WESTON | The altar candles were kindled, the house lights blazed, and the 2,100 congregants cheered and applauded. After 14 years, St. Katharine Drexel parish had a permanent home.

"Look! I have goosebumps just being here!" said Diane Pallini, a seven-year member, after a solemn yet festive Mass of dedication Feb 16. "Our dream is a reality!

"Ever since my first Mass at St. Katharine Drexel, I knew it was a special place with special people," Pallini said.

The multipurpose building was indeed a dream come true for the congregation that had met for a decade at an office park. Despite several setbacks, the parishioners persisted and finally finished the $8.7 million project.

The dedication strained the capacity of St. Katharine Drexel, the only Catholic church in Weston. Worshipers filled the 1,100-seat sanctuary, with another 130 behind glass in the "cry room." Still another 900 packed an overflow tent outside, watching via two giant flat-screen TVs.

The church parking lot filled an hour before the 10 a.m. Mass, and police sent other attendees to the old office park home. From there, buses shuttled them to the new church.

Many others parked at a public park and walked nearly two miles to the event. One Good Samaritan took it on himself to pick up some walkers and drive them there � at least four carloads full.

"Why not help people, do a good deed?" said Jesus Delgado, who said he occasionally attends St. Katharine Drexel. He laughed as he told of one pedestrian's reaction: "Thank you, Jesus!"

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, the main celebrant, reminded his listeners that they, not the structure, constitute the "living stones" of the church. He also compared the dedication to the need for the parishioners to dedicate themselves to God.

"Even as we set the building apart and make it a sacred place, we must remember that we too have been set apart," he said. "As these walls will be anointed with Chrism, to remind us that God dwells here with his people, we must remember that we too were anointed � and as God dwells here as in his temple, we too are his temples, temples of the Holy Spirit."

"But thank God, today those living stones move into their new home," he added. "Congratulations to all of you."

He said a prayer of dedication and poured oil onto the white altar. He then slowly rubbed it into the surface by hand, as a reminder of Christ himself, whose title means "Anointed One."

Next, an assistant carefully placed four smoldering coals on the corners of the table, and the archbishop spooned incense on each as a symbol of prayers. Then he walked around the altar with a suspended censer, swinging it as he went. The church building soon filled with the fragrance.

Women of the church spread a plastic sheet on the altar, then a lacy white cloth. Then a deacon placed the two large candles on the altar and lit them, triggering the house lights � and the congregation's applause.

With the altar now the table of the Lord, priests and deacons added the cross, chalice, Bible and other items, in preparation for the first Eucharist.

The archbishop showed his gentle wit by mentioning "Westonzuela," a nod to the many Venezuelans among the city's 65,000 residents. Among the VIPs at the Mass, in fact, was Archbishop Roberto L�ckert Le�n of Coro, Venezuela.

Archbishop Le�n explained later that he was in South Florida visiting family; then Archbishop Wenski invited him to concelebrate the dedication. Many congregants apparently were glad he came: They clustered around him afterward, chatting and posing for pictures with him.

He voiced approval for St. Katharine Drexel as a center of the community. "Many people are exiled because of communism. They have to build their strength and grow the Catholic faith in this town."

Among the 15 other clergy attending were the current pastor, Father Enrique Delgado, and former pastor Father Pedro Corces, now pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Miami Shores. A special guest was Gerri Davis, the mother of Father Paul Edwards, the founding pastor, who died in 2006.

Gazing down upon the worshipers were other reminders of Father Edwards: large painted Greek icons, including the Pantocrator and Our Lady of the Sign. The art, a special interest of his, had been carefully removed from the church's previous home in the office park and installed in the new building.

"When I walked in and saw those pictures, I had to fight back tears," Gerri Davis said from her home in Homestead after the dedication. "It was just the way Paul would have wanted it."

Other VIPs at the dedication included Mayor Daniel J. Stermer of Weston, plus his four fellow city commissioners and City Manager John Flint. More than 50 Knights of Columbus were there as well, 10 of them in uniform as a color corps.

Father Delgado got the last word at the dedication: "A special thanks to all who made this day possible � you!" Applause turned to cheers as the musicians played Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."

Afterward, many congregants stayed up to two hours. Some chatted or noshed on South American treats. Some just sat or wandered around, seemingly stunned that the day had finally come.

"This is complete joy for all of us," said Marco Garcia, a founding member of St. Katharine Drexel. "We've been looking for this moment all along."

The parish celebrated its first Mass shortly after its establishment, in September 2001, at the cafeteria of Indian Trace Elementary School, then in 2002 the community moved to the office park. But raising funds for a standalone building ran into several setbacks, including the recession and government regulations.

Members of the Knights of Columbus raised $100,000 through golf tournaments, and Father Delgado in 2011 launched a capital campaign, collecting $2.9 million in pledges. In the last year, he added a "FFE" campaign, for furniture, fixtures and expenses, raising another $400,000. The archdiocese lent the rest.

Sitting on almost 20 acres, the church covers 18,000 square feet. It is actually the first phase of St. Katharine Drexel's building program. Next will come a modular building that will serve as a standalone parish hall; then will come a more permanent sanctuary and perhaps a school.

"We were a rental community for 10 years; it's different when you have your own home," said longtime member Jean Haddad, who advised the church on the construction. "This is just the beginning."