The Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur was erected on June 19, 1984 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II through the Bull "Exquo Divinum Concilium" by bifurcating the diocese of Varanasi. Rev. Fr Dominic Kokkat CST was appointed its 1st Bishop. St Joseph and St Therese of Child Jesus are its heavenly patrons. After his retirement, on 15 July 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rev. Fr. Thomas Thuruthimattam CST, the then Superior General of the Little Flower Congregation (CST) successor to Bishop Dominic. He was consecrated Bishop on 1st October 2006. The diocese is comprised of seven civil districts of the north eastern region of the State of Uttar Pradesh viz. Gorakhpur, Deoria, Sant Kabirnagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar, covering an area of 19,070 sq. kms. It has a population of about 17.2 million people, of which the Catholics and other Christian denominations make only a very small minority of around 15 thousand. The Catholics make little more than 3000 only. The region has Hindi, Bhojpuri and Urdu as its principal spoken languages and the region shares international border with the Himalayan country of Nepal.  Taking into consideration the problems typical to this vast area, the diocese has worked out pastoral, ecumenical, Inter religious, educational, rural developmental and health care apostolates. 

PASTORAL APOSTOLATE 

The diocesan apostolates are largely managed and run by the 54 young Diocesan Priests, 22 Religious Priests and the active collaboration of about 200 Religious Sisters, 8 Religious Brothers and lay representatives. At present we carry out our ministry in 5 Parishes and 25 Mission Stations with resident priest undertaking various pastoral, catechetical, social, health and educational services. The diocese has a spiritual renewal and proclamation centre at Campierganj which regularly conduct various spiritual renewal programs. 

SOCIAL APOSTOLATE

Purvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti (PGSS), the social service wing of the Catholic Eparchy of Gorakhpur, has initiated innovative and exemplary intervention. With a very humble beginning by addressing the issues of adult education, mother & child health, girl child education self-help groups and women empowerment in the remotest villages of eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, the Organization now makes its presence felt in 1074 villages reaching out to more than 65000 families of the area covering seven civil districts of Gorakhpur-Basti Divisions. We are organizing the farmers to undertake methods of organic farming. The vision of an inclusive society is given priority to come to the help of persons with disabilities. Our Social Developmental Ministry has been recognized and awarded several times, and we have a resource centre to train others. 

HEALTH CARE APOSTOLATE

 The health ministry of the diocese with its motto “Life in its fullness” has the vision “Quality health care to all humanity in true spirit of love and equality under the umbrella of universal family and to be a custodian of health reaching beyond excellence in health care.” There are two established hospitals in the diocese, Fatima Hospital, Gorakhpur established in the Year 1995 run by the diocese and Sachidanand Hospital Captainganj run by the SMI Sisters. Now Fatima Hospital has developed to a 200 bedded multispeciality hospital with various departments. There are also 8 dispensaries functioning well in different parts of the diocese working in collaboration with Fatima Hospital, besides these, Fatima School of Nursing, Fatima Heart Centre, Fatima Eye Hospital (in the making) belong to our health service.

 

EDUCATION APOSTOLATE

 In the field of education, our vision is the formation of human person committed to God and country. We provide an education that promotes intellectual excellence, religious tolerance, patriotism and uprightness of character. At present there are altogether 36 schools in the diocese out of them 22 are run by the diocese, out of which 9 are Hindi-Medium; and 14 are run by the religious communities. More than fifty five thousand children are studying in these institutions and most of the schools have reached up to Higher Secondary level.

1.The diocese has entered into higher education for girls through the establishment of St. Joseph’s Degree and B.Ed College for women which has 1200 students and the Fatima School of Nursing and Para-medical training centre.  

2.A special school at Campierganj for the mentally challenged girl children is also an undertaking of the diocese.

3.There are five boarding houses for children in the diocese for the better education of the poor and destitute children.

4.In the field of Higher education the CST-Fathers are running a Polytechnic with over 1500 students in Gorakhpur.