A BABE IN A MANGER
A newborn baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was abandoned in a Queens church creche as the Christmas display was being set up.
The infant was left at Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill and was discovered at about 1 p.m. Monday, according to sources.
“The baby was found in the creche, a sort of manger scene where we would put the baby Jesus during Christmastime,” the Rev. Christopher Heanue, a priest at Holy Child Jesus, told The Post.
“The church is considered a safe haven for dropoffs,” he said. ”The baby was brand new. He still had the umbilical cord attached. It’s a beautiful baby boy.”
The child was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he weighed in at a healthy 5 pounds, 6 ounces.
Surveillance video shows a woman walking inside the church with a baby in her arms and then shows her leaving alone, sources said.
A custodian who was setting up the creche left for about an hour, but returned and heard the baby crying.
“There are families within the parish who have inquired as to adopting the baby already,” Heanue said. “They feel that he was left in the parish and should stay in the parish.”
Parishioner Karina Lara, 28, says she found out about the abandoned baby on Facebook.
“I feel so sad that the child’s mother felt she had to abandon him, but it’s a blessing that she brought him here,” she said. “This is a beautiful church with beautiful people and his life will be blessed from this point on.
“I think it’s sweet that he was left in the nativity manger,” Lara added. “I just hope that someone adopts him as soon as possible,.”
Corrine Gower, who was visiting Holy Child, believes the only reason the baby survived was because he was left inside the church as opposed to out in the cold.
“It’s a miracle the baby survived. He could have just been dumped into the street last night,” she said. “The mother did the right thing by bringing the baby here. It’s such a loving community. I just know someone from the church will adopt him. That little boy is always going to be a part of this church. If I didn’t have two already, I would consider it.
“I think it would be so appropriate to name him Jesus,” Gower added. “He was found in the nativity after all.”