Despite the cold and intermittent drizzle, with wind gusts strong enough to chill the crowd, no one appeared to walk away. After formally accepting the keys to the door from the project’s architect, Father Harman opened the door for Archbishop Lucas to enter.

Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago, who would deliver the homily at Mass, and Archbishop Lucas, the celebrant, joined nine other bishops, over 90 priests, 24 deacons, and diocesan seminarians to process into the empty Cathedral, as spectators holding tickets poured in behind them to find seats.

Attending bishops included: Bishop Victor H. Balke, retired from Crookston, Minn., and Bishop Kevin W. Vann, of Fort Worth, Tex., both ordained Springfield diocesan priests; Bishop Joseph L. Imesch, retired from Joliet; Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, from Peoria; Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville; Bishop Stanley Schlarman, a native of Belleville, retired from Dodge City, Kan.; Bishop John Gaydos of Jefferson City, Mo.; auxiliary Bishop William Callahan, OFM, Conv., of Milwaukee, and Bishop Joseph Naumann, of Kansas City, Kan.