Bambinelli Sunday

The Cathedral Basilica parish would like to begin the beautiful tradition of bringing your figurines of the baby Jesus from your home Nativity scene for a special blessing on December 20/21 at all the Sunday Masses.

Bambinelli Sunday is a Catholic tradition where families and children bring the “Baby Jesus” (bambinelli in Italian) figurines from their home Nativity scenes to church for a special blessing at Mass. The figure is then typically placed in the empty manger on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. The tradition helps to emphasize that Jesus is the true gift of Christmas and at the center of the holiday.

The tradition started in the mid-1900s at the Vatican. St. Pope John Paul II popularized it by encouraging children in Rome to bring their figurines to St. Peter’s Square for a blessing during his Sunday Angelus address. Pope Leo continues this tradition today.

Sunday Masses at the Cathedral Basilica: Saturday, 3:00pm, Sunday, 10:00am and 4:00pm.