Fr Frank Manak

Early Life

Frank Manak was born in Louka, Moravia in Czechoslovakia on August 30, 1911.

He was educated in Czechoslovakia and Chicago in the USA. He was ordained in Olomoric on July 1, 1937. He was parish priest of Slavicin.

He and his sister, Amezka (known in Australia as Agnes) came to Australia in 1950. Their story was a familiar one at that time – they came as refugees from a war torn Europe having fled their own enemy occupied home land.

They were in Luxemburg when they received their ‘clearance’ to come to Australia. They sailed on the “Amarapura” and spent some time in NSW before Fr Manak was recruited to come to South Australia, arriving in Adelaide on June 1, 1952. Agnes was always his willing helper and stood by him faithfully.

Work in South Australia

For some time he lived in ‘The Lodge’ at the Dominican Convent at Stirling. He acted as chaplain to the sisters, and to the novices and student boarders who lived there. He was appointed chaplain to the Czechoslovakian migrants and also served as migrant chaplain at the Woodside Migrant Camp – he was a good friend to and helped many migrants apart from his own Czech people.

On one occasion when there was a serious outbreak of dysentery among children at the camp he was able to find alternative accommodation for some migrants.

As a migrant chaplain he was concerned at the lack of facilities for his Czech people. So he and his sister set to work and together they built a house at Cricklewood Road, Aldgate to serve as a meeting place for his community as well as a home for themselves.

They moved in to their Mediterranean style home in August 1957. He had a great devotion to Mary and built a grotto in the garden at his home. Fr Manak was certainly a hard worker, and when he found it necessary to supplement his income he labored at the Hahndorf timber mill as well as selling his home-grown flowers to the local florist.

Apart from the migrant community Fr Manak was always interested in the young people of the parish and it was in his home where the first parish youth group was formed.

Fr Manak died of cancer at Calvary Hospital on December 15, 1961 at the age of 50. Fr Kennare, then parish priest of Stirling,  spoke of Fr Manak’s “simple faith and devoted love of God in all his work for souls. His happy spirit endeared him to all who met him. His kindness and willing efforts for others will be sadly missed".

The Funeral Mass for Fr Manak was celebrated in St Francis Xavier Cathedral on December 18, and he was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.