About Us

A Brief History of 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 his desire to spread the Gospel in North India, the Congregation undertook extensive explorations in the late 1960s and accepted the invitation of the Church to serve in the Gorakhpur and Varanasi regions. In April 1970, the first CST missionaries arrived in Gorakhpur, marking the beginning of a vibrant missionary presence in North India.

Over the years, the missionaries established numerous mission stations, parishes, schools, social service centers, healthcare initiatives, and formation houses across the districts of Gorakhpur, Deoria, Basti, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, and neighboring regions. Through an integrated approach combining evangelization, education, healthcare, and community development, the Province has worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the poor, marginalized, and underprivileged.

The dedicated efforts of the CST Fathers played a significant role in strengthening the local Church, leading to the erection of the Diocese of Gorakhpur in 1984. The Diocese's first Bishop, Most Rev. Dominic Kokkat CST, emerged from the Congregation and became a symbol of its missionary commitment.

As the mission expanded, important centers were established at Gorakhpur, Basti, Salempur, Mithaura, Kalwari, Nichlaul, and other locations. Educational institutions such as Little Flower School, Gorakhpur, and St. Basil's School, Basti, became landmarks in providing quality education and holistic formation to thousands of students.

In 1994, the Province extended its missionary outreach beyond India by opening its first mission in Nepal. Over time, new missions were established in various parts of Nepal, further strengthening the congregation's commitment to evangelization and human development.

Recognizing its growth and missionary vitality, the Little Flower Mission was elevated to the status of Little Flower Region in 1994, Vice Province in 2000, and finally Little Flower Province on 5 March 2003.

Today, the Province serves across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Nepal, with missions in Gorakhpur, Basti, Salempur, Kalwari, Mithaura, Raxaul, Patna, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Narayangarh, Khairahani, Birgunj, Shehri, Bardibas, and several other centers. Guided by the charism of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower Province continues its mission of proclaiming the Gospel through pastoral ministry, education, social transformation, youth formation, and service to the most vulnerable sections of society.

Province at Glance

No	Category	Count
01	Our Bishops	03
02	Priests	80
03	Professed Seminarians 27	20
04	Theologians	12
05	Regents	01
05	Philosophers	06
07	Novices	05
08	Minor Seminarians	51
09	Ashrams	17

No	Category	Count
10	Novitiate (Joint Novitiate)	01
11	English Medium Schools	11
12	Nepali Medium School (Tribal School)	01
13	Hindi Medium Schools	01
14	Technical Education Centre	01
15	Industrial Institution 01	01
16	Centre for Children in Distress	01
17	Rural Development Centres	03
18	Members Resting in the Lord	06

1970

Milestones in the History of Little Flower Province

2024

1970

April 1970 – Two CST Fathers, Rev. Frs. Boniface Manayathumary and Robert Kalaran started to work in the Gorakhpur Mission.

1973

Rev. Fr. Albert Vettukallumpurath joined the work in the Gorakhpur Mission.

1975

A group of six CST Priests—Rev. Frs. Theophane Kilianthara, Sebastian Thundathil, Joseph Kochupuray, Thomas Cherussery, Thomas Plathottam, and George Jacob Poothakuzhy—started working in the Gorakhpur Mission.
Fr. Theophane Kilianthara was appointed the first Mission Superior of CST Fathers in Gorakhpur.

1976

Starting of the first Mission Station by CST Fathers in Nichlaul.

1980

Presence of CST Fathers established in Basti by staying in a rented house.

1984

02 January 1984 – Starting of St. Basil's School in a rented house by Fr. Sebastian Thundathil CST.
19 June 1984 – The Holy See entrusted the Diocese of Gorakhpur to the Little Flower Congregation and nominated Rev. Fr. Dominic Kokkatt as its first Bishop.
02 August 1984 – Starting of School at Salempur.
11 August 1984 – Announcement of the erection of the Diocese of Gorakhpur.

17 January 1994 – Starting of Little Flower School, Narayangarh.
10 June 1994 – Gorakhpur Mission erected as the Little Flower Region.
18 July 1994 – Starting of Little Flower School, Kalwari.

05 March 2003 – Little Flower Vice Province attained the status of Province.
03 June 2003 – Starting of Little Flower Seminary, Vettikattiri.
21 September 2003 – Blessing of Little Flower Mission Seminary, Vettikattiri.
01 December 2003 – Agreement signed between Little Flower Society Nepal and Jyoti Group of Companies to start a school in Birgunj.
19 December 2003 – Blessing of the foundation stone of Little Flower School, Harraiya.

2004

19 April 2004 – Blessing and inauguration of Little Flower School, Harraiya.
18 June 2004 – Jyoti Bhavan Seminary shifted from Chargawan to Basil Bhavan, Basti.
20 December 2004 – Blessing of the foundation stone for Jyoti Gurukul Seminary, Waltergunj.

2005

02 February 2005 – Blessing of the foundation stone of Little Flower Automobiles, Jungle Sikri.
02 February 2005 – Starting of Little Flower Fabrications, Jungle Sikri.
24 April 2005 – Starting of Little Flower School, Birgunj.
25 April 2005 – Opening of Navodaya School for Chepang Children at Tadi, Nepal.
11 September 2005 – Starting of Jyoti Gurukul Seminary, Waltergunj.
29 October 2005 – Starting of Child Line Shelter (later named Prateeksha) at Jungle Sikri.
04 December 2005 – Blessing of the foundation stone for Mithaura School.

