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.
Please Read: Quinceañeras Requirements
In order for the young lady to celebrate the Quinceañera within the Mass or in a Liturgy that is not mass a communion service, she and her family must comply with the following requirements:

  1. The family of the Quinceañera must be a registered, contributing, and active parishioner for a minimum of six months before the initial interview.
  2. The Quinceañera must have already celebrated her Sacraments of Initiation:  Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation are required to submit a copy of certificates.
  3. The Quinceañera must first reserve the date with the church before reserving the hall for the party, at least six months to one year in advance.  At St. Mary’s site Quinceañeras are celebrated late Friday afternoons at 4:00 pm or Saturdays at 1:00 PM. At Mater Christi site the Quinceañeras are celebrated Friday afternoons (tbd) and Saturdays at 1:00 pm or 3:00 PM. There will be blackout dates during some of the liturgical seasons of the church such as Holy Week, Christmas week and others. The Hispanic Ministry coordinator will confirm the date with the priest or other presider of the celebration.
  4. Quinceañeras are in English or bilingual. A quinceañera in Spanish depends on the availability of one of the priests.
  5. There is a limit to 5 damas and 5 chambelanes because the churches are both small. Appropriate dress is required for both damas and chambelanes. Quinceañeras take place at Mass or a Communion Service and happen in the church. Honorees and their attendants/court must dress modestly. For this reason, sleeveless or strapless dresses are strongly discouraged. This includes both the honoree and all attendants/members of the court. Dresses must be at least knee length. Honorees or attendants who arrive in dresses that are sleeveless or strapless must wear a shawl or other suitable cover-up. No visible cleavage, bare midriffs, short length, high slits, skin-tight, low cut necklines, or backless gowns are allowed.
  6. The Quinceañera will prepare the liturgical celebration of the Mass; Select  the First Reading, Second Reading,  (assign the readers), the Gospel, and the  Prayer of Consecration to the Blessed  Virgin. A coordinator may assist in the preparation of the celebration. The quinceañera will be provided with a kneeler and chair in the main aisle for the celebration.
  7. The Quinceañera must also coordinate the rehearsal schedule with the presider; date and time, assign the role of all participants and sponsors so everyone knows the liturgy on the day of the celebration.
  8. The parents arrange the music for the celebration in collaboration with the presider.
  9. The celebration of the Quinceañera can be in the context of a mass, communion service or the Liturgy of the Word.
  10. If the family of the Quinceañera wishes to invite another priest to preside at the Mass, the family is responsible for his compensation.
  11. The church requests a donation of $300 for families that have been registered parishioners for at least a year. The donation is $500 for a parishioner that has just registered. The donation for the Church is due at time of reserving the celebration. It is nonrefundable.
  12. The parish has various bilingual musicians for the celebration. Their fees vary. The family is responsible for paying the fee for the musician before the celebration. The musician is to be paid before the celebration. Arrangements are to be made with the musician.
  13. The donation for the presider is $150. If altar servers are present a suggested donation of $20 per altar server is appropriate.
  14. If you would like to arrange the church flower arrangements are permitted on the floor in front of the altar, No flowers are permitted on the altar. The church is decorated at various times of the church year by the art and environment committee. No flowers are arrangements are to be moved out of the place in the sanctuary. Access to decorate the church is only ½ hour before the ceremony.
  15. Bows, ribbons, and flower arrangements may be used to adorn the pews in the center aisle. No tape, wire, pushpins, thumbtacks, or anything that would damage the pew is allowed. Pew clips or ribbons are acceptable. Candelabras, arches and artificial columns are not permitted in the center aisle. The decorations must be removed immediately before leaving the Church. The Church is not responsible for decorations or arrangements.
  16. Photographers work at the discretion of the party and at the discretion of the priest/presider officiating the ceremony.  Photographers are not allowed in the sanctuary area during the ceremony. Please introduce yourself to the priest before officiating the ceremony.  Receiving lines in the church after the ceremony are strongly discouraged as this does not allow time for photos afterward. Videographers should be unobtrusive and appropriately dressed during the ceremony.  The set up time allowed is 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.  Please introduce yourself to the priest officiating the ceremony.  Videographers are not allowed in the sanctuary area during the ceremony. Videographers must work with the church’s lighting conditions. (Artificial lights including flash are no permitted during the ceremony.) The equipment must be completely broken down by twenty minutes after the quinceañera.
  17. The quinceañera, her parents, godparents, damas and chambelanes must be at Church 15 minutes before the ceremony. The quinceañera will start on time. It can be cancelled or abbreviated by the priest or presider if it does not start on time. There will be no time for photos after a quinceañera that begins late.