THE RENOWNED FOUNDER-VERY REV. FATHER M.J. LE GOC О.М.І.
 

REV. FATHER M.J. LE GOC О.М.І.

When an Institution celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, we are naturally moved to its Founder. St. Paul ’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya can be proud of a renowned Founder such as Very Rev. Father Le Goc OMI. This internationally known personality gave expression to his creative vision in starting St. Paul ’s Girls’ English School, Waragoda, outside the city of Colombo, in 1935.  

Rev. Father Le Goc was ordained a priest in 1907. Soon after his ordination he secured a First Class Honours in Natural Science Tripos and won the Frank Smart Prize as the best Botanist of the year. He was made a Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. In recognition of his work as an
educationist, the French Government honoured him with the title of “Officier de l’Instruction Publique” and later made him Chevalier de la legion d’Honour. He was a reputed educationst and a Scientist. He received wide recognition as a public figure and served on many spheres. 

He arrived in Ceylon in 1914 to be a Professor at St. Joseph’s College, maradana and was the Rector of the College from 1919. It was in this era that he thought of St. Paul ’s. 

His intellectual powers coupled with his multi-faceted interests made him a person sought for by many. True to his French nature, he was rooted in God and dedicated to his commitments. His cheering voice and beaming smile drew many a person to him. He worked might and main for the
country of his adoption. 

Besides his school activities he lectured to various audiences through out the country. Father Le Goc was a writer. He wrote many articles, books and reports. His best known publication is the “Introductoin to Tropical Botany”. He was very close to the nature, he enjoyed studying it. There was
nothing too small to draw the attention of Father Le Goc. Many will remember him walking through St. Paul’s with his microscope in his hand. 

He also was interested in drawing drawing regional maps of Ceylon, making sun-dials and in the study of the heavens. Children enjoyed working under his directions, in his ‘know-how’ methods. His creative mind has truned barren lands into magnificient buildings. 

Rev. Father Le Goc was indeed a noble person, who served all without distinction. His geniality and friendship for all men, and his beaming smile left an everlasting stamp, wherever he has been and so at St. Paul’s. In the tragic and untimely death of loved Father Le Goc, Ceylon lost one of its best known and ardent workers. He was 64 years then. Grateful to him, today, St. Paul ’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya stands as a shining light.