RENE & SYLVIA RIETA, architects, share the story of their spiritual journey of designing churches and chapels with Ernie Maipid, Jr.
Rene & Sylvia believe that God led them to become architects to help transform His home and chapel structures conducive to relating with His children.
‘Our first venture into this undertaking came in 1989 when I was invited to be part of the restoration of our parish in Kawit, Cavite, the church of Sta. Maria Magdalena,’ Rene starts.
‘I responded to the invitation, as I felt privileged to be called, as an architect, but as the project rolled, I realized God’s deeper purpose. He had meant the church to be the venue of a family renewal program that I would lead for Couples for Christ, of which Sylvia and I had become members.
Built by the Jesuits in the 1700s, the church stood in front of Bacoor Bay. The story came down through generations that foreign sailors would enter the town by the bay. They eventually were attracted to the local women who paved the way for the flesh trade. Thus consistent with God’s call for ‘renewal’!’ Rene furthers.
‘This experience was deepened when, on moving to Davao in 1993, I was invited this time to be part of my old hometown parish church renovation. Sta. Ana church in Davao City was built in 1949 and had been integral to my childhood!’ Sylvia opens. ‘On growing, I remember going to Masses at the church. The project involved renovating the church and re-doing the altar to adapt a Spanish look.
But, I sensed Sta. Ana insisting that I choose colors to depict light, comfort, and warmth in the way that a mother like her would consider – the church being her ‘home.’ So I adopted a white and gold color scheme for the altar. This inspiration had led the church to become a natural pick for weddings. Couples gravitated to the church’s homely appeal. This became their reason for their choice – symbolic of the life they were starting, which is to ‘build a home.’
‘Of all our religious edifice architectural projects, however, the one most memorable is the Our Lady of Fatima garden at our Panabo property,’ Sylvia relates. This was where we built a shrine to the Divine Mercy earlier.’
‘I say, ‘most memorable’ because it seemed to me that both Jesus and Mary were communicating the altar construction plans. There was initially a group from Fatima, inquiring from my brother, where they might build a shrine to our Lady. The family offered our property in Panabo, where we had built a shrine to the Divine Mercy earlier. However, the group never came back.’
‘Then, after a while, a visionary named Juan from Venezuela came by the Divine Mercy shrine for Mass. Walking at the garden after, he identified a particular spot where, he said, the Blessed Mother wants her altar built. We then built the altar to Our Lady of Fatima on that spot.’
‘Jesus seemed to be wanting a place in His shrine, for His mother. Mary, on the other hand, seemed to be calling people to her Son. Masses, weekly Saturday rosaries to our Lady, including processions, have been regular features at the shrine building an animated Marian devotion.’
‘Presently, we are charged with the chapel design of Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Seminary. The requirement is to design the chapel to resemble the crown of our Blessed Mother,’ Rene adds, as he rejoins our exchange.
‘On reflection, he furthers, these projects have taught Sylvia and me to be prayerful. We always need to consult the church’s invisible owner, our Lord, to execute work with the excellence that God deserves. Also, these projects have further enhanced our working with teams, reminding us to always exercise patience and understanding in dealing with different personalities.’