Mission San Rafael turns to Rosetta Stone

Courtesy photo/Brigid Wickersham

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Hispanic members of the community gather around Fr. Donald Hope and his laptop to check out the new program aimed at bringing the community together by breaking down the language barrier.

The historical Rosetta Stone is a black, possibly basalt slab with three languages on it (Greek, demotic and hieroglyphics) each saying the same thing. Because the words are translated into the other languages, the Rosetta Stone provided the key to the mystery of Egyptian hieroglyphics.

The Rosetta Stone at Mission San Rafael in Huntington is providing the key to opening the door of communication between the Hispanic and Caucasian communities. Under the leadership of Rosario Leon Cano, the idea was born to teach Spanish and English simultaneously. The result was very little learning but a whole lot of laughter and understanding of one another.

Enter the Rosetta Stone! Father Donald Hope, pastor of Mission San Rafael, purchased The Rosetta Stone in English and a laptop computer so that the Hispanic community could study the language more efficiently. At the same time, several members of the mission who are eager to learn Spanish purchased the Rosetta Stone in Spanish. The result is a whole lot of learning and even more laughter and understanding of one another.