The crèche figures of Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus, created this past Christmas by fiber and liturgical artist Tildy (Mueller) Ellis, made their way to a niche outside the chapel at Assumption Village in Cold Spring in time for Christmas festivities.
“I hope they will be able to stay there until Epiphany, Jan. 6,” she said. “But they may need to flee to Egypt soon.”
Tildy, who lives in the senior apartments at Assumption Village, has steadily worked with the figures since mid-October. When layers and paint didn’t adhere to masking tape, or when her sewing machine wouldn’t cooperate, she experimented to find ways around those problems.
She sought a global appearance for the Holy Family to acknowledge their Jewish heritage as well as to appreciate the kindness of workers at Assumption, many of whom were born in other countries. She also wanted to honor the couple’s difficult journey to Bethlehem and their joy and relief at a successful birth. For their clothing, Tildy picked apart a pillow cover, used part of a friend’s sweater and sacrificed her own jeans.
See the full story “Tildy Ellis’ newest crèche set enrobed in prayer” in the December 2023 issue of The Central Minnesota Catholic at https://bit.ly/3S2k2v3.