The Blessing of the Bambinelli (Baby Jesus) is a tradition which began in Rome.

The Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) has for many years been the day when the children of Rome bring the figurines of Baby Jesus from their family cribs to St. Peter’s Square to be blessed by the Pope during the Angelus. The day is affectionately known as “Bambinelli Sunday”, instituted by St. Pope John Paul II.

This year, we invite each child in school to bring the figurine of Jesus from their family crib to school for a special blessing service with Monsignor Jeremy. 

Following this, the tradition is that the children are invited by their parents, to wrap the blessed figurines in Christmas wrapping when they return home, and to place them under the tree, to be opened as the first gift of Christmas and place it in your family crib; thus encouraging young children to make the connection between the gifts they receive on Christmas Day and the greatest gift that any of us can receive, Jesus.

We are looking forward to this special service and it will be so lovely to see the Bambinelli brought from home.