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Newborn baby found in nativity manger of New York church

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(Facebook: Bishop Octavio Cisneros)

Imagine the surprise of the custodian who happened to stumble upon the cries of a real life baby boy laying in the manger of the Holy Child Jesus Church’s nativity scene on Monday.

After returning from lunch, a custodian for the church found the newborn wrapped in towels laying in the manger, which prompted him to notify the police.

“A MIRACLE OF LIFE at Holy Child Jesus!” Bishop Octavio Cisneros posted on Facebook on Monday, “At noon time today our sacristan heard a baby crying in the empty manger that is being readied for Christmas, when he went to investigate he found a newborn baby, umbilical cord still attached.”

Cisneros posted that the baby is well and at a healthy 5.2 pounds, while extending his prayers for both the newborn and the mother who left the child.

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(Facebook: Bishop Octavio Cisneros)

The identity of the mother is still unknown by authorities, though detectives were in the process of speaking with who they believe may be the woman Tuesday afternoon, reports The New York Times.

The parish priest Rev. Christopher Ryan Heanue is calling this a Christmas miracle, and told The New York Times he thinks it’s beautiful the mother thought the church would be a safe place for her child to be taken care of.

“A church is a home for those in need, and she felt, in this stable - a place where Jesus will find his home - a home for her child” Heanue told The Times.

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(Facebook: Bishop Octavio Cisneros)

It remains to be seen if criminal charges will be given to the woman still in question, though the church is looking into adopting the child, aptly named “Baby Jesus,” according to Newsday.

New York State’s Abandoned Infant Protection Act permits parents to abandon a child anonymously within 30 days of birth if the child is left with the proper authorities, be it a church, police, or hospital for instance, as long as they provide immediate notice. These actions were not taken by the woman in this case.