They may have had shopping and holiday plans of their own to complete, but that didn't deter hundreds of volunteers from a very special holiday ritual Dec. 17: delivering hundreds of gifts to 296 poor families in downtown Los Angeles, through the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Adopt-A-Family program.

And though they struggled with the heavy boxes full of gifts, they wore smiles as they made their appointed rounds with festive hats and hearts full of love. Their efforts were most appreciated by their recipients, like eight-year-old Juan Acosta (far right), who was surprised at how many gifts he received.

Cardinal Roger Mahony --- who said earlier he was "amazed, overwhelmed and delighted" by the generosity of Adopt-A-Family donors whose gifts filled the Cathedral parking garage in the days prior to Dec. 17 --- again participated in the deliveries, presenting an emotional Maria Acosta (left photo) with presents for her and her family. "I didn't think this would be a good Christmas," said Acosta, with tears in her eyes. "But now I do."