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On Monday 21 November, a Mass celebrating the life of Grace Coelho was held in our chapel. As Grace belonged for many years to the parish of St Peter’s, East Bentleigh, former PP Michael Sierakowski was asked to officiate. All present were immediately put at ease due to his relaxed and engaging approach, which resulted in a beautifully intimate celebration with Grace’s former colleagues, family and friends.
Michael is one of 12 Sierakowski children and let us know that he too was “a Kilbreda girl!” He started here in Prep in 1963, leaving after Grade 2, 1965. Two of the Sierakowski family did not attend Kilbreda, but Michael’s brothers, Brian and Peter 1951, Phillip 1957 and Allan 1959 all attended from Prep to Grade 2. Sisters, Madeleine 1961, Rita and Claire 1966, Margaret 1968 and Bernadette 1975 also attended. Madeleine was College Captain in 1961 and twins, Rita and Claire, were Co-Captains (before it became a tradition) in Mother Margaret Mary’s final year. Michael and Bernadette were the third set of twins in the family.
Interestingly, Ralph Sierakowski, their father, a well-known local hotelier, insisted that his children do Matric twice, to give them a broader education. Ralph died aged 101 a few years ago. Brian Sierakowski played in St Kilda’s famous Premiership Team of 1966, where they memorably beat Collingwood by a point. Local boy Barry Breen also played in that game. Barry’s sisters were Kilbreda girls too. Michael recalled, “All the players ended up at our family hotel in Brighton and stayed for 3 days and 3 nights, along with thousands of fans and local alcoholics as the ‘grog’ was free!”1
Fr Michael was Parish Priest at East Bentleigh for about 19 years, spent ten years at St Mary’s, West Melbourne, which included Chaplaincy at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and was assistant at Good Shepherd Parish, Gladstone Park for three years. I believe it was his first occasion offering Mass at his old school.
Damian Smith
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1 https://newsletters.naavi.com/i/ZMxLmVM/term-two-issue-two/page/2