Parousia Media Board, together with directors Charbel Raish and Kevin Bailey AM, would like to announce the appointment of Ian Smith to the position of National Director of Evangelisation, effective 10 December 2018.
Ian will commence this Monday at the Sydney Parousia office, before relocating to Albury with his family in the new year. While Ian will be based in Albury, he will travel widely, building the Parousia presence across Australia.
Mr Raish has enthusiastically welcomed Ian to this new position: “I am very excited about the appointment of Ian Smith to the team. His extensive experience in evangelisation and his networking ability will increase Parousia’s reach across the nation.” He added, “Ian’s role provides new impetus to the Parousia vision of making disciples and discovering the fullness of truth.”
Mr Smith has embraced the national vision for Parousia Media. He declared, “The mission of Parousia, working in collaboration with an array of lay and religious ministries and dioceses, is nothing short of bringing our nation back to God.” Evangelisation is at the heart of Mr Smith’s role, adding, “There is no greater adventure than following Jesus and inviting others to do the same.” Moreover, Mr Smith noted, “Evangelisation is a process that is mostly accomplished through interpersonal relationships. Formative programs and events set the scene for conversion and following Christ as his disciple.”
After teaching and coordinating Religious Education programs in various Catholic high schools in Melbourne, Ian was recruited by Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, then Bishop of Parramatta, to be the inaugural Director of Evangelisation and Religious across the 80 schools of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta; a position Ian held for six years.
More recently, Ian spent two years as Director of Outreach in the Archdiocese of Sydney. In this role Ian supervised the Life, Marriage and Family Centre, Sydney Catholic Youth, the Mustard Seed Bookshop and Cafe, and Encounter, an agency serving the Archdiocese in parish renewal, adult faith formation and the Catechumenate.
During this period, Ian developed an extensive network of collaborators in the mission of evangelisation and cultural renewal, integrating several into the work of the Archdiocese of Sydney. Ian holds a bachelor’s degree in theology, graduate diploma in education and received his masters degree from the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne.
Ian’s appointment positions Parousia to make new inroads into schools, parishes, dioceses and lay ministries. The strategic focus of Ian’s work will be on leadership and evangelisation.
While Ian will be responsible for Parousia’s program of international speakers, his work will also include raising up and forming local leaders, extending the reach of video-structured formation programs and growing a network of family and parish-based platforms for evangelisation and catechesis.
Ian may be contacted by email at: iansmith@parousiamedia.com and mobile +61 448 441 996.
Media inquiries: Contact Charbel Raish: by email charbelraish@parousiamedia.com and mobile +61 404 292 855
PDF version of Press Release: Ian Smith PRESS RELEASE
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