About CST Fathers
CST FATHERS are the Catholic Religious Priests OF Little Flower Congregation, which is a Religious Institute of Pontifical status under the patronage of St. Therese of Lisieux who is popularly known as Little Flower (Hence the name - Congregation of Saint Therese). This Congregation was founded by Very Rev. Fr. Basilius Panat to work for the total and integrated development of the rural people. He started the Congregation in a very remote village called Mookkannur in Ernakulam District of Kerala, India and he worked hard for its integral development. Now the Congregation has grown to four Provinces with 450 Priests and about 200 Candidates for Priesthood. The Congregation has its Head Office - Little Flower Generalate at Thrikkakara.
Since 1970, CST Fathers have been working in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and focused their attention to three districts Viz. Gorakhpur, Deoria and Basti, which were part of Diocese of Varanasi. In 1984 these districts were separated from the Diocese of Varanasi and the new Diocese of Gorakhpur was carved out and was entrusted to CST Fathers for various Community Development Services. CST Fathers have committed themselves to spread the values of Justice, Equity, Freedom and Love among the people and bring Social Transformation for a just, all-inclusive society where the rights and dignity of all are ensured and respected, where each one is getting the due share in the society.
In January 2003, Gorakhpur Region of the Little Flower Congregation was raised to the status of a Province, which has the territorial demarcation consisting of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar and Jharkhand in India and the neighboring country Nepal.
The Vision and Mission Statement of CST Fathers of Little Flower Province:
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Our Vision |
An Inclusive Community towards the Fullness of Life |
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Our Mission |
Being with those in the peripheries – the Little Ones – strive to achieve liberation and fullness of life, inspired by the spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux. |
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Strategy |
Collective Witnessing of the Gospel Values through Education, Social Action and pastoral Care. |
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Motto |
Be Little and serve the Little |