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Retreat / Preparation
Dates

Dates coming soon!
Congratulations on your desire to celebrate with family and friends an important transition in your faith life as a follower of Christ. We look forward to praying and celebrating with you.

The quinceañera is a traditional celebration of life and gratitude to God on the occasion of the fifteenth birthday of a young Hispanic woman. The ritual emphasizes her passage from childhood to adulthood. The family usually requests a Mass or a blessing to be held in the Church. The rite is frequently celebrated in several countries in the Americas, including Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. It is frequently requested by Hispanic Catholics in the dioceses of the United States of America.

In the presence of family and friends, the young woman (the quinceañera), often accompanied by young men and women of her choice (damas y chambelanes), enters the Church in procession, together with her parents and godparents. If she has prepared the readings, she may serve as the lector for at least one of the readings. After the Liturgy of the Word, the quinceañera makes a commitment to God and the Blessed Virgin to live out the rest of her life according to the teachings of Christ and the Church by renewing her Baptismal promises. Then, signs of faith (medal, Bible, rosary, prayer book) which have been blessed and may be given to her. A special blessing of the quinceañera concludes the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The parents, in coming to the parish Church seeking the blessing, acknowledge that their daughter has reached the age where she is capable of handling additional responsibility. They see the quince años Mass or celebrations as a way to thank God for the blessing of their daughter’s life and to seek God’s blessing and guidance as she enters adulthood. The extended family, (grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles and cousins) is usually present, to celebrate with the quinceañera, padrinos other couples acting as sponsors, may bring forward the blessed religious articles which are presented to the quinceañera.

If you would like to celebrate your Quinceañera at St. Paul VI Parish, please contact the Parish Office at 708-447-1020.
Click here to download the document with all the information below.

Click here to see the worship aid fees.
Celebrating Your Quinceañera at St. Paul VI Parish
Congratulations on celebrating your fifteenth birthday! Celebrating your Quinceañera is a way to celebrate the passage from childhood to adolescence. When a young woman turns fifteen, there is a custom of coming to the Church to give thanks to God and to our Mother Mary for being part of the young woman’s life and to ask for a blessing. The mass of thanksgiving is usually celebrated with family and friends present. After the Liturgy of the Word, the young woman renews her baptismal promises and makes a commitment to God and to the Virgin Mary to live her life according to the teachings of Christ. After the religious celebration, the celebration usually continues with a dinner and dance in honor of the young woman.
 
Here are some important considerations before planning a Quinceañera:
  • The family must be registered and contributing parishioners at St. Paul VI Parish for at least three months.
  • The Quinceañera should have celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation) or be enrolled in Religious Education. Copies of those certificates will need to be supplied if those sacraments were celebrated at another Parish.
  • To demonstrate your desire to raise your child as a practicing Catholic, we ask the family, including the Quinceañera, to actively participate in the Parish, attending Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation in accordance with the Precepts of the Catholic Church, before and after the Quinceañera Mass.
  • The Quinceañera must attend a retreat/preparation class along with her parents.
 
If you would like to include music as part of the mass (which we recommend), contact our Music Director, Scott Williams ([email protected]), for a list of approved musicians or groups.
 
We do not regularly schedule Quinceañeras on Sundays or during Lent, but they may be done on a case-by-case basis. We do not permit the following in Church: throwing flower petals, blocking pews with banner/runner decorations, or lit candles. The Church is available one hour prior to the Quinceañera for setup and preparation, as well as thirty minutes after for pictures.
 
After all the above requirements are met, you may visit the St. Paul VI Parish Office to pay the requested Quinceañera Mass stipend of $400 (or deposit), fill out the required paperwork, and reserve the date for your celebration. The stipend paid in full is required two weeks prior to the Quinceañera. You must schedule your date, if available, at least six months in advance after you’ve met the following requirements: registered and contributing, a copy of your baptismal certificate, visit the Parish Office to pay the requested stipend, and fill out the required paperwork.
 
