Denver Catholic

CATHOLIC LIFE I 7 Denver Catholic Register I July 17, 2013 Keeping converts' faith alive is goal of Symbolon process By Dominic Nedbalski The good news is, thousands of people become Catholic every year. The bad news is, one in three of them are no longer attending Mass one to five years later. The Augustine Institute, in partnership with the Archdiocese of Denver, is addressing that fact with a program called Symbolon. Symbolon provides resources and training for those teaching the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the formation process through which many converts become Catholic. Symbolon incorporates elements of the new evangelization, which calls Catholics to deepen their faith and lead others to the Gospel. The program's aim is to re-evangelize the faithful Lucas Pollice, Symbolon RCIA associate director, said a report the U.S. bishops did in 2000 showed that one of three people who go through RCIA in this nation stop going to Mass within one to five years. "We're casting nets out to get people, but they have holes in Faithful to pray for healing, new life at memorial Mass Victims' families will always feel loss, but out of pain comes new life. Father Terry Kissell, who will concelebrate a Mass 7 p.m. July 19 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Aurora, shares these words with victims and their families of the tragic Century Aurora 16 theater shooting July 20, 2012. Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila will say the Mass with other priests and deacons to pray for continued peace and healing a year after the deadly shooting. The memorial Mass will include a tribute to those lost when the names of the deceased victims are read to the congregation. All are invited including victims and their friends and families, civic dignitaries and religious leaders. Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, Gov. John Hickenlooper and the state's U.S. representatives were invited to the Mass. The parish is at 19099 E. Floyd Ave. in Aurora. For more details, call 303-715-3156. them," Pollice said. Symbolon takes its name from a practice used in ancient Greece to identify relationships. The "symbolon" could be a token or medallion. "You'd break the symbolon in half and two people would each take a half," Pollice said. "The early Church took the same idea as part of its creed, which is a way of handing down a relationship." One of the key parts to the program is the use of 18 video-based sessions used for RCIA and adult faith formation. "They're fantastic videos Aug. 2-4 in Denver and a follow-up conference Feb. 1, 2014. Monthly webinars will enable leaders to participate in ongoing training throughout the year. "We want to tell a story of Catholic faith and tradition, but we want to engage our culture, including secular issues," Pollice said. "Our goal is to bring (people) back to the story of Catholic faith." For more information on Symbolon and the Aug. 2-4 conference, visit www.symbolonrcia. org or call Morgan Rosand at 303-937-4420 x105. where we start out in Rome and literally take people through the entire Catholic faith," he said. "They are powerful guides for the leaders and participants." The other half of Symbolon involves an emphasis on training for RCIA and adult formation leaders in a diocese. "We want to form leaders doctrinally, spiritually and pastorally to go out and be witnesses of Christ," he said. "We also need to focus on our own needs for ongoing conversion." Dominic Nedbalski: 303-715Symbolon is offering an initial 3262; volunteerdcr@archden.org; leadership training conference www.twitter.com/DCRegister

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