2006

15 March 2006 – Second Ordinary Provincial Synaxis.
05 July 2006 – Starting of Prateeksha in a temporary building.
17 July 2006 – Inauguration of Nirmala School, Mithaura.
21 July 2006 – Blessing of the foundation stone of Prateeksha.
01 October 2006 – Episcopal Ordination of Rev. Fr. Thomas Thuruthimattam CST as Bishop of Gorakhpur.

2007

12 June 2007 – Blessing of the foundation stone of Little Flower Vocational Training Institute.
12 June 2007 – Starting of Little Flower Automobiles.

2009

18 March 2009 – Third Ordinary Provincial Synaxis.

2010

12 May 2010 – Laying of the foundation stone of Navodaya School, Khairahani.
25 June 2010 – Started a new station at Asnar.
27 July 2010 – Starting of Little Flower Polytechnic, Jungle Sikri.
10 October 2010 – Inauguration of Little Flower Polytechnic.

2011

03 September 2011 – Blessing of the new Ashram at Jungle Sikri.
12 November 2011 – Blessing and inauguration of Navodaya School.

2012

22 March 2012 – Fourth Ordinary Provincial Synaxis.

2013

01 May 2013 – Purchase of land at Raxaul in the Diocese of Bettiah.
01 December 2013 – Blessing of the Priest House at Parwanipur.

2014

28 May 2014 – Blessing of the temporary Ashram building at Kalyan Bhadarsa, Ayodhya.
12 June 2014 – Blessing of the foundation stone of Little Flower School, Kalyan Bhadarsa.
18 September 2014 – Blessing of the foundation stone of Little Flower House, Ikauna.
12 December 2014 – Blessing of the foundation stone of Little Flower Ashram, Kalyan Bhadarsa.

2015

09 February 2015 – Blessing of the foundation stone of St. Basil's School, Nipaniya.
21 March 2015 – Fifth Ordinary Provincial Synaxis.
03 July 2015 – Opening and blessing of the Ashram at Shehri.
06 July 2015 – Inauguration of Little Flower School, Kalyan Bhadarsa.

2016

21 November 2016 – First Provincial Plenary Assembly.

2017

27 February 2017 – Inauguration and blessing of the Annex of Prateeksha, Jungle Sikri.

2018

18 February 2018 – Sixth Ordinary Provincial Synaxis.

2019

15 June 2019 – Blessing of the Priest House of Navodaya Ashram.
23 August 2019 – Second Provincial Plenary Assembly.
28 August 2019 – Inauguration of New Mission Station at Lucknow.
27 November 2019 – Blessing of the Cemetery at Jungle Sikri.

2020

27 January 2020 – Laying of the foundation stone for Little Flower School, Shehri.

2021

07 February 2021 – Seventh Ordinary Provincial Synaxis.
21 May 2021 – Fr. Benny Konooran called to eternal reward following Covid-19.
21 July 2021 – Blessing of the Ashram at Raxaul.
29 July 2021 – Blessing of the Convent at Ikauna.

2022

22–23 May 2022 – Inter-Province Meeting hosted at Chargawan.
08 September 2022 – Foundation stone laid for Nirmala Mata Church and later consecrated.
01 October 2022 – Mission collaboration agreement signed with the Diocese of Muzaffarpur for Darbhanga and Hajipur Missions.
30 November 2022 – Golden Jubilee Celebration of Fr. Francis Thekkumkattil and Fr. Cherian Puthussery.

2023

30 January 2023 – Provincial Plenary Assembly.
04 May 2023 – Official handing over of Hajipur Mission to CST Fathers.
23 June 2023 – Fr. John Kulathinkal called to eternal reward.
30 June 2023 – SSH Sisters (Jharkhand Province) inaugurated their convent at Kalyan Bhadarsa.
23 August 2023 – Little Flower School, Kalwari obtained NOC and CISCE affiliation.
23 August 2023 – Little Flower School, Kalyan Bhadarsa obtained NOC and CISCE affiliation.
23 August 2023 – Purchase of the first plot of land at Fatehpur, Barabanki District.
05 November 2023 – Episcopal Ordination of Mar Mathew Nelikunnel CST.
25 November 2023 – Golden Jubilee Celebration of Fr. Sebastian Thundathil and Mar Thomas Thuruthimattam, and Silver Jubilee of Mar Mathew Nelikunnel.
2023 – Purchase of a house at Karumallur near Aluva for use as a Transit House and medical care facility for Fathers.

2024

15 January 2024 – SSH Sisters (Patna Province) inaugurated their convent at Noniyadih, Raxaul Mission.
11–15 February 2024 – First Session of the Eighth Ordinary Provincial Synaxis at Chargawan.
24 May 2024 – Handover of Sukshma Pushpa Mission, Shehri, Nepal to St. Joseph's Province, Aluva.
24 May 2024 – CMC Sisters of Kothamangalam Province inaugurated their convent at Shehri.
24 May 2024 – CMC Sisters of Thalassery Province arrived at Narayanghat for mission collaboration.
24 May 2024 – Purchase of the first plot of land at Bardibas, Nepal.
21 July 2024 – Ruby Jubilee of the Diocese of Gorakhpur and visit of Mar Raphael Thattil.
28 July 2024 – Official handing over of Darbhanga Mission to CST Fathers.
05 August 2024 – St. Basil's School, Raxaul obtained No Objection Certificate from the Government of Bihar.
31 August 2024 – Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the CST Mission in Africa.