CONSTITUTION OF ST.

THERESA'S OF
THE CHILD JESUS SOCIETY

Article 1: TITLE
The Society shall be known and called
ST. THERESA OF THE CHILD JESUS
SOCIETY

Article 2: MOTTO
"Service to God and Mankind"

Article 3: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1) The basic aim of the society is to bring
together all catholic women in Ghana and other
parts of the world both communicants and non-
communicants;
2) To obtain and maintain personal
sanctification and advancement in spiritual life
by following the footsteps of St. Theresa of the
Child Jesus in her little ways of spiritual

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childhood;
3) To promote vocation and to aid in the
sponsoring and maintenance of Seminarians and
Aspirants;

4) To pray for Vocation and for Missionaries:

5) To assist Parish Priests, Religious and the
entire Roman Catholic Church, wherever,
whenever and however possible for the greater
glory of God;
6) To empower our women with skills
through regular training programmes.

Article 4: MEMBERSHIP
A) It is opened to all Catholic women both
young and old, communicants and non-
communicants who do not belong to any
women group such as Christian Mothers'
Association, Catholic Women Association; and
those who shall abide by the rules and

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regulations of the society.

2) Admission: A new member shall undergo

probation for a period of three (3) months
before his/her name is entered in the register as
fully-fledged
member.

3) Initiation:
a) Initiation shall be conducted only after a
careful interview.
b) It shall be conducted by the (Arch)
Diocesan Council Initiation Team which
comprises all the (Arch) Diocesan Past
President, Sitting President, Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer.
c) A fee to be determined periodically shall be
paid by each candidate.
d) It shall be conducted thrice in a year in
each branch of Parish according to the ritual of
the society.

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Article 5: OFFICERS
1) Composition
Members shall elect from among
themselves the following Executive Officers to
run the society:
a) President
b) Vice-President
c) Secretary
d) Financial Secretary
e) Treasurer
g) Porters
h) Chaplain
i) Spiritual Director
j) House Leaders
k) Organizers(s)

2) Qualification:
a) Nation / (Arch) Diocesan Executive Officers
shall be Past Presidents, Sitting Presidents, Vice
President and Secretaries.

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b) National / (Arch) Diocesan Council Members
shall be made up of Past Presidents, Sitting
Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries from the
various (Arch) Dioceses for the National, and
from the various branches for the (Arch)
Dioceses.
c) To ensure the implementation of decisions
taken by the Society.

3) The Vice-President
a) Shall assist the President in all her duties for
the smooth running of the Society.
b) In the absence of the President, she takes
over her duties.

4) The Past President

a) She is an advisor to the President and
officers and in the absence of the President and
Vice-President, she presides over meetings.
b) She shall have the right to rule over long
arguments in the absence of the President and

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Vice-President.

4) The Secretary
a) Shall take and read minutes of the meetings
b) Be in charge of all records and
correspondence of the Society
c) To bring up matters of implementation to the
notice of the President

5) The Assistant Secretary

a) Shall assist the secretary in all her duties
b) Shall record proceedings of executive
meetings
c) Shall be responsible for the Roll call
d) Receive letters, compile them to be read at
the appropriate time
e) To take over the duties of the secretary in her
absence.

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Article 6: FUNCTIONS
1) Executive Officers
a) The Executive Officers shall act on behalf
of the National Council / (Arch) Diocesan
Council / or the branch and carry out such
functions and take such decisions as Council /
or branch may delegate to it from time to time.
b) It shall be the duty of the Executive
Officers to submit a comprehensive report of the
activities of the Society to the Council / or
branch.
c) The Executive Officers shall be responsible
for the day-to-day administration of the Society.
2) Council
a) To help organize, promote, direct and co-
ordinate all Activities within the Society.
b) To work out set priorities, goals and
objectives to meet the necessities of the Society
and ensure their effective implementation.
c) To co-operate with the Bishops' Conference
/ (Arch) Diocese / Parish and to implement their

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guidelines and directives effectively.
d) To establish broad policies, set and
communicate goals and objectives within the
frame work of the guidelines and directives of
the Church.
e) To review existing and ongoing programmes
of the Society through feedback from members
of the Society.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1) The President
a) Shall convene and preside over all meetings
of the Society.
b) Shall co-ordinate all activities and be in
charge of the general administration of the
Society
c) Shall have a decisive vote,
d) Shall have the right to rule over long drawn
arguments after they have been looked into by
the set-up committee

6) The Financial Secretary

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The Financial Secretary shall receive all
payments and keep proper accounts for the
society and pay same to the Treasurer after all
meetings.

