175th Celebration This year, 2025 marks the 175th anniversary of St. James Parish's founding in the year 1850. A celebratory Mass along with other festivities was held on Sunday, July 27, 2025. The biblical passage from Psalm 126:3 formed the basis for the day:
"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
Mass Two bishops presided at a 10:00am celebratory Mass, Bishop David Ricken, of the Green Bay Diocese, and Bishop Frank Dewane, priest son of St. James, now assigned to the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Father Brian Belongia, Father Bill O'Brien, Father Santiago Turiano, and Father Dennis Ryan concelebrated.
Prayer Booklet Parishioners and friends of St. James wrote original prayers that were combined into a booklet and then distributed on July 27. The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay provided a grant to fund this project.
Parishioner Interviews Thirty-nine parishioners were videotaped about their involvement at St. James for posterity. These individuals are active, well-known members who shared their background and experiences at St. James. They complement the recordings from the 150th anniversary in the year 2000.
The cemetery at St. James also dates back to 1850. A trivia game was created to play during the 175th celebration. Players were given a list of clues that led them to 20 different gravesites where they had to answer a question about the individual who was buried therein. Prizes were awarded to those who had all the correct answers.
Fourteen young girls from the Irish Heritage Dance group put on a spectacular show in the afternoon. They were costumed in traditional Irish garb, and danced to traditional and modern Irish music. See the photo gallery for pictures.
Pastoral Leadership Plaque A large plaque was created containing the names of all the previous pastors and administrators who led St. James Parish. Beginning in the year 1850, there are 41 people listed with room to add more. The plaque is now on display in the church entrance.
The 175th Anniversary was promoted within the Denmark and Maribel communities and was subsequently featured in their publications. Here is what they had to say.