The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, has called for more involvement by the laity in the church.
"The renewal of the church in Ireland cannot depend upon the efforts of bishops and priests alone, but on the renewal, energy and commitment which lay people can bring to every parish in Ireland," he said.
Dr Neary said that the ruins of houses, from which families had to take the emigrant boat, could not be allowed become the symbol of the local church in years to come.
Dr Neary, who was addressing pilgrims at Croagh Patrick, recalled that Cardinal Newman had often said that "in all times the laity have been the measure of the church." He added: "May we look down from this sacred mountain and see with clearer vision the exciting task ahead."
He said that for years the parish was run and managed by a priest with a few voluntary lay people. The majority of people were content to be massive congregations who were happy to live out their lives in the faith of the church from the day of baptism to the day of death.
"There was a priest at the altar, a priest in the confessional, a priest to bless the rings," he added. "There was a priest at the bedside with the oil for anointing, and a priest to trowel the clay over the coffin laid to rest."
Church leaders, he said, could have been forgiven thinking that this would last forever. "Now the stark reality is staring us in the face," said Dr Neary. "Those days, for the foreseeable future are gone."
Dr Neary asked why young people were not attracted to the priesthood or religious life. "Is it that people have grown selfish? Has the spirit of adventure slipped away? Have the young been seduced by the affluence of today's Ireland?" he added.
"Have they been deeply affected by the scandals of recent years? Has the notion of service disappeared from our land? I think not. We have only to look back at the way this country hosted the Special Olympics. Towns, villages and local communities across the country reached out in generosity while 30,000 volunteers made the games a quick source of pride. The great goodwill is still there. As a church, we are challenged to harness anew that willingness and great generosity."