7) The Treasurer
i. Shall be in charge of all monies in the Society
ii. Shall take custody of the Bank Note Book
and records of all Society finance.
iii. Shall render accounts to the members on
quarterly basis.

8) Porter(s)
a) Shall arrange and keep meeting place clean
b) Keep order and discipline at all meetings
and functions
c) Perform other duties as shall be directed by
the President or the Executive.

9) Spiritual Director
He shall be a priest, to guide the spiritual

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life and spiritual activities of members.

10) The Chaplain

The Chaplain shall officiate at religious services
at all meetings and functions.
11)House Leaders
Shall keep order and discipline both at meetings
and functions
c)
12) The Organiser
Shall organize social activities of the society
(i.e. to teach songs, organize
plays, retreat, etc.)
13) Patrons
a) Patron(s) shall be appointed to advice,
encourage and support the Society Spiritually,
financially, etc.
b) They shall enjoy the full benefits of the
society as members of the society.
c) As advisors, Patrons shall attend meetings
once in a while.

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14) Publicity Officer (Organisers)
The Publicity Officer (organizer) shall:
a) Be responsible for news coverage of society
activities such as visits of personalities to the
society, projects, socials, etc., and make such
known to the public after they have been
endorsed by the President or her delegate(s).
b) Make known to members activities
outside the society which may be of interest to
them.

Article 7: TITLES
1) All sitting Branch Presidents and above
should be addressed as Opanin.
2) "ObaaPanin" title shall be used only for
sitting National President, National Vice
President and National Past Presidents.
3) All other executive members shall be
addressed as "SISTERS".

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Article 8: MOTHER AND HONORARY
MEMBERS
1) Mother(s)
a) Mother(s) shall be elected at the local
branches to nurture, protect, etc. members who
may need someone "to pour the tea"
b) The position of "Mother" shall be contested
for.
c) The term of office of Mother(s) shall be two
years.

2) Honorary Members
a) The society shall honour some of her
members who distinguish themselves by way of
dedication to the society;
b) Honorary members shall be decorated with
green and red badges.
c) Honorary members shall not be part of Arch
(Diocesan) Council.

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Article 9: TERM OF OFFICE
The term of office of Executive Officers shall be
two (2) years, after which
elections shall be held.

Article 10: ELECTIONS

1) The Vice-President does not have the right of
succession and therefore shall contest with
others for the Presidency.
2) The members shall have the right to cast a
vote of no confidence on any officer who fails
to discharge her duty effectively and
satisfactorily and order new elections to fill the
vacant post.
3) All elections shall be by Secret Ballot
system.
4) All branch past presidents and sitting
presidents form the (Arch) Diocesan Council.
5) All Past (Arch) Diocesan Presidents and
sitting Presidents form the National Council.

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Article 11: HOUSES
1) House
a) A house system through which the objectives
of the society are effected shall be adopted.
b) There shall be two (2) -four (4) Houses of
the Society at the branch level depending on the
size of the branch:
i. Love
ii. Hope
iii. Faith
iv. Charity

2) House-Leaders:
Each house shall have leaders to keep order and
discipline, both at meetings and functions, to
compliment the duties of the porters and also
seek to the general welfare of members of their
houses.

Article 12: MEETINGS

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1) General Meeting at branch level shall be
held once a week for the duration of one and a
half hours.
2) Executive meeting shall be held once a
month; however, emergency meetings can be
called when necessary.
3) Council meeting shall be held
quarterly/monthly.

Article 13: QUORUM

At Executive, Council and General Meetings,
one third (1/3) of the members shall form a
Quorum including the President and Secretary
provided that in their absence, their assistants
shall act for them.

