“The parishioners and I are very grateful to everyone at Studio io for their assistance in the historic renovation of our parish church.  The team we worked with demonstrated great respect for the concerns of the parishioners, especially as it related to the restoration of the painted ceiling.  The efforts of the Studio io team restored a sense of beauty and unity of design which had been lost through the various expansions and renovations that had occurred over time.”

– Rev. Red Blevins, Pastor, St. Joseph Catholic Church

“We are beyond grateful to Michael and his team at Studio io for their incredible work on the design and consultation for our chapel renovation at Reitz Memorial High School. From the very beginning, they demonstrated a deep understanding of our vision and asked all the right questions to ensure the project aligned with our goals. Throughout the build process, their responsiveness and attention to detail were unparalleled. No matter the question or challenge that arose, they provided thoughtful and timely solutions, ensuring every aspect of the space was thoroughly considered.

Thanks to their expertise and creativity, a once plain and uninspiring space has been transformed into a chapel that truly gives glory to God. It is a place of beauty and reverence where our students and faculty love to gather in prayer and worship. Michael and his team exceeded our expectations, and we could not be happier with the results. We highly recommend Studio io to anyone seeking a design team that combines artistic vision with outstanding professionalism.

– Josh Reising, President, Reitz Memorial High School

“I recommend the liturgical design and consulting services of Michael Raia, the founder of Studio io. I have found his services to be very helpful in assisting parishes to bring church interiors to new life, with beauty and dignity, in accord with the liturgical norms of the Church, taking into account the realistic limits of parish financial means.”

– Most Rev. Mike Sis, Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo TX

“Studio io provided us with a beautiful partnership that was rooted in the authentic Catholic tradition. Ultimately, our dream blossomed into an impeccable manifestation of what the Church has in her mind for sacred architecture. Rooted in the authentic principles of the Second Vatican Council, the guidance what we received from Studio io cleared the path for an architectural overhauling that was both contemporary and refreshing. Their knowledge of the theological and liturgical principles kept the entire process both rooted in the classical tradition and faithful to what the Church asks of us in the present times. Indeed, as has been noted in many liturgical journals since its completion in March of 2021, the sacred architecture in St. Leo Parish is now continuously professing a most profound testament to both faith and reconciliation in a little corner of western Alabama.”

– Very Rev. Justin Ward, STL, Pastor, St. Leo the Great; Vicar for Sacred Liturgy

“As the pastor, of the Church of the Visitation, in Westphalia Tx, I was tasked with the rebuilding of the church in 2019. This was an undertaking in which I had little experience. However, in the early stages of the design process we brought on board Studio io as a liturgical and architectural consultant. Michael attended our design and construction meetings, and his knowledge and expertise of both fields was a great assistance in answering the questions related to the intimate relationship between the Church's liturgy and the design and layout of the church. What in the Church we call "synergia"-- Greek meaning ‘work’ and ‘with.’ The design of the Church needed to work with the liturgy we celebrate from a functional standpoint and at the same time to be a space of transcendence, sacredness, and beauty similar to the liturgy we celebrate. The firm’s assistance helped us to accomplish both of these goals. Simply, synergia is what I experienced with Studio io. They were working with us and not simply for us. They too were invested and dedicated to building a beautiful house for the Lord and a sacred space for the faithful to gather and give thanks and praise God through the beautiful liturgy he gave us. 

– Rev. Darrell Kostiha, Pastor, Church of the Visitation

“What a blessing to discover Michael Raia and Studio io! As the first-term pastor of a parish in the North Carolina countryside, I was told from my first Sunday that we needed a new church – a big church; an expensive church; a community-centered church; an inviting church – and anxiety for that project overwhelmed every other pastoral initiative in the parish. When we engaged Studio io, however, we found a firm that not only listened to our stakeholders but also knew how to ask the right questions to get all of us to look at our parish life with new eyes. I am very pleased to report that as a result of our work with Studio io, we are well underway in expanding our facilities, but more importantly, we are experiencing a transformation in the way we engage with each other and with our Faith. Thank you to Michael and the Studio io team for your pastoral approach and your tremendous expertise!”

 – Father Ryan Elder, Pastor, Holy Family Catholic Church

“I have worked with Michael on two church projects at parishes where I have served as pastor. In all of these projects Michael has brought a unique combination of architectural and building expertise, theological and liturgical knowledge, along with superb leadership and people skills. Michael is the ideal consulting professional as he knows how to get a team excited about a project, give valuable input, and put everyone at ease in the process. He is a good communicator, well-organized, and gives helpful presentations to inform others. Most importantly, Michael is a man in love with the Church and since in using his God-given gifts. His professional approach is supported with spiritual depth. I highly recommend him to you as a consultant or project manager.”

– Rev. Brian McMaster, Pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Center

“Working with Studio io was an amazing experience. It was professional, personal, engaging, and enriching overall; it far exceeded my expectations. We needed a concept for a new, traditional church that fit our parish and we believed Michael Raia and his team could provide it in a way our other options could not – few combining a beautiful design with liturgical formation, Catholic theology, parish ministry, pastoral needs, an understanding of the rich architectural tradition of the Catholic Church, and a deep faith in Jesus Christ. They also provided formation for our parish leadership, building committee, and parishioners along the way.

This makes Studio io stand out in the best way possible to begin the design process, and I could not recommend working with them highly enough. For pastors and parishes seeking parish renewal that is inspiring, balanced, and life-giving along the journey, Studio io is a true gift to the Church.” 

– Brandon Barker, Director of Evangelization & Discipleship, St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church 

“Michael has identified a significant void in architectural offerings redefining liturgical worship space or updating facilities with a small project in any size parish. The renovation of an existing worship space, updating the church sanctuary, changing the outside environment or the interior design on a small budget is a potential nightmare. With limited funds, grand hopes, many opinions and no professional help available (the job is “interesting but too small”), the update project is actually far more complex. 

Michael has a unique offering for this business space. He presents a full service product on a micro-scale. His extensive large project experience is evident as he works with the client through every step of the effort. He manages early expectations from the parish group and is well versed in current liturgical norms and direction while being a pragmatic guide on project scope and budget. I strongly recommend that someone fill this role in every project and further recognize Michael as the premier person to deliver happy results.”

– Frank Bradley, Committee Chair, St. Helen Catholic Church