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“We need help!” That was the message from Rosalie Cummings of the Fallston United Methodist Church in early October. Her plea was in response to the depletion of the stock of food in the F.I.S.H. Food Pantry that the church maintains. Recent economic conditions have strained food pantries throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore and could not have come at a worse time, with Thanksgiving and the upcoming Christmas holidays. Although Ms. Cummings suggested that the scouts “charge” a can of food as an entrance fee at upcoming events, the Cub Scouts of Pack 899 decided to do one better – a full-blown food drive! But could a community-wide food drive be coordinated and successfully held in just one month?

Kudos to Cardinal Stafford for having the courage to speak out regarding our president-elect (CR, Nov. 27). It’s a shame you had to bury his comments on page 6. We will sow in this country what we have reaped and may God have mercy on us!

STOCKTON, Calif. – A Modesto pastor urged his parishioners to receive the sacrament of penance if they voted for President-elect Barack Obama, who supports legalized abortion, but Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton said the sacrament was not obligatory for Catholics who supported Obama.

SHANGHAI, China – Some Catholics in the Shanghai Diocese said they have witnessed smoke emerging from a bronze statue of Mary holding the Infant Jesus – Our Lady of Sheshan – atop the Minor Basilica of St. Mary.

Catholics throughout Baltimore will celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception – the fact that by God’s grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception – on Dec. 8. According to the Dictionary of the Liturgy, “the Immaculate Conception is more than just Mary’s preservation from evil. It is her fullness of grace.”