Rev. Fr. Gabriel Obodai Torgbor has issued a passionate appeal to Catholic youth and lay leaders to reclaim their role as the driving force of the Church’s mission, warning that digital distraction and passivity are crippling the lay apostolate.
Speaking during the Plenary Assembly of the Accra Archdiocesan Catholic Laity Council on the 6th of December, 2025, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Odorkor, Fr. Torgbor challenged young Catholics to rise above the culture of entertainment and use digital media for evangelization, not scandal.
“The Church needs your energy, your creativity, your gifts—not just your online opinions,” he stressed.
The priest described the lay apostolate as a powerful mission field spanning workplaces, politics, markets, schools, families, and digital spaces, emphasizing that youth must be intentionally equipped and empowered to take ownership of parish life.
He lamented that many young people shy away from responsibility due to low confidence or lack of spiritual grounding, noting that “without formation, talent becomes wasted potential.”
Fr. Torgbor called on parishes to create mentorship structures, offer leadership training, and invite youth into real decision-making.
He also underscored the urgent need for lay associations such as CYO, Legion of Mary, and Charismatic Renewal to actively recruit, train, and support young members.
“The future of the Church is not tomorrow, it is today. When young Catholics discover their charisms and use them, the whole Church comes alive,” he said.
Highlighting challenges such as clericalism, weak formation, and secular pressures, Fr. Torgbor insisted that collaborative ministry between clergy and laity is the only sustainable path to a vibrant Church.
By Theresa Kpordzo//Newswatchgh.com
