Fr Michael Sierakowski

Fr Michael Sierakowski - Montmorency Introduction

Please allow me to introduce myself to you, since I don’t believe that you know me.

My name is Michael Sierakowski, a Catholic Priest from this Archdiocese of Melbourne. I’m 60 years of age and have served my priesthood for 33 years in the parishes of St. Peter’s East Bentleigh for some 19 years - St. Mary’s West Melbourne for 10 years and as assistant in the parish of Good Shepherd Gladstone Park for 3 years. If your counting.....there is also a year overseas studying in Rome/Israel/Belgium and North Wales! My ministry includes ten years as chaplain to Royal Melbourne Hospital and after that, the experience of linking up three separate parishes into One - Holy Trinity Parish, the thriving communities of St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s & St. Catherines in Bentleigh East, Bentleigh and Moorabbin. 

I have had the luxury of having the past 6 months to rest and travel around Australia, and I was going to continue with 6 months of World travel but decided against this overseas adventure (as I hate flying with a passion) to return to public ministry instead as find myself appointed to Mansfield as Administrator till the First of May. The past 4 Months in country Victoria was indeed a wonderful experience! Now, from the start of May I become a Moderator. Montmorency’s Moderator too! (whatever that is)

The statistics of my family are worthy of note, as I am one of 12 children, 6 girls & 6 boys! Three sets of Twins in this group of which I have a twin sister. The youngest was Gabrielle - a Down’s syndrome girl, who passed away 6 months ago at the age of 54 and in our mix, all very much alive and well today is Tony, a foster child. Dad died over a year ago at the ripe old age of 101 and Mum passed away some 15 years ago at the age of 85! (62 years married) 

In 1966 St. Kilda football club won its only premiership and my brother Brian played in that side. 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! Such is the power of the resurrection! From death to life! Or at least a really big headache! Being a St. Kilda supporter in the modern era is a bit like being a Catholic today! No one cares as we are always losing!

I believe that you are all ‘Gold Medalists’, wanting to be a Catholic community in the world today - specifically in Montmorency and to continue to minister to one another and open to all people, including our visitors and those in need.

As I conclude these little personal gems, I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ to Terry for his warm welcome. I look forward to catching up with you as we journey together in our Catholic faith.

Warmest regards,

Michael