Two Years In, Quinceañera Formation is Transforming Young Women, Families and Communities
Through a cherished Church tradition, the Magnifica por Endow Quinceañera program helps young women encounter Christ while strengthening bonds with friends, family and parish.
For Carla Reyes, the Quinceañera formation program by Magnífica por Endow answered a need. After participating in an Endow study in her forties, she found herself wishing she had encountered truths about feminine dignity earlier in life.
"I thought every girl should know this. Every mom should know this," Reyes said.
Around the same time, Reyes says she noticed a pattern among Hispanic families: young people turning to the Church for sacraments and celebrations, including Quinceañeras, without understanding their meaning.
When she heard about Endow’s Quinceañera program, she saw an opportunity to meet that need. With support from parish leadership, Reyes launched the program at St. Mary's Parish in Taylor, Texas, where Quinceañera Masses had become rare despite a growing Hispanic population.
Interest quickly spread. A neighboring parish adopted the program, and a priest from a community an hour away began sending girls to participate because, Reyes says, he believed so strongly in its formation.
This fall, three parishes in her area will collaborate in offering the 8-week formation.
“The program has so much to discover together,” Reyes said.
Two years after its launch, the Quinceañera, Created for God | Creada para Dios bilingual program has expanded to parishes in more than 25 states. Developed in collaboration with Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez, the program provides parishes with a formation resource for young women preparing for a Quinceañera.
“The goal was for parishes to have a solid formation resource for these young women and to provide a sacred space for them to encounter the Lord and one another,” explained Janeth Chavez, ENDOW’s senior director of Hispanic initiatives and a co-founder of the program. “Through the beauty of the Quinceañera tradition, the teachings of the Catholic Church and the witness of the saints, their faith is ignited, inspiring them to remain active in parish life.”
Chavez says some parish leaders who ask about the program know little about the Quinceañera tradition itself.
“But they see its value as a tool for evangelizing youth and their families,” she said.
“The first thing I have to say, this program works. It really works! Bishop Jorge Rodríguez
Formation and Community
Many girls begin the program because their parents enroll them.
“Some aren’t actively seeking faith formation themselves, and others aren’t even sure they want a Quinceañera celebration,” Chavez said.
Over the eight weekly sessions, many gain a richer understanding of their faith and learn the purpose of the Quinceañera celebration.
“It prepares their hearts and minds to celebrate the day as an act of thanksgiving to God for fifteen years of life, family and friendships,” Chavez explained.
In addition to studying foundational Catholic teachings, Chavez says that the program helps participants develop a habit of prayer, reflect on their role in family and society and build friendships.
An important aspect of the program is helping young women understand the history of the tradition and symbols they will encounter during their Quinceañera. This includes the crown, dress, flowers, change into high heels and other symbolic elements of the celebration.
“Understanding these traditions helps participants connect to their identity as beloved daughters of God and equips them to continue to pass on the Quinceañera tradition and its Catholic roots to the next generation,” Chavez explained.
The young women also enjoy learning about the saints highlighted in the program, particularly those saints who are close in age.
“They see young people like themselves responding to God’s call with courage and faith,” Chavez said. “They learn that holiness is something they can live right now.”
Discovering Internal Faith
Abril Olivas, a high school teacher and leader of St. Joseph Parish’s Quinceañera program in Denver, has led the course five times, with an average of 15 to 25 girls per session.
At St. Joseph, girls who wish to celebrate their Quinceañera at the parish must complete the program. Parish priests and religious sisters often join sessions and activities.
Olivas says the program builds connections through conversation and shared experiences, among the girls and within their families. All are also given the opportunity to receive sacraments they may not have received for years.
In addition to the regular sessions, the girls and their parents gather at St. Joseph’s on a Sunday midway through the program to learn about the liturgy and its meaning, 30 minutes before attending Mass together.
“The goal is to help the girls understand the Mass more deeply and equip parents to explain and model the faith for others,” she said.
The Marian focus of the program also resonates with participants. The girls learn about Mary’s life and role in salvation history in preparation for offering roses to the Blessed Virgin Mary during the celebration. Olivas says many are surprised to discover how young Mary was when she said “yes” to God’s call.
“Those who fully lean into the program often leave with a deeper sense of ownership of their faith,” she said.
Stories of Transformation
The program's impact is reflected in feedback from the 14- and 15-year-old participants (names removed to protect privacy).
"This program is the reason I'm having a Quinceañera Mass,” one young woman said. “Without it, I probably wouldn't have had one."
"How come I've never heard this before? How come they don't teach this to me in school?" another asked, having discovered new aspects of her faith.
For one young woman in Texas, the Quinceañera program helped her discover a new understanding of beauty and identity.
"This program helped me discover a lot about the tradition. I didn't know it was that deep,” she said. “Today's culture often distorts beauty and pushes a perfect image that we're all trying to reach. I learned that everything God created is beautiful."
“After this group, I no longer consider myself an atheist,” another young woman said plainly.
Increasingly, parishes and dioceses see the program as a way to engage the broader community. Some parishes are opening registration to young women who are not having a Quinceañera Mass or party, or who do not belong to the parish.
Chavez recalls a story of a grandmother in California who brought her unbaptized granddaughter to participate in her parish’s Quinceañera program.
“As a result of that experience, the young woman decided to enter the Catholic Church,” Chavez said.
Lasting Formation
Reyes, who volunteers her time as St. Mary’s Quinceañera Formation Coordinator in Taylor, Texas, has also seen the program become a point of connection for entire families. While some families initially question an 8-week commitment, she says they quickly see the value of what their daughters receive.
"I heard over and over from parents that the girls were communicating and excited to share what they learned," Reyes said.
The program at St. Mary’s concludes with a retreat for parents and daughters. Participants pray together, hear reflections from clergy and create keepsakes. The girls themselves reflect on their experience with the community before taking part in Confession and Mass.
Previous participants and their families are invited to return for the retreat to share their testimonies and fellowship with the participants, helping build a stronger faith community within the parish.
Reyes believes the program offers young women a foundation that can be hard to find elsewhere.
"The girls discover the truth of what the Church teaches and the beauty that God sees in them,” Reyes said.
