Family Information

A Milestone Moment for Your Family

Indianapolis

EMPOWERING THE DOMESTIC CHURCH

EMPOWERING THE 
DOMESTIC CHURCH

Fostering a love of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist within our homes will have a profound impact on how we love others outside of our homes. In order to make this experience as fruitful for your family as possible, we’ve designed special amenities and experiences just for you. Read on for exciting afternoon sessions, exclusive local discounts, and more.

Not yet registered? Click below to get your Congress Passes at a special family rate before they sell out!

Family Amenities

We’ve prepared special spaces and activities for families in and around the Congress venues. Please remember that children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

  • MOTHER AND BABY ROOM: We’ve prepared a cozy, private space in room 212 of the Indiana Convention Center for mothers and babies to rest, recharge, and feed in peace. This quiet space has comfortable chairs, tables, refrigerators, changing areas, and other amenities for mothers and babies. Additional nursing stations are available on the 1st floor of the Convention Center in the women’s restrooms near the Crossroads Corridor.
  • TODDLER PLAY AREA: Located on the 2nd floor of the Indiana Convention Center—outside the Sagamore Ballroom and near the skywalk to the Hyatt Regency—this play area is a great spot to let your young children release their energy and explore while you relax nearby. Please remember, all children must be accompanied by an adult while using this space.
  • ST. JOHN’S EUCHARISTIC VILLAGE: Across the street from the Convention Center, at the corner of Capitol Ave. and Georgia St., St. John’s Church will have their outdoor space transformed into a Eucharistic Village. Grab-and-go food will be available at a discounted rate for families, and there will be plenty to see and do! Open the following days and times:
  • Wednesday: 11:00am–7:00pm, 9:30–11:30pm
  • Thurs–Sat: 7:00am–7:00pm, 9:30–11:30pm
  • Sunday: 7:00–9:30am

  • SENSORY ROOMS: Our soothing sensory rooms for children are conveniently located on the second floor of the Indiana Convention Center in rooms 210 and 211. Another sensory-friendly space for guests of all ages is available in room 125 on the first floor of the Convention Center. Lucas Oil Stadium has a sensory room on the Street Level Concourse in the Southwest Elevator Lobby. The stadium also offers sensory bags equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and weighted lap pads for guests who feel overwhelmed. To utilize a sensory bag or gain access to this sensory room, please visit the Lucas Oil Stadium Guest Services Kiosk located behind Section 121.
Family Praying Together

Morning Impact Sessions

Enjoy vibrant keynotes that will speak to both parents and children of all ages, engaging worship music, and opportunities for family discussion. You’ll hear from prominent Catholic speakers like Fr. Leo Patalinghug, Ennie and Cana Hickman, and more. These morning sessions will feature opportunities for prayer as a family that are impactful for adults and designed with children in mind.

Learn More
CatholicHÔM logo

CatholicHÔM Immersive Experience

This experience is designed for the entire family! Discover how encountering Christ in the Eucharist is the key to celebrating a more loving, connected, and caring home, and how you can become a Household on Mission. Families will:

  • Laugh and sing together during an interactive puppet show
  • Worship together in family Eucharistic adoration
  • Play exciting games that will help build stronger relationships
  • Explore new resources to keep them growing closer to God and each other when they get back home
  • Change the way they think about integrating faith and family life

These sessions will run in shifts throughout Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons. Capacity is limited, so be sure to select this experience at registration! (Or you can modify your existing registration to include the CatholicHÔM Experience.)

Thursday & Friday
1:00–2:30 PM, 2:30–4:00 PM, or 4:00–5:30 PM
Saturday
1:00–2:30 PM
Child playing and learning about Jesus

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atriums

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the spiritual formation of children, rooted in Montessori principles and the enjoyment of Christ. It emphasizes creating a sacred space where children encounter God through hands-on materials and guided reflection led by trained catechists. We will offer four age-appropriate “atriums” focused on nurturing the child's relationship with Jesus:

  • Infant and toddler
  • 3–6 years old
  • 6–9 years old
  • 9–12 years old

Each atrium will feature an altar, presentations, and hands-on activities that will foster contemplation and understanding of the Eucharist through instruction and experimentation. Through this method, children develop a profound sense of belonging, gain a personal connection to the mysteries of faith, and cultivate a foundation of faith. These experiences will be available 12:00–6:30 PM Wednesday–Saturday in the Indiana Convention Center.

Young boys and girls getting ready to receive First Communion

An Opportunity for First Communicants

Did a member of your family make their First Communion this year? Any child attending the Congress who has received their First Holy Communion this past year (July 2023–July 2024) is invited to participate in a special way in a major Eucharistic procession through downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, July 20th. The procession will be from 3:00–5:00 PM.

Accompanied by one parent/legal guardian, First Communicants will walk in the front of the procession wearing their First Communion dress or suit. Please note that the procession route is approximately 1 mile. You must submit your RSVP no later than June 15th to participate.

After you register for the Congress, you will receive an invitation to RSVP for your child. Reach out to us at hello@eucharisticcongress.org with any questions.

Hallow Thumbnail

Free Eucharistic Content for Families

Our partners at Hallow are supporting families this summer with free access to content that will help the whole family prepare for the National Eucharistic Congress. Enjoy inspiring stories, kid-friendly reflections, family prayers, and more—perfect to play in the car or around the house. This content includes:

Sign up today to get 3 free months of Hallow, and unlock all of this content for your family this summer! This is a great way to encourage your children to fall more deeply in love with Jesus in the Eucharist.

Sign Up

Local Attractions and Discounts

There are many local attractions and activities available for your family to enjoy during your time at the Congress. Our team is busy negotiating discounts for Congress-going families who also want to explore the city. Consider staying an extra day to enjoy all that the city has to offer!

Here are the discounts we have available now:

  • Get tickets to the Indianapolis Zoo at a significant discount of over 35%. Click here to unlock the lower rates.
  • Conveniently located a short drive from the Indiana Convention Center, Back 9 Golf and Entertainment is also offering a discount for Congress attendees! Click here to reserve a bay time.
  • The Indianapolis Brickyard 400 is offering a discount of $10 off Saturday and/or Sunday reserved or flex tickets at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Plus, children 15 and under are admitted free with a purchase of an adult flex ticket (limit 4 children per adult Flex ticket purchased). Visit ims.com/BRICKYARD and use code NEC2024 to take advantage of this discount!

To help plan your trip, Visit Indy put together a convenient list of facilities and services available throughout Indianapolis. In addition, they've put together a map of family-friendly locations in Indianapolis for you to explore. Click below to download their detailed guide and the map.

DOWNLOAD GUIDEDOWNLOAD Map