A Catholic Mass is commonly held before a quinceañera reception.
The service is often called a Misa de Acción de Gracias, or Thanksgiving Mass, because it gives thanks for the celebrant’s life and asks for guidance as she enters a new stage. The quinceañera may attend with family and her court of honor.
The Mass is not required for every modern quinceañera. Families may hold a civil ceremony, a nonreligious celebration, or a party without a church service, depending on their beliefs and local customs.
A quinceañera is therefore both a social celebration and, in many Catholic families, a religious rite. It is distinct from a baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation, which are separate sacraments.