Article 14: ALTARS

The altar of the Society shall consist of a table
or raised platform with a white cloth spread on
it; two flower vases on both sides; two lighted
candles on both sides between the flowers and

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the statue or picture of St. Theresa of the Child
Jesus in middle and a Crucifix.
Article 15: FUNDS
The Society shall derive funds from the
following:
a) Admission Fees
b) Monthly Dues
c) Charity or Kofi and Ama collection
d) Special Collections by the Branch Regional
or National for projects

Article 16: SAVINGS ACCOUNT

a) Accounts shall be opened in a recognized
Bank and monies of the society shall be
deposited before the next general meetings.
b) The Executive may decide on an imprest to
be kept by the Treasurer against emergencies.
c) Signatories shall be the President, Treasurer
and the Secretary. Any two Including the
President can sign
d) The Society, at the branch level, shall

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deposit part of monies at the Parish.
e) Branches are recommended to follow the
stipulated norms regarding finances of societies
in the (Arch) Diocese in which the branch
exists.

Article 17: DRESS CODE Ordinary

Meetings:
1) All members shall keep to the same dress
code on ordinary meetings as follows: white
blouse and any black and white cloth (loose
house wife under).

2) Church Solemnities/Feasts. Etc.

The Blue Cloth (Sea Blue) shall be worn only
on the following days:
a) Corpus Christi Feast
b) Wedding of a member
c) Harvest
d) Other Church celebrations as the Parish or
(Arch) Diocese may decide.White image cloth

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with head gear white with earrings, etc.

3) Easter Sunday - Black and white image

cloth with white head gear with earrings, etc.
shall be used

4) Feast and Anniversary Days of the

Society:
The Anniversary Cloth shall be used on feast
and anniversary days of the Society.

5) Funeral Cloth
a) At the death of a member the dress code is as
follows: New black image cloth, native sandals
and black headgear without earrings and make -
ups.
b) Bereaved members-dress code shall be
adinkra (afe bi ye esan) and native sandals and
black headgear without earrings and make ups.
c) Thanksgiving service of a deceased member-
black and white image cloth with black

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headgear, black shoes, black handbag without
earrings and bangles.

6) Under Cloth
All under cloth shall be loose house wife.

Article 18: BEREAVEMENT

a) When a member of the Society dies, all the
branches as may be detailed by the (Arch)
diocesan Executive shall assemble at the house
of the deceased to pay their last respect to the
deceased member and console the bereaved
family and relatives and shall join the funeral
rite.
b) In the month of November every year, each
branch of the Society shall offer at least two
Holy Masses for the repose souls of members
and all the faithful departed.

Article 19: BENEFITS

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Financial and Active Members shall enjoy the
Society's full participation
1) At Weddings
2) At the time of sickness
3) When a member looses any of the following:
Father, Mother,
Husband/Wife or child.
4) At their burial: the Society's badge and a
wreath shall be given to the deceased member
and a Holy Mass be offered for the repose of
her/his soul.

Article 20: FEAST DAY

1) The Feast Day of the Society is 1st October.
All branches shall observe it as such.
2) (a) Special Novena Prayers shall precede the
celebration of the Feast.
(b) It shall begin Nine (9) days before the
feast day and ends on the vigil of the feast (-i.e
September 22nd to 30th)

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Article 21: TRANSFER
1) Amembership transfer card or letter duly
signed by the Secretary and President shall be
given to a member who for a tangible reason
may want to leave the branch to join another
branch of the Society.

2) The transferred - member's name shall be

entered directly into the register of the new
branch, otherwise she/he shall be regarded and
treated as a new member.

Article 22: RITUALS

1) Official Rituals of the Society for the
following shall be prepared by the National
Executive:
a) Order of Meeting
b) Rite of Initiation (New Members)
c) Rite of Installation of Officers
d) Care of sick Members
e) Funeral Rite

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2) All branches shall have copies of the Rituals
and strictly observe them all

Article 23: DISCIPLINE

A more functional discipline committee shall be
instituted to check indiscipline in the Society.

