Mepkin Abbey’s Annual Crèche Festival Draws Thousands to Celebrate Diverse Nativity Scenes

Even as a boy, Father Guerric Heckel felt the nostalgic love and holy essence of the Nativity scenes his family displayed in their fireplace, when it wasn’t in use, of course.

So when the priest-turned-monk became manager of Mepkin Abbey’s store, he thought it fitting that the Trappist monastery be a destination point for people seeking handmade manger scenes. So he placed an order for several thousand, and the abbey’s hugely successful annual creche festival was born.