NY Church Nativity Surprise: Real Newborn Baby Left in Place of Jesus

Members of a New York church were surprised to find a newborn baby placed in the congregation's nativity scene.

The baby was found in the manger scene display at the appropriately named Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill in Queens. A full-term newborn, according to the New York Daily News, was found with the umbilical cord still attached.

"The full-term newborn was found swaddled in purple towels in the nativity's crèche — where baby Jesus is found on Christmas morning," reported NY Daily News.

"The baby was given a clean bill of health at Jamaica Hospital and was in the care of the Administration of Children's Services Tuesday as cops try to track down the mom."

Given the nickname "Baby Jesus" and seen by some as an early Christmas miracle, the newborn was put in place of the plastic baby that the church had put out there earlier.

While the identity of the mother remains a mystery, Inside Edition reported that some camera footage at a local store may help find the woman.

"No one knows the identity of the mother, but surveillance footage at a nearby convenience store captured her buying towels. The same towels her baby was found swaddled in," noted Inside Edition.

"Churches are considered safe havens where unwanted infants can be left no questions asked. But the safe haven law requires that an infant be left with an adult."

Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill did not return comment to The Christian Post by press time.