A newborn baby who still had his umbilical cord attached was found wrapped in swaddling clothes — and lying in a manger — at a Queens church on Monday.
The infant was abandoned at Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill and was discovered in the church’s indoor nativity scene around 1:00 p.m., according to police sources.
“The baby was found in creche, a sort of manger scene where we would put the baby Jesus during Christmas time,” Father Christopher Heanue told The Post.
“The church is considered a safe haven for drop offs,” he said Tuesday.”The baby was brand new. He still had the umbilical cord attached. It’s a beautiful baby boy.”
The child was later transported to Jamaica Hospital — where he weighed in at a healthy 5 pounds, 6 ounces. Surveillance video shows a woman walking inside with a baby in her arms and then shows her leaving alone, sources said.
A custodian who was setting up the nativity scene left for about an hour but returned and heard the baby crying
“There are families within the parish who have inquired as to the adopting the baby already,” he explained. “They feel that he was left in the parish and should stay in the parish.”
Karina Lara, 28, has been a member of the church for 7 years and 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.”
Corrine Gower , who was visiting Holy Child on Tuesday, believes the only reason the baby survived was because it had been 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.”