FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Still need help? Email our team at info@chaldeanconvention.com for answers not found on this page
GENERAL EVENT INFO
- Early bird registration is $175 USD through February 10, 2024.
- Beginning February 11, 2024 the cost will be $199 USD.
18 and older
The convention will be catered to Chaldean Catholics and focus on our unique heritage, faith, and community, however all are welcome to attend.
Hosted by the Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle U.S.A. (based in Southfield, Michigan), the International Chaldean Convention is the first ever opportunity for fellow Chaldeans from around the world to join together and deepen their faith and celebrate our vibrant culture in unity.
Friday, June 28 – Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 10 AM ET.
- We encourage you to arrive on the morning of Friday, June 28, 2024. Convention check-in begins at 10 AM. We encourage you to arrive with enough time to check in and get your credentials before the 12:30 PM welcoming address.
- Plan to depart after 10 AM on Sunday, June 30, 2024
DeVos Place Hotel and Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
The Devos place is a premier convention center located in downtown Grand Rapids, MI nestled beside the Grand River for a picturesque riverfront backdrop. Devos place offers a unique combination of meeting and exhibition space to accommodate the Chaldean Convention.
The Chaldean Catholic Church is a descendant from the Church of the East, an Ancient Church located in Mesopotamia that can trace her roots to Mar Addai (St. Addai) and Mar Mari (St. Mari), disciples of St. Thomas the Apostle. Today, four churches claim patrimony from the Church of the East: The Chaldean Catholic Church, The Assyrian Church of the East, The Ancient Assyrian Church of the East, and The Syro-Malabar Church.
- Mass will be celebrated in the Chaldean Rite in the English language predominantly. Mass prayers will be displayed on the screen for all to participate.
- The Catholic Church is composed of various Rites, both Western and Eastern Rites. There are 23 Eastern Rites, of these the Chaldean Catholic Church is one of them. To be an Eastern Rite means that the Church retains her identity and tradition, liturgical, spiritual, etc., but has full communion with the Pope of Rome.
All programs and sessions will be in English. Daily Masses will be celebrated in both English and Surath (modern Syriac dialect) languages.
Registration includes entrance to all main programming, including general sessions and breakout sessions. Registration does not include meals or housing.
No, the event will not be live streamed and we encourage you to join us in person for the full experience.
Please email info@chaldeanconvention.com if you are interested in volunteering and we will confirm availability and reach out to you. Due to the complexity of the event, not all who apply will be accepted.
Thank you for your interest, please email info@chaldeanconvention.com in regards to becoming a vendor or sponsoring and we will be in contact with you.
We are here to help! Visit our contact page to reach out to our team or email info@chaldeanconvention.com
- Check-in will begin on Friday, June 28, 2024 at 10 AM at the DeVos Place Convention Center. Additionally, all check-in information will be provided to registered attendees via email prior to the event.
- For those staying at the Amway Hotel, check in begins at 4PM. (Early check-in may be available if the Hotel has availability). Baggage can be held by the hotel prior to check-in.
- Amway Grand Plaza 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (Conference room block pricing is available to book for dates June 28-June 30 for 2 nights).
- For those who decide to arrive prior to Friday, you will need to organize a hotel elsewhere due to availability.
We highly encourage all attendees to attend the whole convention to deepen their faith and receive the full experience from listening to our amazing speakers.
Registration includes all three days of programming. Even if you arrive late or need to leave early, registration will admit you to all events. Please inform us if you have to arrive late so we can ensure a late check in.
Visit our Speakers page to view our lineup of speakers. We’ll be adding additional speaker information throughout the upcoming months.
There will be opportunities for daily confession, guided adoration, and Holy Mass.
Convention programming includes general sessions and breakouts sessions, featuring Chaldean Catholic speakers. There will be evening guided adoration and opportunity to socialize.
VENUE INFO
No, you cannot bring outside food into the venue. There are many local restaurants in Grand Rapids that you can visit.
- For those who are staying at the Amway Hotel, there is a parking garage connected to the Hotel and you may park there at the discounted rate offered to us from the Amway.
- DeVos Place has parking conveniently located under the convention center. Access to the parking lot is on Michigan Street and Lyon Street. Please note you cannot access the underground parking garage if you are heading West on Michigan Street. No left hand turns are permitted due to a semi-permanent concrete berm installed for a new crosswalk.
- Additional parking may be available in the City-County Building on Monroe Avenue (across from DeVos Place) or several other parking structures within walking distance.
- For the Amway Hotel, no shuttles are offered as the Amway Hotel is connected to the Devos Place.
- Shuttle busses to and from metro Detroit and Grand Rapids will be available at no additional cost for those who are traveling internationally or from outside of Michigan.
Yes, it is highly encouraged that you carpool with friends or family. Please feel free to coordinate the efforts on your own with those who you will travel with. Our team will not be coordinating the efforts to travel to and from Detroit and Grand Rapids.
Food is not included, however, there will be breaks throughout the day for you to enjoy one of the countless number of restaurants within walking distance from the Devos Place. Visit experiencegr.com/ restaurants for restaurant information.
There will be breaks throughout each day with the late evenings at your leisure. Visit experiencegr.com for your local guide of Grand Rapids.
REGISTRATION INFO
Registration will close May 14, 2024.
- Early bird registration is $175 USD through February 10, 2024.
- From February 11, 2024 the cost will be $199 USD.
- 50% refund before May 14, 2024.
- No refund will be available from May 14, 2024.
Please email info@chaldeanconvention.com for any registration updates or questions.
There will not be one-day passes available, we encourage you to attend the full convention.
HOTEL/TRAVEL INFO
Following registration for the convention on our website, you will be directed to the Amway Hotel booking link to reserve your hotel with the group rate.
You are responsible for your own hotel cancellations should you have to cancel attending the convention. Cancellations must be made with the hotel 48 hours prior to arrival in order to avoid a one night’s room and tax fee.
Depending on the hotel’s availability, you can arrive early on Friday or stay late at a regular nightly rate. You can also choose to stay at a hotel of your choice in the area at your own discretion.
Dress comfortably, but modestly. We are attending a church event; thus, we ask for respectful attire. Your best bet is dressing the way you would for a daily or evening mass. We encourage you to go online and find a travel packing list to guide you in your packing.
HOTEL/TRAVEL INFO +
For outside of Michigan attendees.
You can arrive in Metro Detroit or Grand Rapids as early as you would like! The convention begins in the early afternoon on Friday June 28, 2024 in Grand Rapids.
The convention will end in the late morning on Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Grand Rapids. You are welcome to stay in Grand Rapids with a regular room rate or travel to the Metro Detroit area for a stay if you see fit.
Depending on where you would like to stay and when you plan on flying in, you can either fly into Grand Rapids (GRR) or Metro Detroit (DTW).
If you are traveling from outside of MI, we will have complimentary travel buses available to and from the Metro Detroit area to the Grand Rapids Devos Place. We will need to know by May 14, 2024 if you will be utilizing this service or finding your own means of transportation to and from Grand Rapids from Metro Detroit. Buses will pick up and drop off at Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield, MI.
There are a number of hotels in the Grand Rapids and Metro Detroit area for you to stay in. You can either find your own hotel or we will provide accommodations at a “Convention Rate” at the following hotels in the Metro Detroit Area (coming soon).