The opening procession included the concelebrants, members of the building committee, parish council members and six first-degree Knights of Columbus. Ribbon bearers separated the groups, adding a festive style to the procession.

Choir members from neighboring parishes -- St. Agnes in Butler, St. Anthony, St. Mary and Good Shepherd - all joined the St. James choir for the celebration. The Cooperating Churches of Sussex, an ecumenical group of churches in the Sussex area, also sent representatives. Trumpets and a brass ensemble completed the music liturgy.

St. James Parish was founded in 1847 and built its first church in 1848, which housed 120 people. In 1954, the parish added a school and a church hall, and began holding Mass in the school basement to accommodate the growing number of parishioners.

The new church, which opened on Easter Sunday, accommodates 900 parishioners and cost $4.3 million to build. St. James counts 1,450 families as parishioners. More than 850 people will attend a catered buffet on the church grounds following the dedication Mass.