Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 25, 1993                   TAG: 9307250059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Medium

BACKYARD RELIGIOUS SHRINE IRRITATES COUPLE'S NEIGHBORS

"I have no problem with anyone practicing their religion, but not in my backyard," said Lonnie Valerius, a self-described atheist who lives next-door to Anthony and Teresita Rodriguez. "My wife has been disturbed many a night by them praying - sometimes it goes on 'til two in the morning."

But Teresita Rodriguez said she can't turn people away who come to worship. Some of the visitors claim she is a divine healer and spiritual leader.

"She is very inspiring. I was nothing before her," said Cora Valdez. "People are coming from all over to be healed. We are lucky to have her."

Jun Diaz said he injured his left shoulder and was unable to use his left hand because of the pain. Rodriguez laid her hands on his shoulder and cured him, he said.

Rodriguez said God told her to build a shrine last year at her Rock Creek home to honor the Virgin Mary. She built it by hand and placed a statue of Mary inside.

Visitors pray regularly at the shrine and backyard chapel, and some nights more than 50 people cram into the couple's two-story house to study the Bible, receive spiritual counseling, pray or enjoy fellowship.

Some members of the couple's Holy Trinity Mission believe that Rodriguez - they call her APO Theresa, for Alpha & Omega - has the incarnated spirit of St. Theresa, a Roman Catholic saint who died in 1582.

William Keys, who lives two houses away, said visitors to the Rodriguez home take up all the parking on the street.

"You might as well forget about ever having a party - you'd have to check with them," said Keys, a member of the architectural control committee in the Rock Creek Homeowners Association. "It gets ridiculous. They built this chapel in the backyard and didn't go through the proper channels - it was supposed to be built as a toolshed."

Rock Creek property manager Britt Lipscomb said the shrine and chapel were built without the approval of the homeowners association.

"I understand that it's a holy shrine and they're very devout," Lipscomb said. "But the present use is not in accordance with homeowner association rules. Essentially, that's why we have zoning laws."

Virginia Beach zoning inspector William Mellon visited the couple earlier this month and told them it was illegal to operate a church on residential property without a permit from the City Council. But he declined to say whether the city would take action.

On Wednesday, the couple received a letter from city zoning officials saying they have 10 days to apply for a conditional-use permit or 30 days to appeal the determination that they're running a church. They intend to appeal.

"I have to follow regulations, but people come here for spiritual counseling," Teresita Rodriguez said. "I hope someone will donate land so we can build a church - that's our desire. But I cannot stop people from coming here."