Bambinelli Sunday Celebrated in Lynnfield

Last Sunday, Dec. 17, both St. Maria Goretti and Our Lady of the Assumption parishes celebrated a custom imported from Rome called Bambinelli Sunday.

In this tradition, families gather in St. Peter’s Square and bring with them the baby Jesus from their Nativity set, so the Holy Father can bless them. The baby Jesus is then taken home and gift-wrapped, and becomes the first present to be opened on Christmas. This reminds the whole family that the gift of the birth of Christ is the core of Christmas.

Father Tony Luongo (Parochial Vicar of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative) blesses the baby Jesus figurines held up by members of the St. Maria Goretti congregation (photo by Bethany Kilroy); Children of St. Maria Goretti parish raise their baby Jesus figurines to be blessed for Bambinelli Sunday (photo by Marie Lagman); Waiting for a blessing from Father Paul Ritt (Pastor of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative) at Our Lady of the Assumption Church (photo by Kate McGrath); Two brothers raising their family's Nativity set's precious Jesus for a special blessing at Our Lady of the Assumption (photo by Marie Lagman).