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 The
Reverend Nigel Marc Pirosha Billimoria
Family:
Wife
- Manisha
Children
- Shekainah, (9) at Bishops College, Colombo - Grade 5, and Shokeidh,
(5) at S. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia - Year 1
Early
Education:
S.
Thomas College, Mount Lavinia 1980 to 1991 : Was a School Prefect
and Co-Editor of the College Magazine; Winner of a number of senior
prizes and member of a number of societies and clubs. Was also
a member of the Chapel Servers' Guild and President of the Student
Christian Movement.
Higher
Studies & Ministerial Formation:
Read
History at Wadia College, University of Pune (Poona) on a full
scholarship for Cultural Relations through the University Grants
Commission of Sri Lanka 1993-1996 and obtained the Bachelor of
Arts degree with a 1st Class
Ripon
College Cuddesdon, University of Oxford, as an Ordinand of the
Diocese of Colombo to train for the ordained ministry 1999-2001
and obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Theology from the University
of Oxford in year 2000 & the Diploma in Ministry for Theology
Graduates from Ripon College Cuddesdon 2001 in 2001.
Theological
College of Lanka October 2001 to July 2002
Work
Experience:
Student
Teacher at STCML 3rd Term 1991
Tutorial
Staff, STCML January 1992 to June 1999 (Taught English & A/L
Divinity). Leave of absence for higher studies 1993-96
Served
as a Form Master in the Upper School & College Forms.
Served
as Lay Assistant to three Chaplains and was involved in counselling
and pastoral care.
Served
as Master in Charge of the Student Christian Movement and Senior
English Literary and Debating Society;
Staff
Advisor of the Current Affairs Forum & the Interact Club.
A
Founder and 1st Staff Advisor of the Society for the Preservation
of Thomian Traditions.
Archivist
of the College 1993 – 1999.
He is steeped in Thomian Traditions and History
Member
of the Bishop's Education Advisory Committee 1997 – 1999.
Boarding
House Master (Miller - Chapman) 1993.
Ordained
Deacon December 2001 while at the Theological College of Lanka
and obtained pastoral experience under the Vicar of the Church
of Christ the King, Rathmeewala.
Assistant
Curate of St. James Church, Egoda Uyana with Christ Church, Horetuduwa
& St. Lukes Church,
Sarikkalimulla
(under the Archdeacon of Galle) August 2002.
Ordained
Priest December 2002 and continued to serve at Egoda Uyana, Horetuduwa
and Sarikkalimulla till December 2003.
Vicar,
Christ Church, Mirihana January 1st 2004 to May 31st 2007.
Coordinator
of the Cathedral Institute for Education and Formation 2003 to
2007.
Secretary,
the Bishops Ministry Advisory Committee 2003 to 2007.
Developed
the Ministerial Review Programme for the Clergy of the Diocese
of Colombo 2004.
Chaplain
to the Church of Ceylon Youth Movement 2005/2006.
Installation
and Institution of Rev.Marc Billimoria
As the 13th Headmaster of S.Thomas College at Gurutalawa.
Click here
to view the photos of the Installation.
Click here
to view more photos of the Installation.
The Service of Institution and Installation of Rev. Marc
Billiomoria as the 13th Headmaster of S. Thomas
College at Gurutalawa took place at the Chapel of St. Francis
of Assisi, S. Thomas College, Gurutalawa on Monday the 11th
June 2007. The service commenced at 10.30. a.m. officiated by
the Rt. Rev. Duleep De Chickera the 14th Bishop of
the Diocese of Colombo.
The chapel was packed to capacity with a sizeable overflow. The
congregation included sundry members of the Board of Governors,
Old Boys of the College in hopeful numbers augmenting members
of the Committee, friends and relations of Fr.Marc and parishioners
of Holy Trinity Church, Mirihana, in which he was, up to
his appointment, the incumbent Vicar. The parishoners had made
their way in a hired bus; truly testimony to the affection and
regard they had for him and a symbolic augury for
the future of the school.
There was a special order of service which commenced with the
singing of the Old Hundred ,the Hymn All people that on
earth do dwell based on Psalm 100, the Entrance Hymn to the
Holy Communion Service initially up to the point of The Sermon
And the Creed. The sermon preached by the Bishop was on GOD’s
faithfulness and Caring enunciated by Jesus himself in the
well known teaching Consider the Lilies of field.
Then came the INSTITUTION which was preceded by a sequence
of Questions and Answers relating to the execution of his stewardship
as the Headmaster. The Lord Being my helper and culminating in
his actual commissioning and a special blessing on the Headmaster
and his family present in person. Then the Bishop accompanied
by The Archdeacon of Nuwara Eliya, the Chaplain, and the Headmaster,
proceeded to the Headmasters Stall for his INSTALLATION after
which he was formally presented to the gathering of people
present.
The service then continued with The Ministry of the
Sacrament ,the Post Communion In which the Collect was said
by the New Headmaster, before the Blessing and The Dismissal and
the Recessional Hymn Forth in thy name, O Lord , I go.
The gathering then went in procession led by the College
Band to the Canon.A.J.Foster Memorial Hall for General Assembly.
A feature of the procession was the inclusion of three horses
obtained for the school, courtesy Mr. Jacques Hughebaert
who had been placed In Charge of the school till the appointment
of the new Head.
Addressing the Assembly the Bishop referred to the dire straits
the College had been in and referred to the unexpected
emergence of Mr Hughebaert as divinely provided at a juncture
when the closure of the school had appeared to be imminent. The
presence of a greatly increased student population now, was indicative
of measures he had taken to stem the tide. He welcomed the
new Head who was not only a priest but an old Thomian and called
for the support of all concerned. However he struck a discordant
note, as far as the many Old Boys present were concerned, when
his Lordship peremptorily cautioned against interference in the
affairs of the School unaware of the circumstances in which he
was moved to say so, particularly in the context of the recent
past when it was precisely the Old boys who had
filled the breach and brought the state of the school due
to years of administrative neglect, to the fore, and set
a train of events which had changed its course to its present
regenerative possibility.
It
was axiomatic that with Father Marc as Head, with the support
of Mr.Hughebaert and Mr Christo Gonawela as Manager, there would
be no question of interference.
Mr Hughbaert made the point that the horses he introduced would
establish a resonance with the era of the School under Dr
Hayman in which there were horses and the school was
much sought after for the special type of Education it imparted.
Rev. Marc Billimoria then addressed the assembly and conveyed
to all present, by his assurances and bearing, that the school
was indeed on the threshold of a new Era which would reach out
to the values of the past in the pursuit of excellence though
under radically changed social conditions.
The Head Prefect proposed the customary Vote of Thanks and the
assembly concluded with the singing of the College Song and the
National Anthem.
The Service was conducted in all three languages and the singing
was robust.
The Head master then invited all those present for Lunch. It was
a vegetarian lunch and at the behest of the Head , no different
from that of the Boys. It was noteworthy that the boys were smartly
dressed.
P.S.Duleepkumar.
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