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St. Patrick's Primary School, Pennyburn, Derry City

Bambinelli Sunday

10th Dec 2021

We invite the children to tune into the 10am Mass in St Patrick’s Church Pennyburn via the webcam on Sunday morning, Sunday 12th December, when we will celebrate Bambinelli Sunday.

The Blessing of the Bambinelli (Baby Jesus) is a tradition which began in Rome. Each year on the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), the Holy Father invites children to bring the Baby Jesus (Bambinelli) from the family Nativity scene to Mass for a blessing.

We would like to encourage families to take part in this blessing online as we are mindful of increasing Covid 19 numbers at present and restrictions which are still in place.  

After the blessing the children are invited to wrap up their baby Jesus and to place him under the Christmas Tree. On Christmas morning the Bambinelli is the first Christmas gift to be unwrapped and placed in the family crib.

Blessing of the Bambinelli:

Let us pray: God, our Father you so loved humankind that you sent us your only Son Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, to save us and lead us back to you. We pray that, with your blessing, these images of Jesus, soon to come among us, may be a sign of your presence and love in our homes. Good Father, give your Blessing to us too, to our parents, grandparents, to our families and to our friends. Open our hearts, so that we may be able to receive Jesus in joy, always do what he asks and see him in all those who are in need of our love. We ask your blessing on our Bambinelli and the children who present him in the name of the Father, of the son and of the Holy Spirit. (A sprinkle of Holy Water may be used at the time of the blessing). We ask you this in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son who comes to give the world peace and who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.