A recent article distributed by Catholic News Service reported the delight of the Roman Catholic Bishop of San Pedro de Macoris, in the Dominican Republic, over the home run hitting feats of Chicago Cub slugger Sammy Sosa. "Those who know the Sosa family say members are regular churchgoers and practicing Catholics, like most Dominicans," the article reports.

Not quite. Sammy, who hit 66 home runs this year, was baptized in the Episcopal Church in June 1997 at Nuestra Senora de las Americas, a Hispanic mission congregation attached to the Church of the Advent, Chicago.

"His mother is a friend of a regular member here," said the Rev. John Graham, vicar, who performed the baptism. "She asked if I would be willing to talk to a friend of hers about baptizing her two adult sons."

The friend was Luz Grecia Sosa, Sammy's mother, who lives primarily in the Dominican Republic but also spends time in Chicago. Sammy and his brother, Jose, received instructions from Fr. Graham before the baptism took place one summer evening when the Cubs had a day off.

"It was a pleasure to do it," Fr. Graham said. "He approached the matter very reverently and humbly. Both he and his brother impressed me that way."

With major league baseball in action on the weekends and Sammy spending off-seasons in Miami and the Dominican Republic, Fr. Graham and his congregation have not seen the outfielder since the baptism, but the priest has followed his exploits perhaps a bit more closely.

"As a White Sox fan of 30-some years, it's been painful to see him have such a good season," Fr. Graham said. Baseball followers will recall that Sosa played for the White Sox before being traded across town a few years ago.

Sosa, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, reportedly is pursuing U.S. citizenship. USA Today reported that he and his wife, Sonia, and their four young children have begun the immigration process, which could take five to seven years.

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The Rev. Canon Patrick Mauney, director of Anglican and global relations at the Episcopal Church Center, writes to correct the name of a diocese in Papua New Guinea mentioned on this page [TLC, Oct. 4]. It's Aipo, not Alpo, he notes.

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Bob Walters, of Marblehead, Mass., sends along this item: On July 23, the heat wave in eastern Massachusetts ended with a "smashing thunderstorm" during which a bolt of lightning struck the First Baptist Church of Marblehead, setting it afire. Shortly after the fire was extinguished, the pastor put this message on the announcement board: "If you have been waiting for lightning to strike before you come to church, now is the time."

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License plate spottings: Jane Ayres, of Santa Barbara, Calif., saw DT 6:5, the Rev. Robert K. Bernhard, of Ruidoso, N.M., reports his tag is FR BOB. Kenneth Kerr, of Raleigh, N.C., saw ILOVGSUS. Staff member Patricia Nakamura was busy, seeing MERCYFL, ACTS4 12, 1PETER1 and PSLM42 2. My contributions: JST PRAY, REV3 8, GO PRAY and BY F8TH.

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Note to either Marvin or Mervin in metro Washington, D.C.: Yes, finally we can say we have a website. Check out the back cover of this issue.

David Kalvelage, executive editor