Article 24: OFFENCES AND

PUNISHMENTS
1) The offences that shall attract disciplinary
action include the following:
a) Any indiscipline act that may bring the
society disrespect
i) Being rude or insolent to any member
ii) Having an affair with someone's
husband/wife
iii) Persistent refusal to carry out any lawful
assignment by the society
b) Deliberate and frequent absence from

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meetings and other activities of the society
c) Theft or embezzlement of the society's fund
or property

2) Punishments shall include:

a) Verbal warning to be followed with a written
warning by the Executives.
b) If the violation continues, the person shall be
suspended for a period of time to be determined
by the discipline committee
c) Expulsion from the society for a grave
violation if the person responsible fails to show
any remorse for her/his actions
3) Any person whose suspension attracts the
sanctions by (Arch) Diocesan Council at any
given time shall not hold any office in the
society. If she/he is already an officer, shall be
dropped from the Executive.

Article 25: AMENDMENTS

1) Proposals for amendments of any part of this

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Constitution shall be brought up to the National
Executive Council for deliberation.
2) Proposals shall be supported by thirty (30)
members of the society and shall be circulated
to branches, at least two (2) months before the
last Council Meeting of the year.
3) The amendment shall be by consensus of the
Council but whenever necessary voting shall
determine the issue by two -thirds (2/3) majority
of members of the Council.

Article 26: INTERPRETATION

If there is doubt as to the meaning of any part of
this constitution, the Council shall determine its
meaning by consensus. When it becomes
necessary to vote, a two thirds (2/3) majority
shall be needed to decide.

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Promulgation
This Constitution, a revised version of the 2003,
of the same, comes into force on this feast of St.
Theresa of the Child Jesus,
1st October, 2015.

Signed by: Obaapanin Elizabeth Osei

….……………………
National President
Dated 1st August, 2015

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SCHEDULES
A. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
There shall be a National Executive Council as
the supreme governing body of the Society of
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society with its
headquarters in Kumasi.

1) Advisory Council
The following will constitute the Advisory
Council
i) All National Past Presidents
ii) The Sitting National President
iii) Chaplain/Spiritual Director (Priest)

2) Responsibilities of the National President

i) The National President shall take on the
responsibility of visiting the (Arch) Dioceses
under her jurisdiction.
ii) She shall preside over national
meetings. In the absence of the National

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President, the National Vice- President shall
preside over meetings.

3) Election of National Officers

There shall be four (4) candidates from each
(arch) Diocese for the election of the officers.
The Society at the National level shall have the
following officers who shall all be Past (Arch)
Diocesan Presidents:
i) President: she should be very competent and
committed member
ii) Vice President - she should be someone who
shows commitment to duty
iii) Secretary-experienced service to the Society
and commitment to duty.
iv) Assistant Secretary - service to society and
commitment to duty
v) Financial Secretary -experience and
commitment to duty
vi) Treasurer-experience in accounting and
commitment to duty

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vii) Auditor - experience in accounting and
commitment to duty
viii) Chaplain - must be prayerful and
commitment to duty
ix) Organizer - a physically strong/active person
with commitment
x) Porters - service to society and commitment
to duty

4) Term of Office
Each officer shall serve a two year term.
Nobody shall be re-elected for the Second Time
for the same position after the two year service.

5) Dress Code
National officers are hereby to adhere to the
following dress coes of the society:
I) General meeting: Black and White (loose
housewife slit) and white hairgear with black
slippers or shoes.
II) Burial Service: Black image cloth and a

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pair of black slippers as prescribed by the
(Arch) Diocese for uniformity.
III) Dress Code for Male Members:
Male members shall wear short sleeved shirts
of prescribed materials over black trousers
with black shoe and belt to all functions.

6) Disciplinary Action
Offences that should attract disciplinary action:
i) Being rude or insolent to any National Officer
ii) Having an affair with someone's
husband/wife
iii) Going against any rule of the Society
iv) Absenteeism
v) Defaulters

7) Presidents
Every President should be a communicant

8) Vice Presidents position and mode of

Initiation

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Apart from the National Executives, the position
of Vice - President will henceforth be contested
for (not automatic to the Chair). She shall
undergo a simple swearing in. only President
will be installed.

B. CONGRESS
Shall be held at the (Arch) Diocese of the
incoming President.

APPENDIX A
HISTORY OF ST. THERESA OF THE
CHILD JESUS SOCIETY
St. Theresa Of The Child Jesus Society was
formed in 1964 at St. Peter's Cathedral Parish in
Kumasi, Ghana as a result of a vision by
Madam Margaret Afful.

