. For him the journey began by taking his mother, Waleska, to the monthly meetings. “Since I was already with her, I got an idea of what they did in this (apostolate) and more and more I began familiarizing myself and thought I would give it a shot,” he said.
As a college engineering student, he said he tends to look at everything very concretely. “But being a part of this apostolate forced me to go beyond that and dig deeper than just surface level,” he said. “Now I have a different outlook on life. Now I have to slow down more. Before everything was fast paced. Now I have a chance to sit down and reflect.”
He said it was an intentional change in his life and something the apostolate required because of the commitment to praying the Liturgy of the Hours, reading and reflecting on Scripture and participating in the lessons.
Geoffrey said of his final profession in five years, “I feel like I will have a different perspective and will look at the world in a different way as compared to other people my age.” Having lost his older brother 10 years ago, he also hopes more healing will take place.
Healing is a big part of the journey for his mother, Waleska, as well. Her son, Ruben, was 30 when he died. Eighteen years Geoffrey’s senior, the two brothers were still extremely close. Ruben suffered from systemic and psoriatic rheumatoid arthritis and died in his sleep.
Waleska calls Geoffrey her “miracle baby” because she thought she could not have more children. When she became pregnant, even her doctor could not explain how it became possible. When Ruben passed, she felt she understood Geoffrey was a gift to her to endure the pain of loss. To share this journey to Carmelite laity with him is a blessing.
“My heart was broken. It still is,” said Waleska of her elder son’s passing. “But enriching myself in the stories (the Carmelites) share and what we discuss and how we would apply it to our life is helping me heal. Although I’m not healed completely, it helps me enrich my faith to look at things in different ways,” she said. She noted it’s moved her “to slow down and live with less.”
As they continue to grow, they share in the charism of service, both participating in the rosary ministry, and serving at church functions. And Geoffrey assists the deaf community with American Sign Language and shares his gift of music by playing saxophone for the Central Florida Community Arts Symphony Orchestra, while also studying photonic engineering at the University of Central Florida.
The two look forward to the regional gathering of lay Carmelites in October at St. James Cathedral.
If you are interested in the Lay Carmelite Order, contact Kathleen Richardville at 407-421-7769 or krville@cfl.rr.com. For information on the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, click here.
By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, September 11, 2025