After last year’s cancellation, Bambinelli to return for its fourth year in December

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

After a snowstorm caused a cancellation of last year’s event, the diocese’s Bambinelli blessing and Christmas tree lighting will be returning this year.

An annual tradition within the diocese started by Bishop John Iffert, it is inspired by a similar blessing given by the pope on Gaudete Sunday — the third Sunday of Advent — where the baby Jesus figures (“Bambinelli”) from family nativities are brought forth to be blessed.

This year’s Bambinelli will take place Dec. 13 after the 5:30 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Proceedings will take place in the neighboring St. Mary’s Park and Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium and will feature a live children’s choir on behalf of Mary, Queen of Heaven, Erlanger, refreshments (including hot chocolate, pizza and homemade cookies baked by Curia staff) as well as the namesake event — a blessing of the bambinellis by Bishop Iffert, and the lighting of the Christmas tree in St. Mary’s park.

The importance of the Bambinelli has to do with “getting families together for the holidays to keep the reason for the season,” said Cindy Kraft, executive assistant to Bishop Iffert who is on the committee planning the Bambinelli. For her, this will be her first year in attendance — but she still expressed her excitement for the event.

“It’s to remind people that this is what Christmas is,” Chancery office manager and other committee member Carrie Hamberg commented, “we’re blessing the baby Jesus.”

These blessings people “take back into their homes, too,” said Ms. Kraft, “and in their hearts, together. It’s multi-generational.”

A public and free event, families are more than welcome to participate in the blessing. A story about the origin of the Bambinelli blessing is even offered for younger children to sit in and listen to.

The Bambinelli started as a way to “keep Christmas and preparing for Christmas in a religious tone,” according to Cathedral vice-rector and committee member Msgr. Kurt Kemo, who has been helping to orchestrate the Bambinelli since its first year.

With November already in the present, Ms. Kraft commented how as the planners “begin to feel time fold in on itself between now and Christmastime, it’s important to take a step back and a break for this religious event.”