Episcopal Press and News
Presiding Bishop Dedicates First Bilingual College
Episcopal News Service. November 4, 1981 [81288]
The Ven. Erwin M. Soukup, Editor, Advance, Chicago
CHICAGO -- "That demonstrates how desperately we need institutions such as this St. Augustine's Community College to teach Anglos how to speak Spanish!" With this assessment, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, concluded his address in Arkansas-shaded Spanish to 200 guests gathered at a dinner to celebrate the dedication of the college here.
The fulfillment of a ten-year dream of the Rev. Carlos A. Plazas, president of the college, St. Augustine's is the first bi-lingual institution of higher education in the United States. Supported by a combined effort and funds from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and neighborhood community groups, encouraged by the Rt. Rev. James W. Montgomery, Bishop of Chicago, and the Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr., Suffragan Bishop, Father Plazas has clung to and worked for his dream until it was officially licensed by the Illinois Board for Higher Education in April of this year.
The two-year college offers courses as widely varied as child psychology, basic mathematics and broad humanities. Classes are taught initially in Spanish, supplemented with remedial English. At the end of two years, students are fully qualified to pursue degrees in their chosen fields.
"Our goal," said Plazas in his remarks at the dinner, "is to offer our students, more than ever before, the education, the tools and the capacity to compete and attain their ambitions in education and the wider society."
In a brief ceremony of dedication in the yet-to-be-completed Christ the King (Cristo Rey) Chapel, the Presiding Bishop noted that "...we are still under the shadow of Babel; we do not all speak one language as yet; but achievements such as the establishment of this chapel and college underscore our need to understand one another."
During the dinner program, Carmelo Melendez, Hispanic television personality and master of ceremonies, introduced the members of the board of directors which includes prominent community leaders, Hispanic and Anglo, clergy and lay. Brief addresses were also given by Cuban refugee and faculty member Graciela Napoles Ruvalcaba, and a member of the student body, Maria Elena Cadavid.
St. Augustine's Community College is located in Chicago's north side uptown area, occupying the cavernous Essanay Studio complex where Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Francis X. Bushman and other silent film stars began their careers.
The college is one of the projects which has had the endorsement and support of the Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs of the Diocese of Chicago. Allin pointed out that 27 dioceses across the Church now have special programs or departments concentrating on Hispanic ministries.
"It has been exciting to be here tonight," Allin concluded in his address to the dinner guests, "for I have experienced your dedication."