What type of ceremony may precede a traditional quinceañera party in Catholic families?

A Catholic Mass may precede a traditional quinceañera party in Catholic families.

This service is often called a quinceañera Mass or a Misa de acción de gracias, meaning a thanksgiving Mass. It gives the family an opportunity to express gratitude and to seek a blessing for the celebrant’s future. The service may take place in a church before the reception.

Not every quinceañera includes a Catholic Mass. Families may be non-Catholic, nonreligious, or located in communities where the party is the main event. Some families choose another religious service or a secular ceremony instead.

A quinceañera Mass is not a baptism and does not make the birthday celebrant married. The broader celebration can include religious and secular parts, and practices differ considerably across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latino communities in the United States.