Prerequisites
A quinceañera celebration is NOT a sacrament but a blessing.  If the candidate would like to have a blessing only at end of the regular weekend Mass, she doesn’t need to follow these guidelines. Please complete the Quinceanera Blessing Registration form found at the bottom of the page. If she would like to have private celebration of Liturgy of the Word, the celebration is a privilege permitted and prerequisites must be met:

• Each Quinceanera will be enrolled in religious education classes at Saint Martin de Porres, at least one year prior to the celebration, or a letter from the pastor or Director of religious education from the parish where the candidate is attending. 
• The Quinceanera must be baptized and must have received First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and be enrolled or confirmed in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Copies of all sacraments must be turned in with the registration form.
• If Quinceanera meets the requiremnts please complete the Quinceañera Registration Form

• The cost for a member of St. Martin de Porres is $600.00 + $100 clegy fee for the use of the Church. The member should be registered at least 6 months prior to the beginning of this registration.
• Exemptions:
  • The fee will be exempt for those who only want to have the blessing at the regular Sunday Masses.
• You are required to pay $100.00 deposit at the time of registration. The remaining is due at least two months prior to your celebration date.

• There will NOT be any celebration of Quinceanera on Sunday and any day during Lenten Season.
• The clergy has a full schedule.  Therefore, punctuality is very important at the rehearsal and the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word.  If you are not here, the celebrant will start the Liturgy of the Word without you. 
• The role of the candidate’s escort is more proper to the fiesta than to the service. Therefore, the Quinceañera is to be accompanied only by their parent(s) and godparent (s) in the procession, on entering and leaving, NOT by their escort.
• A mandatory rehearsal is scheduled the evening before or by special arrangement with the coordinator. the Quinceaneras, readers, and their parents and godparents must be at the rehearsal.   
• the candidate must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) before the day of the celebration, not at the rehearsal, in order to receive the Holy Communion. 

• The throwing of flower petals, rice, confetti, bird seed, etc., is not permitted on Church property, inside or outside the Church, before, during, or after the service.
• Only one photographer and one videographer are permitted. However, it can only be done from the right or left side of the sanctuary at the floor level.  They are NOT permitted to move around, especially in front of people, during the service.  No photographer may enter the sanctuary space to take photos. (The sanctuary is an area that is raised above the main floor). No artificial lighting is to be used and the use of flash photography is prohibited during the ceremony.
  • You need to inform a priest if you want to take photo with him because he needs to leave immediately for other schedule things. 
• Since a Quince Años is a commitment to one’s faith and the reaffirmation of the promises made at Baptism, it is an important religious celebration. We hope that the young people chosen as escorts will have an appreciation of the commitment being made by their friend and will be able to participate fully and respectfully in the liturgy.
• Proper Attire:
  • The style of dress chosen will be appropriate for any ceremony to be held in either in the Church or in the chapel.
  • The Quinceanera and her courts should dress modestly & respectfully demonstrating reverence for our Lord Jesus Christ and respect to all in this holy celebration.  
  • Young Men: Dress shirt, tie, dress pants, dress shoes. No tennis shoes or jeans allowed.
  • Young Ladies: Dress (long or short). Short dress hem should touch top of the kneecap when seated. Uncovered shoulders and backs, low cut, or high slits are inappropriate. No strapless or spaghetti straps unless worn with a jacket or shawl.
  • If the quinceañera party is not modestly dressed, they will not be allowed to participate in the Church celebration.
• Decoration: (The church may be decorated but not required)
  • two (2) arrangements may be used on the pedestals at the back wall behind the altar. Or two or one in front of the altar.
  • Uses of plastic clips, tape, velcro, staples, clamps, floral pins, etc., are not allowed for pew decoration. Bows, greenery may be used only if attached with a ribbon loop or the dispenser.
  • Runners are not allowed. The church should be left in the same order it was found.
  • If there is a wedding before the Quinceanera on the same day, the wedding will have priority of decoration.  The Church may be decorated after the wedding and no earlier than 60 minutes before the ceremony
  • If there is a wedding after the Quince Anos celebration, the decoration must be removed within 30 minutes after the ceremony ends if the wedding party choose to decorate their own.
  • If the quinceanera takes place during the season of Advent, Christmas or Easter, the Church decorations may not be disturbed and must remain intact.
• Food, beverages (including alcohol), and tobacco are not permitted inside the Church.
• The following quinceanera gifts are permitted to be blessed: bible, rosary, medals.
• If a Quinceanera wishes to wear a crown and jewelry she can; however, she must put them on before the service.  She will not be put them on during the service. 
• At the procession:  The clergy and altar servers (if there are), with the Quinceaneras and their parents and godparents, will form the processional. The Quinceaneras and their parents will go first and sit at their designated seat, and the clergy and altar servers will continue up to the sanctuary as normal.
• Since music is a very important part of liturgy, the hymns that will be played need to be liturgical hymns. Secular music, even if it is Christian music, will not be allowed. Visiting musicians/ choirs are allowed but they will need to follow the guidelines for choirs.