We’re so happy to celebrate this sacred time with you! If you have any further questions, please reach out to us. We look forward to celebrating your Quinceañera! 
Initial Contact
​Each family must meet with a priest at least 6 months, in advance of any possible Quinceañera date. No date for Quinceañera will be considered firm until this meeting has taken place. The priest will meet with you to set Quinceañera date and review the necessary steps in the Quinceañera process. 
Required Documents
  • A record of Baptism (baptismal certificate).
  • A record of Confirmation, if Catholic (issued within the last six months) or proof of Confirmation preparation enrollment.
  • Additional documents as needed, as requested by the consulting priest.
Church Addresses
St Mary’s Church - 105 Herrick Road, Riverside
Mater Christi Church - 2401 S. 10th Ave, North Riverside
Facilities
St. Mary Church has a seating capacity of approximately 375.
Mater Christi Church has a seating capacity of approximately 300.
Both churches are fully air-conditioned. Both churches have beautifully landscaped grounds that are perfect for photographs. Mater Christi also has the Mother of Mothers Shrine. 
Parking and Handicap Accessibility
Both churches have elevators and accessible parking. Parking at St. Mary is in our parking lot. Parking at Mater Christi is available on 10th Avenue in the angled parking on both sides of the street. 
Parish Times For Quinceañera
Time for the Quinceañera Liturgy on a Saturday is 1pm or 2pm
Quinceañeras can also be held on a Friday. The time can be between 4 and 6pm.
Other days of the week may be an option depending on the parish calendar.
(There are absolutely no Quinceañeras or rehearsals on Thursdays at St. Mary.)
Retreat/Preparation
Retreat/Preparation
The parish will have retreat/preparation dates scheduled quarterly for each family to attend. It is required that each young lady and her parents attend this retreat/preparation. It is meant to be a prayerful and enriching experience for all the individuals involved. Readings and prayers will be discussed at this time. The Liturgy will also be reviewed. This is so that everyone understands their role and the order of events, including their location.
 
Please check the parish website for the list of dates. Please sign up for the date of your choice by contacting the parish office once you have made your selection, so that enough materials can be prepared for all those who will be in attendance.
Readings
Please see the parish website to select your readings. These will also be discussed at the retreat/preparation class.

Click here for reading options.
Universal Prayer / Prayers of the Faithful / Intercessions
These will be discussed at the retreat/preparation class.
Music for the Quinceañera
The music for the Quinceañeras is coordinated with Scott Williams, the Director of Sacred Music for St. Paul VI. Additional instrumentation, such as a violin or other instruments, can be added to the celebration. Please let Scott know if you plan to use a guest instrumentalist, in addition to an organist/pianist, other than the Music Director. To ensure the liturgy is as reverent and beautiful as possible, we highly recommend hiring a professional cantor for your Quinceañera, a process Scott will gladly help you with. Family instrumentalists or cantors are warmly welcomed, provided there is an opportunity for Scott to hear them before the Quinceañeras. If an outside musician/accompanist is hired a bench fee may apply. Please contact Scott at 708.447.1020, extension 108, or email [email protected]
Quinceañera Coordinator
The first contact with the parish Quinceañera coordinator should occur at least two months before the Quinceañera date. By that time, all questions regarding fees, parish requirements, documents, and preparation instructions should have been answered. Also, arrangements should have been made for music, photography, florist services, readers and readings, ministers, and altar servers.
 
It is the job of the Quinceañera coordinator and priest to gather all this information, consult with the family regarding their desires for the kind of Mass they want, make suggestions based on their experience and parish requirements, and put it all together to ensure a happy and trouble-free experience. This can be done in person or by phone, and worksheets and forms should have been given to the parties so that all this information can be cataloged and agreed upon.
Email: [email protected]
Quinceañera Stipends and Donations
St. Paul VI Church                 $400.00
Organist/Pianist                     $300.00
Soloist/Cantor                         $225.00* rates may vary
Quinceañera Coordinator  $100.00
Priest                                             $150.00
Three Altar Servers                $20.00 each (if available)
​
The church donation is to be paid upon confirmation of the Quinceañera date.
All other stipends and donations are to be paid one month before the Quinceañera.
Worship Aid
The parish can prepare a worship aid for you upon request (additional fees apply). If you choose to provide your own, please ensure that you submit it to the Quinceañera coordinator before printing to confirm its liturgical accuracy.
Visiting Clergy 
​If a priest or deacon from outside the Archdiocese of Chicago is to officiate or concelebrate at your Quinceañera. In that case, it is Archdiocesan policy for him to provide a “Letter of Good Standing” from his bishop or religious superior. That letter must be sent to the parish at least two weeks before the Quinceañera date. The letter should be mailed to St. Paul VI Parish, 40 E Burlington, Riverside, IL 60546. 
The Rehearsal
The Quinceañera rehearsal is typically conducted by the priest and the Quinceañera coordinator, based on the information already discussed. Every effort is made to accommodate the wishes of the family. Rehearsals are typically scheduled for the evening immediately preceding the Quinceañera date (no Thursdays at St. Mary) and last between 45 minutes and an hour. Participants in the Quinceañera must arrive on time to prevent interference with other church functions. At this time, all outstanding fees, gratuities, and any required documents are submitted to the Quinceañera coordinator for distribution on the day of the Mass. 
The Quinceañera Day
The Quinceañera coordinator will open the church in enough time to greet the other service providers i.e. the florist, photographers and any guest musicians, altar servers or communion ministers and help them decide on locations, remind them of the parish requirements regarding the maintenance of the solemnity and religious nature of the Mass, and make them aware of where they can find the things they need to do their jobs and be as unobtrusive as possible. They will also greet the members of the Quinceañera party, the families, and guests, direct them to their respective staging areas, line them up, and send them down the aisle as rehearsed.
In general, she will be there for the Quinceañera, the celebrant, and anyone else who needs her help.
 
