Granger, IN: Catholic church opens sensory room for autistic worshippers

July 24, 2025, WSBT, Mishawaka, IN: St. Pius X Catholic Church opens sensory room to welcome worshippers with autism 

https://wsbt.com/news/local/st-pius-x-church-opens-sensory-room-to-welcome-worshippers-autism-worship-catholic-comfortable-noise-fidgeting-toys-therapeutic-lighting-busy-hands-of-michiana-indiana-granger-st-joseph-county 

GRANGER, Ind. (WSBT) — A new worship space is changing the way Catholic families participate in mass in Granger.

Church leaders at Saint Pius Church said a new room has been designed specifically for people with sensory process disabilities like Autism Spectrum Disorder.

They're called sensory rooms and they're showing up in stadiums, airports and public gardens.

St. Pius X is a worship space for more than 3,000 members in Granger.

Too much noise and uncomfortable seating can be just a couple of reasons why church members with autism can find it hard to join mass.

"So the first thing we want to do is open the doors wide and let them in and tell them they have a space here to pray and to worship and to be part of the community," said Tim Wheeler, St Pius X Church Religious Education Director. . . .

Now that the sensory room is open, some members have been able to more fully worship while sitting in a bean bag instead of a pew or using fidgeting toys that help promote calm and focus.

"We had one child who has level three autism and during the mass, which he hasn't been able to go to mass with his family and he's about nine years old, he was able to stim, he was able to be himself and feel comfortable while still every once in a while he'd look out the window that we have facing the sanctuary and say, There's Jesus, there's Jesus," said Tim Wheeler.

The room is custom fit to those who regulate their emotions through a physical process called stimming.

Tactile toys, weighted blankets and noise cancelling headphones all help to create a space where members can focus on the message happening right outside the window.

"Lots of our families were not coming to church altogether before this. They would have to do it in stages where maybe mom would come with some of the kids and dad would come with someone else," said Stephanie Sibal, St. Pius X Church Stewardship and Engagement Director.

Sibal says she hopes community spaces outside of the church use the design to make every day experiences accessible for those with sensory processing needs.

"And we're not just talking about our community. We want people from other Catholic parishes, even other religions to come here and see what we're doing so that maybe they can replicate it too," Sibal said.

The sensory room is open during all church hours.

St. Pius said they received free custom-made stimulation toys from Busy Hands of Michiana, a local volunteer based charity that takes donated goods and turns them into therapeutic items for those in need.