LE MARS (AP) — After 127 years, the old brick walls of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Le Mars will come tumbling down by the end of August to make way for an expanded parking lot for the new church, being built just northeast of the old structure and now about 75 percent complete, said the Rev. Kevin Richter, church pastor.

The new St. Joseph Church, costing between $9.5 and $10 million, will retain much of what made the old church great, somewhat lessening the emotional impact for lifelong parishioners who have received all of their sacraments in the old St. Joe’s, Richter said. Besides a new church, there will be a parish hall, parish offices and a chapel for daily Mass.

It was an emotional time for parishioners the weekend of June 16-17, when they attended their final Masses in the old building.