Nothing can be thrown as the Quinceañera leaves the church. This includes rice, confetti, and glitter. Bubbles are allowed.
More Information
Parish Office Contact Information
Phone: 708-447-1020
Email: [email protected]
Photography & Videography
Please print a copy of these guidelines for your photographer/videographer.
 
Your Quinceañera is a sacred and meaningful celebration. All photographers and videographers, whether professional or amateur, are expected to respect the sanctity of the Mass and the sacred space in which it is held. Please review the following guidelines carefully. After doing so, please provide a copy to your photographer and videographer to ensure they are fully informed and in compliance with the requirements.

  • All photographers and videographers must check in with the parish Quinceañera coordinators before the Mass to review guidelines and policies.
 
  • All photography must be completed 30 minutes before the start of any Liturgy. If the Mass begins late, the available time for photos will be shortened accordingly.
 
  • Flash photography and additional lighting are permitted only during the entrance procession, the recessional, and the presentation of flowers to the Blessed Mother.
 
  • Flash photography and additional lighting are not permitted during the liturgy itself.
 
  • Video equipment must be unobtrusive, and the Quinceañera coordinators must approve its placement. Equipment and personnel are not allowed within the tiled area surrounding the baptismal font, piano, and organ. No equipment may obstruct the view between the musicians and the main altar, nor be placed behind the piano or organ bench.
 
  • Except for the recessional, all video equipment must remain stationary during the Mass.
 
  • Taping or attaching microphones and other audio/video equipment to church furnishings is not allowed, as it may cause damage.
 
  • Photographers and videographers must avoid standing on or placing equipment on pews or any other church furnishings to prevent damage. Please refrain from being in the area with the altar.
 
  • Time-exposure photography may be conducted from the back of the church during the Mass, provided it is silent and non-disruptive.
 
  • After the Mass, the Quinceañera and family may return to the church for photos. At that time, flash and other lighting equipment may be used. Must be finished thirty minutes before the scheduled Liturgies.
 
  • St. Paul VI Parish equipment may not be used under any circumstances.
Flowers
The Quinceañera will make arrangements for flowers with a florist of their choice.
Please print a copy of these guidelines for your florist.
 
  • No floral arrangements, candles, hurricane lamps, trellises, canopies, ribbons, aisle runners, or other decorations are allowed in the aisles or on the pews.
 
  • Flower arrangements and candle stands in the sanctuary should not obstruct the liturgical movements of the Mass.
 
  • Flowers can never be placed on the altar.
 
  • If the area around the altar is decorated for the Liturgical Season, it is not changeable. No items may be removed or added to this area.
 
  • Aisle runners are not allowed.
 
  • Flower petals must not be dropped inside the church during the processional or outside after the Quinceañera.
 
  • All flowers/decorations must be removed from the church immediately after the Mass by the family.
 
  • St. Mary Church has twelve rows of pews down the center aisle.
 
  • Mater Christi Church has eighteen rows of pews down the center aisle.
 
  • The church will be open for decoration no more than one hour before the Quinceañera Mass.
 
  • All arrangements and decorations must be secured using removable items, such as hangers, string, wire, or rubber bands. No tape or sticky material may be used. It ruins the finish of the furniture.