It is recorded that the late Opanin Margaret Adu started St. Theresa of the Child Jesus society when she came from Kumasi to settle at Techiman and realized there was no such society in the Techiman parish.
Being a staunch member in Kumasi, she thought it wise to organize people for the society but first has to introduce the society to the then Parish Priest, Rev Father Boakye Gyan and he quickly embraced the vision but told her that since they were under the Sunyani Diocese, she should go to Sunyani first and start meetings with them because Sunyani had already started. She did as father advised.
From Techiman, she had to always go to Sunyani for meetings which was so stressfu that Rev. Father Boakye advised her again to start organizing the women for the society at Techiman too.
The late Opanin Margaret was able to get eleven (11) people to start including her own husband, Opanin Adu, Opanin Owusuaa, wife of Mr. Adom and daughters, Opanin Elizabeth Tiwaa and daughters, Opanin. Yaw Abrefa (aka Daddy Joe) and some other ladies. Daddy Joe and the late Opanin Adu became the organizers of the society.
Their meetings were held at the old Chapel hoping for inauguration as well as initiation. Since the late Opanin Margaret introduced the vision of the society and she, being an old member who knew more about meeting procedures, she was nominated as the first president, with Opanin Owusuaa as her vice. Elections were held every two years but the late Opanin Margaret held the position for three (3) consecutive times that was six (6) years just to help other members learn more about the society and meeting procedures. The first initiation and inauguration were done in 1998 at the then Techiman parish. Later, Nkoranza, Kintampo and Kenten branches were also inaugurated.
When Techiman got a Diocese, Obaapanin Elizabeth Osei, who was the Sunyani Diocesan President organised for the chapter to be brought to Techiman in 2009. By then Techiman had four branches: Cathedral, Nkoranza, Kintampo and Kenten.
The priest held the society in high esteem due to the selflessness, dedication, hard work and commitment of Members. Together, they came to the mission house and Chapel every Saturday to do cleaning by scrubbing, weeding and washing of the priests Cloths (cassocks). They came almost every Sunday to carry out church activities. Most of the members were young. Bringing offertory was one of the keen interest areas of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society members.
That made the other society ladies assume that St. Theresa society is for the young ladies since they couldn't compete with them especially in terms of dressing which was only an assumption.
Having received the chapter, the first Diocesan Executives were elected to include the following:
1.Opanin Esther Asamoah Badu...President, from Cathedral.
2. Opanin Gladys Wilson.Vice-president, from Atebubu
3. Opanin Georgina Mensah...Secretary, Abuoso
4. Opanin Victoria Boso..Vice Secretary, Kintampo
5. Opanin Cecilia Ankomah...Financial Secretary,
6. Opanin Patience Manu...Treasurer, from Kenten
7. Opanin Doris Afia ...Chaplain, from Zaberama
8. Opanin Rockson Addae...Organizer, from Kintampo
Like a mustard seed, St Theresa of the Child Jesus Society in Techiman Diocese grew from four (4) to sixty-seven (67) branches and counting.
Cathedral as a branch under cathedral denary is having 52 members as at 2025. Under the able leadership of Opannin Janet Opoku Mensah, the president of the cathedral branch.
PATRON
St. Theresa of the child Jesus/ St. Theresa of Lisieux/ St. Theresa the little flower.
GREETINGS AND RESPONSES
St. Theresa! Wonderful!
St. Theresa! Wonderful!
St. Theresa! Service to God and Mankind!
FEAST DAY
1st October is the feast day for St. Theresa. Special Novena prayers begin nine days before the feast day and end on the vigil of the feast (i.e. 22nd September to 30th September).
