What religious ceremony may precede a quinceañera in families with a Catholic tradition?

A Catholic Mass may precede a quinceañera in families with a Catholic tradition.

This service is often called a quinceañera Mass or a Misa de Acción de Gracias, meaning a Mass of thanksgiving. It can include prayers, Scripture readings, a blessing, and a presentation of the honoree to the congregation.

The religious service is not required for every quinceañera. Some families hold a church ceremony because of their faith, while others organize a civil, secular, or entirely family-centered celebration. Practices also differ among parishes and countries.

A quinceañera Mass is distinct from baptism, First Communion, and confirmation. Those are separate Catholic sacraments or rites with their own meanings. The quinceañera service is generally a blessing or thanksgiving connected with the fifteenth birthday, not a sacrament that makes the honoree an adult.