Little Flower Province

The Little Flower Province traces its roots to the missionary vision of Very Rev. Fr. Basilius CST, Founder of the Little Flower Congregation. Inspired by the call to spread the Gospel in North India, the Congregation began its missionary journey in the region, with the first CST missionaries arriving in Gorakhpur in April 1970.Over the following decades, the missionaries established mission stations, parishes, schools, social service centres, healthcare initiatives, and formation houses across Gorakhpur, Deoria, Basti, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, and neighbouring areas. Through evangelization, education, healthcare, and community development, they worked especially for the poor and marginalized.The dedicated missionary efforts of the CST Fathers contributed significantly to the growth of the local Church, leading to the establishment of the Diocese of Gorakhpur in 1984. Its first Bishop, Most Rev. Dominic Kokkat CST, came from the Congregation and reflected its missionary commitment.Major centres developed in places such as Gorakhpur, Basti, Salempur, Mithaura, Kalwari, and Nichlaul. Institutions including Little Flower School, Gorakhpur, and St. Basil's School, Basti, became important centres of quality education and holistic formation.