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Quinceañera
Hispanic tradition reconnects young ladies with Church values
By Ambria Hammel, ahammel@catholicsun.org
November 6, 2008
It’s a coming of age, a time to re-commit oneself to the faith and to become an adult.
For many Hispanic girls turning 15, it is tradition to stand before the altar and promise to live a life of virtue. This is the quinceañera.
“They’re consecrating their purity to Christ until they enter into marriage or the religious life,” said Anthony Gleich, coordinator of youth ministry at St. Mary Parish in Chandler.
Gleich constantly works with teenagers from his program to prepare them for the blessing and celebration. The parish celebrates a minimum of two quinceañeras each month and Gleich said there could be more if resources were available.
“It’s in demand. It’s a big business,” Gleich said.
Emma Cervantes, coordinator of quinceañeras at St. Martin de Porres Parish, agreed. She sets aside the last Saturday of each month for quinceañeras. Sometimes she’ll also coordinate one the night before as well.
The trend isn’t limited to the Phoenix Diocese.
In the last several years, bishops nationwide have taken note of the upward trend in quinceañeras, so they sought an approved order for the blessing. In September, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops published “Order for the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday.”
“Young people come to the Church and ask for this blessing,” said Sr. Doris Turek, SSND, multicultural specialist for the Secretariat of Divine Worship Office of the USCCB. “In this age, how many young people ask for a blessing?”
The blessing
Stephanie Castaneda came forth last month. She celebrated her quinceañera Oct. 18 at St. Mary’s.
“It was very emotional — just the whole idea of doing a Mass just for you,” Castaneda said.
Some parishes, like St. Mary’s, let the young lady choose some of the readings.
Her mom chose the first reading and Castaneda chose the second. She selected a passage from the first book of Corinthians that defines love, but also talks about reasoning as a child versus reasoning as an adult.
Shortly after that, Castaneda presented a short prayer as an offering to God and a symbol that she has matured into a young woman ready to serve her Church and the community.
“Now everyone knows I’m a young woman,” Castaneda said.
Alexis Montaño offered a similar prayer to Jesus and Mary during her Oct. 25 quinceañera at St. Martin de Porres Parish.
“Be my model of a valiant woman, my strength and my guide,” Montaño prayed at the pulpit. “Take my heart then and make me a worthy daughter of yours.”
Gifts such as a religious medal, Bible, rosary, prayer book or other items to support the young woman on her faith journey are traditional according to the U.S. Bishops’ office. A crown, ring, necklace or bracelet is common as well.
Deacon Jose Olivarez, who presided over the ceremony, then called forth the parents and sponsors, who held up a crown, necklace and ring for the deacon to bless.
Each piece of jewelry symbolizes something. Montaño’s uncle and aunt placed the crown on her head to symbolize eternal life and a ring on her finger as a promise to love others and strive to become a better person.
They also adorned Montaño with a necklace bearing a medallion of Mary as a reminder of her faith. She then offered a bouquet of roses to an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and knelt down in prayer.
“God has led you by the hand for these 15 years and now today He has led you back to the altar,” Deacon Olivarez said.
He challenged Montaño to think more about how she’ll use her “shower of talents” in her home and community.
Maintaining tradition
Being prepared to live independently and begin to support the family is what quinceañeras were once all about, said Emma Cervantes, who coordinates the rite at St. Martin de Porres.
By age 15, mothers would have taught their daughters to cook, make clothes and upholstery and other skills necessary for maintaining order in the home.
That tradition has roots in various cultures — including a coming of age ritual for boys — but the connections are rapidly fading, Cervantes said. The girls don’t even know how to cook or do laundry, she said.
“It’s a big problem right now in the families,” Cervantes said. “It’s a big mistake.”
To combat that, she requires the teenagers to attend three classes to learn about the tradition and understand the role faith plays in it.
Hispanic cultures maintain that the women are the torchbearers of the faith. They make the home a domestic church.
“Hispanic women are the evangelizers and teachers of values, yet their leadership has often gone unrecognized,” according to the U.S. Bishops’ Web site. “The Quince Años blessing publicly acknowledges this historic role.”
While the “Order for the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday” doesn’t require specific preparation, Sr. Doris with the U.S. bishops’ office said some sort of preparation period is recommended.
Gleich requires the girls to be an active part of the teen program and complete 10 hours of community service before their quinceañera. He encourages the girl’s court — or support system and witnesses at the ceremony — to do the same.
“It’s Christ who called them to be there for her,” Gleich said of the court. There can be as many as 15 in the court, one for each year of her life.
“Their job is to step in if she’s in danger of losing her purity,” Gleich added.
Both parish leaders also require the girls be baptized and have received their first Communion. They encourage the teenagers to go to confession before the ceremony as well.
A reception and dancing often follow the ceremony.
“The party is just a plus,” Montaño said.
She wanted the blessing more than anything.
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