What is the name of the quinceañera’s formal religious ceremony when the celebration begins with a Catholic Mass?

Misa de acción de gracias is the name commonly given to the Catholic thanksgiving Mass associated with a quinceañera.

The Spanish phrase means “Mass of thanksgiving.” In a religious quinceañera, the celebrant and her family may attend this service before the reception. The quinceañera may receive a blessing and present symbolic items such as a Bible or rosary, depending on local practice and parish customs.

The service is not the same as a wedding Mass or a confirmation. A quinceañera is a cultural coming-of-age celebration, and Catholic families may combine religious observance with a party, formal dance, and family traditions.

Practices differ between countries, parishes, and families. Some celebrations are entirely secular, while others begin with a Catholic service. The phrase identifies the thanksgiving Mass, not every possible religious ceremony connected with a fifteenth birthday.