The celebration of a Quinceañera is a time of thanksgiving to God for life, family, and community. The following are guidelines for your family as you prepare for this big day in the life of you beloved daughter at Santa Sophia Catholic Church. We know that this day is very important and we want to make sure you know what to expect as you prepare for the celebration.

The date may be reserved only once the parents and Quinceañera have met with the Pastor, and, the Parish Office has received a down payment. All the required documents must be submitted along with the final payment 2 weeks before the ceremony. Required documents are in BOLD below, and vary depending on the Quinceañera; please carefully read the policy that follows.
 

1. The family must be registered and active members of the Santa Sophia Parish, or must present a letter showing they are registered at their parish.

2. The quinceañera must be baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and should have received first Holy Communion and Confirmation. If the quinceañera has not yet received Confirmation (or the other sacraments), she must be registered in a preparation program and provide proof of this (e.g. a letter from the religious ed director). Please provide copies of the Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation certificates.

3. The quinceañera and her parent(s)/ guardian(s) must have a meeting with the pastor to talk about the meaning of the celebration. This can be brief, after Mass on the weekend.

4. As Christians we are called to Christian service. We recommend that the quinceañera participate in at least one service project, organized by the Youth Ministry, or any other parish organization, between the start of the preparation and the Quinceañera ceremony.

5. We offer Quinceañera ceremonies on Saturdays at 1:00pm (private) or during the regular 4:30pm Saturday Mass.

6. The entrance and exit procession for private celebrations will include the parents, godparents, the quinceañera, and the Court.

7. If the Quinceañera celebration is during the regular Saturday 4:30pm Mass, the quinceañera is accompanied by her parents during the entrance procession, but they will not process out.

8. Everyone participating in the ceremony must be present at a rehearsal 30 minutes before the celebration. Make every effort to be on time!

9. The quinceañera, parents, godparents and all other participants are encouraged to receive the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) prior to the quince. Confession times.

10. The cost:

• $400 for use of church facilities and ministers
• $200 for musician

Option 2:
$250, During the 4:30pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, and musician fee is waived.

To Secure the Date:
$100.00 non-refundable deposit must be paid to book the church, after the parents and Quinceañera have met with the pastor.

Remaining amount to be paid in full two weeks prior to the ceremony
 
Music and flowers are not included in this cost listed above. Musicians’ fees are $200 for Santa Sophia musicians. If you have an outside choir/ musician, you need to verify with our music director at Santa Sophia to be sure that they are approved. If the Quince is during the 4:30pm Mass, the musicians’ fee is waived.
 
Flowers are permitted at the foot of the altar and by the ambo. Decorations are limited. The altar table cannot be decorated at all. No adhesive tape on the pews or decorative ribbon hanging on the side of the pews. Decorative arches are not permitted.   

For more information, please contact the parish office at (619) 463-6629 or at [email protected].