With the holidays approaching, most churches have already begun to set up their nativity scenes.
In most of these displays, the manger is left empty throughout the holidays, before the Baby Jesus is placed in the manger on Christmas morning.
However, for one church, their nativity featured a baby much earlier than expected, causing quite the surprise.
Similar to the church that found a pit bull in their nativity, the Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill, NY, received a massive shock this past Monday just an hour after setting up their nativity scene.
Church custodian Jose Moran came back from his lunch break and was sweeping the floor of the church when he heard a baby crying.
When I saw what he found, I was absolutely floored…
Scroll through below to read this incredible story about a surprise infant arrival that some have now nicknamed "Baby Jesus."
Do you think this was an actual miracle? Let us know in the comments.
h/t NY Daily News
On Monday, the Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill, NY, set up its nativity scene for the Christmas season.
The church's custodian Jose Moran was sweeping just an hour later, when he heard a baby crying.
Jose told the Daily News, "I didn't make much of it. I thought there was somebody in the church with a child. I looked around and didn't see anyone. That got me curious. I followed the cries…"
Jose continued, "I walked to the little nativity home we had installed inside the church… I couldn't believe my eyes. The baby was wrapped in towels. He still had his umbilical cord. He was next to the Virgin [Mary]."
Jose had discovered a full-term newborn baby boy lying in the nativity.
The child was quickly rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was found to be absolutely healthy.
While a spiritual man, Jose knows that the baby didn't appear out of thin air: he was abandoned there by someone.
Jose, pictured above, told the Daily News, "At least whoever abandoned him brought him to a safe place and didn't leave him to die."
After telling his wife about the baby, Jose said, "She asked me why I didn't bring him home. I hope he finds the right home. He's a miracle baby."
The child very quickly received the nickname "Baby Jesus," for obvious reasons.
After being examined at the hospital, he was taken into the care of Children's Services until his mother could be found.
The church's priest, Father Christopher Heanue, told the Daily News, "God works in mysterious ways. [The mother] must have been in a difficult place in her life. She found in this [nativity]… this empty place where Jesus will be in a few weeks… as a home for her son."
Security footage did reveal a woman enter Holy Child Jesus Church carrying the baby, and later exit without him.
Video from a nearby dollar store showed the mother purchasing the towels that the child was found in. In the store footage, the baby can be seen tucked away in her coat.
Father Christopher said, "The child was… a kind of gift to the church in a poetic way, so we'd love to see it stay in the community."
Already, one of the church's members has said they would adopt the baby, though the search for his birth mother continues.
A spokeswoman for the Brooklyn-Queens Diocese said, "We can't imagine the desperation she must have gone through, but placing the baby in the manger where Jesus is born… She wanted him to be close to Christ. We may never meet her, but our prayers are with her."
Be sure to watch the video below to learn more about "Baby Jesus."
The thoughts, prayers, and support of the church and the entire community will remain with the little baby until he has found a place to call home.
What do you think of this miraculous appearance in the nativity? Let us know in the comments.
Please SHARE the story of "Baby Jesus" with friends and family this holiday season!
