HISTORY

The Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur was erected on the June 19,1984 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II through the Bull “Exquo Divinum Concilium”. Rev. Fr. Dominic Kokkat, CST, was appointed its Bishop. It comprises of seven north eastern districts of the state of Uttar Pradesh viz. Gorakhpur, Deoria, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Khushi Nagar, Maharajganj and Siddharth Nagar covering an area of 19,070sq. kms. It has a population of about 15 million, of which the Catholic number is only 2,614. The languages spoken in this part of the Gangetic plain are Hindi and Bhojpuri. It is situated 750kms. south-east of Delhi, 225kms. north of Varanasi and 275kms. west of Lucknow, the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh.
This diocese is the fruitful outcome of the silent and long perseverance of the Catholic faithful and their spiritual leaders both in the past and present. Although the Christian origin in Gorakhpur is longer and more distant, the Catholic Christian origin in Gorakhpur could be traced back to a group of native Catholics from the then Bethiaraj who migrated to this city as agricultural labourers in the beginning of 1800 during the British colonialism. However, the Handbook of Begal Mission mentions about the Roman Catholic Church work undertaken by Fr.Joseph Maria around 1740 and some Italian fathers under the guidance of the Vicar Apostolic of Patna appeared to have rendered Pastoral in Gorakhpur. In 1860 Fr.Raphael of Livorno was the first chaplain to be appointed in Gorakhpur. He built St.Joseph’s Church, now Cathedral, in 1860. In 1886 Gorakhpur became part of the Diocese of Allahabad.
By 1906 Gorakhpur become the headquarters of various outstations thanks to the work done by Fr.Joseph Hiki and Fr. T Considine between 1862 to 1906. Gorakhpur-Banaras Prefecture was erected in the year 1947 and was entrusted to the dynamic leadership of late venerable Msgr. Malenfant, ofm cap. In 1958, the headquarters of the Prefecture was shifted to Varanasi. In 1967, the Gorakhpur-Banaras Prefecture got its name changed into Banaras-Gorakhpur Prefecture. In 1970, this Prefecture became the Diocese of Varanasi. Late Venerable Fr.Basilius Panat cst, the founder of the Little Flower Congregation, at the invitation of Msgr.Malefand, ofm cap, visited the place and worked out the modalities for sending his priests to begin the pastoral and evangelical activities in Gorakhpur in 1966-70. Since 1970 the CST fathers were actively involved in the evangelical works in the Prefecture which became the Diocese of Varanasi in the same year. Next fourteen years saw progressive efforts resulting in the emergence of Gorakhpur as a diocese. 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.
The catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur started the St.Thomas School, affiliated to ICSE/ISC Board, New Delhi in 1988 with 20 students on roll and two teaching staff in view of imparting quality education to the people around the locality of Khalilabad, in a rented premise at Shyam Bazar thirty one years back. On 31 st July Rt. Rev. Bp. Dominic Kokkat CST inaugurated the school by lighting the lamp in the presence of fathers, sisters and the people of the locality. Rev. Fr. Dominic Perumpanani CST was the pioneer in this mission.
In 2003, the school got permanent affiliation from the Council and was upgraded to the inter level.
We commenced the inter classes in the year 2004. After many years of constant search we were able to get a piece of land at Nedula and foundation was laid for the higher section by His Excellency Most Rev. Bishop Dominic Kokkat CST. After nine years of dedicated service, Fr. Joseph was transferred to take charge of his new mission and the school was entrusted to the care of Fr. Benny Koikkakudiyil who guided the institution for one year. In 2005 July Fr. Sibichan Kakkaniyil was appointed as the principal. In 2007 the school was fortunate to avail the service of Fr. Sijo Maniparambil as Vice- Principal.
The year 2007 was the bi-decennial year of the school and school celebrated its 20 years of existence and service to the people of this locality in a colourful way.
In 2012 July Fr. Joshy Vettickal was appointed as the principal and Fr.Alex Puthemparambil as Vice- Principal.
Now, our school has got 2850 students on the roll with 95 teaching staff and 45 supporting staff. Classes from LKG to III are running at Bhardhaiya and from IV to XII are at Nedula section of the school.