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She saw that at the time, there was no women
society in the Parish. Women were also not
active in Church activities. They were neither
regular nor punctual at Church service. This
became a source of worry to Madam Margaret
Afful and therefore pledged to do something
about it, if not to eradicate it entirely or to
reduce it to the minimum. Her determination
and qualities as an ideal woman urged her to
make her vision known to her friends. As the
saying goes, two heads are better than one so
she consulted the following friends for ideas:
When more branches were opened in Ashanti
Region, there was the need to form the diocesan
council to oversee the affairs of the society
within the Region. Through the efforts and love
of some of our Sisters in various societies in
Kumasi who left to other Regions in Ghana and
outside Ghana to make the society known to
others and opened branches to the Glory of God.
Mrs. Anna Oduro was elected as the first

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diocesan and acting National President and Mrs.
Theresa Kusi Mensah as Vice-President.
As at now, over two hundred branches have
been opened in Ghana and overseas.
The (Arch) Dioceses are as follows:
1) Kumasi Archdiocese
2) Obuase Diocese
3) Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese
4) Konongo Mampong Diocese
5) Goaso Diocese
6) Koforidua Diocese
7) Sunyani Diocese
8) Cape Coast Archdiocese
9) Greater Accra Archdiocese
10) Sefwi Wiawso Diocese
11) Tamale Archdiocese
12) Techiman Diocese
13) Wa Diocese
14) Navrongo/ Bolgatanga Diocese
15) Damango Diocese

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Overseas. Five (5) Branches
1) London, United Kingdom
2) Germany - Amsterdam
3) Canada
4) Italy
5) United States of America

Mrs. Barimah
Mrs. Anna Oduro
Mrs. Agnes Abbey
Mrs. Philomena Osei
Mrs. Elizabeth Aidoo
Mad. Mary Appiah
Mad. Theresa Asibey
Mad. Dorothy Adomako
Mrs. Joana Ofori Mensah
Mad. Grace Mensah
Mad. Alberta Barimah
Mad. Elizabeth Oppong-Adu
Mad. Rose Afriyie

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Mrs. Akainya and
Mrs. Akosua Acheampong
Through Mrs. Anna Oduro's dedicated work
their meetings started in her residence at Fante
New-Town. Rev. Fr. Tsiquaye was also
consulted to give them spiritual direction and it
was through his instrumentality that the Society
was named 'St. Theresa of the Child Jesus' with
'Service to God and Mankind' as its Motto.

After her term of office, the presidency was

given to the late Mrs. Anna Oduro with the late
Mrs. Theresa Kusi Mensah as the Vice-
President. Mrs. Agnes Abbey was also chosen
as the Mother of the Society.
The following parishes later expressed interest
in the Society and opened branches in their
various churches after the inauguration of the
Cathedral branch:
1970 - South Suntreso: St. Mary's Catholic
Church

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1974 - Amakom: St. Paul's Catholic Church
1975 - Suame : Holy Rosary Church
1982 Asawasi : St. Theresa's Catholic Church

The First National Council was officially

formed on 13th September, 2003. Its executives
were:
1) President - Op. Georgina Afriyie
2) 1st Vice President - Op. Veronica Essillfie
Amevinya
3) 2nd Vice President- Op. Gloria Kwasie
4) Secretary - Op. Philomena Oppong
5) Assistant Secretary - Op. Augustina B. Antwi
6) Financial Secretary - Op. Elizabeth Mensah
7) Treasurer - Op. Theresa Adu Poku
8) Auditor - Op. Catherine Anderson
9) Chaplain - Op. Vida Turkson
10) Chief Porter - Op. Elizabeth Osei
11) Organizers - Op. Mary Boakye; Op. Ama

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Sarfo Ababio; Op. Ababio
12) Ex-Officio member - Op. Margaret Osei
Nsafoa
13) Ex-Officio member - Op. Beatrice Appiah
14) Ex-Officio member - Op. Cecilia Dufie
15) Ex-Officio member - Op. Augustina Adu
Gyamfi
16) Ex-Officio member - Casandra Agyei
17) Ex-Officio member - Grace Mintah
18) Ex-Officio member - Georgina Paidoo
19) Ex-Officio member - Mary Nsowah