Join us at all Sunday Masses on Dec. 17/18 as we will celebrate the “Blessing of the Bambinelli.”

In Italian, bambinelli are the small figures of the baby Jesus that are placed in our Nativity scenes at home. Going back to the mid-1900s, the popes in Rome began the tradition of inviting families and their children to come to St. Peter’s Square toward the end of Advent for the blessing of their bambinelli, just before Christmas when they would be placed in the manger.

This tradition has now spread out from Rome and we are happy to continue it here at St. John the Evangelist. At all Sunday Masses on the weekend of December 17/18, you are invited to bring your bambinelli to Mass to receive a special blessing before we place them in the manger at Christmas. This new tradition is for both young and old - Please join us!