Fr. Jorge María Cabrera de la Eucaristía is a Discalced Carmelite Friar from the Oklahoma Province of St. Thérèse. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He made his first vows on January 1, 2003 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 2009. As part of his seminary studies he obtained a Masters in Divinity from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. After being ordained a priest he also obtained a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology with concentration on Carmelite Spirituality, which he obtained in CITes (International Center for Teresian and Sanjuanist Studies) in Avila and Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, Spain. He is currently stationed at the Basilica of the Little Flower in San Antonio, Texas where he serves in the ministries of vocational promotion, spiritual direction, sacramental ministry at the Basilica, initial formation, retreats, conferences, and days of recollection.

Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris (of St. Thérèse), OCD is a Discalced Carmelite Friar of the Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He is Director of Postulants in the Community of Holy Hill, in Hubertus Wisconsin.
After studying philosophy at St. John’s University in NY and theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg MD, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington DC in 2011. He served for four years as a Parochial Vicar in Rockville, MD and one year as an Assistant University Chaplain.
In 2016 he entered initial formation with the Discalced Carmelites and made his final profession of vows in 2023. He pursued specialization in Carmelite studies in Spain at the Teresian Sanjuanist Center in Avila and the University of Comillas, obtaining a License in Spiritual Theology in 2022. He has contributed to various publications and online media and is a member of the Institute of Carmelite Studies.

Barbara Hughes, OCDS holds a master’s degree in Formative Spirituality from Duquesne University and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rockhill, South Carolina. She was employed by Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia as a Director of Student Counseling and later as Director of Family Life Education. An experienced retreat facilitator and religious educator, her works on prayer and spirituality have been published widely. She was a regular columnist for The Catholic Virginian for 25 years and for the Liguorian for three. Her books include Ministry and the Mystical Path: Formation Guide for Lay Ministers, Mary the Perfect Contemplative: Carmelite Insights on the Interior Life of Our Lady, The Many Faces of Carmel: From Elijah to 21st Century Seekers.
A wife, mother of five children and grandmother of seven, she has been a Secular Carmelite for more than 30 years, Hughes brings decades of pastoral experience on the parish, diocesan and national level to her ministry as a writer and spiritual guide.

Anthony Lilles, STD, a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, completed his graduate and post-graduate studies in Rome at the Angelicum. His expertise is in Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church. He is currently a professor of spiritual theology at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, CA. Previously he was a founding faculty member of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, and afterwards an associate professor at St. John’s Seminary for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 2012, Discerning Hearts published his book “Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden: A Theological Contemplation on Prayer.” Through Emmaus Press, he and Dan Burke wrote “30 Days with Teresa of Avila” and “Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Therese of Lisieux.” And, his book “Fire from Above” was published in 2016 by Sophia Institute Press. Prof. Lilles assisted Dan Burke in founding the Avila Institute and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He podcasts at www.discerninghearts.com, offers retreats to religious communities, gives spiritual conferences and lectures on the Catholic Spiritual Tradition.

Speakers