Welcome! We look forward to celebrating your daughter’s Quinceañera with you. The best way to begin planning your Quinceañera is to contact our parish office to walk you through the process, discuss all sacramental, booking and facility usage requirements for the Quinceañera and review the necessary paperwork.
Contact Person:
(254) 773-4541
Re@stmarytempletx.org
Quinceañera Celebration at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Temple, TX
The Quinceañera ceremony is a traditional celebration of life and gratitude to God. While it is not a sacrament, it is offered as a beautiful act of thanksgiving for the young woman’s life and her baptismal call to holiness. It also provides an opportunity for her to publicly express her commitment to the Catholic faith and a life of discipleship.
At St. Mary’s, we hope that this preparation will be a prayerful and meaningful journey. The goal is to help the young woman grow closer to Christ and His Blessed Mother through formation, service, and reflection.
Liturgical Format
Because the Quinceañera is not a sacrament, the celebration may be held as either:
- A Mass (with a priest), or
- A Liturgy of the Word (with a deacon), depending on clergy availability.
By scheduling your Quinceañera at St. Mary’s, you acknowledge that the ceremony may be a Liturgy of the Word. The preparation and cost remain the same in either case.
Please note that scheduling a Quinceañera celebration at St. Mary’s may only proceed after proof of the required sacraments—Baptism and First Holy Communion—has been received and verified by the parish office. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we ensure that each celebration is rooted in a sincere commitment to the Catholic faith.
All paperwork must be submitted and approved by the Director of Faith Formation.
All music selections must be approved by the Parish Office.
Requirements
To celebrate a Quinceañera at St. Mary’s, the following must be completed:
- Sacramental Preparation
- Must be baptized and have received First Holy Communion
- Provide copies of Baptism and First Communion certificates
- Parish Registration
- Must be a registered and active member of a Catholic parish
- If not a St. Mary’s parishioner, provide a letter from your home parish
- Faith Formation
- Must be enrolled in a Confirmation program if not yet confirmed
- Provide proof of enrollment
- Complete the online formation course at CatholicQuincePrep.com
- Submit certificate of completion to the parish office
- Parent/Daughter Workshop
- Attend the required St. Mary’s Parent & Daughter Workshop
- Community Service
- Complete 5 hours of community service at St. Mary’s
- May include assisting the Quinceañera Coordinator
- Pastoral Meeting
- Meet with the pastor of St. Mary’s within one month of the celebration
- Reconciliation is strongly recommended during this time
- Deposit
- A $300 deposit (which will be returned if the Church is cleaned properly) is required.
- Deadline
- All requirements must be completed at least 30 days prior to the celebration date
Spiritual Encouragement
Quinceañeras are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to their celebration and to invite their family and court to do the same. This fosters a spirit of renewal and holiness for all involved.
Donation
In honor of this special celebration, we kindly suggest a donation between $200 and $500 to help support St. Mary’s Catholic Church. This contribution assists in covering the costs associated with the use of the Church, utilities, and other related expenses. Your generosity helps us continue to offer meaningful liturgical celebrations and maintain our sacred spaces with reverence and care. Thank you for your support and partnership in our parish mission.
Quinceañera Celebration: Planning & Decorating Guidelines
Decorating Guidelines
- Not allowed: glitter, rice, bird seed, lit candles, or aisle runners (due to safety and facility preservation).
- Do not use staples, tacks, or tape on walls, pews, furniture, or parish property.
- Only artificial flower petals may be used inside the Church—and must be picked up after the celebration.
- Flowers may be offered to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Leftover offerings will be used at Sunday Masses.
- All other flowers and decorations must be removed immediately after the event.
Clean-Up Responsibilities
- Clean-up is the responsibility of the family hosting the celebration.
- Please ensure pews, bathrooms, and all used spaces are cleaned promptly—other events may follow yours.
Prohibited on Church Property
- No alcohol, tobacco, or firearms are allowed before, during, or after the celebration.
On the Day of the Quinceañera
- All participants must be dressed and present at the Church 30 minutes before the ceremony.
- If the celebration starts late due to tardiness, the Security Deposit will not be refunded.
- Gifts to be blessed (Bible, rosary, crown, doll, candle, etc.) must be unwrapped and placed on the altar table before the celebration begins.
- All other gifts should be presented at the reception.
- No flash photography is allowed during the ceremony.
- Only the designated person or professional photographer may take pictures and must follow the presider’s instructions.
- Do not alter the existing Church decorations or room setups.
Dress Code
For the Quinceañera and Young Ladies
- Shoulders and chest must be covered. Use a shawl or jacket if needed.
- No deep V-necklines, high slits, midriffs, or short dresses (dresses must be knee-length or longer).
- No high heels (heels should be 1 inch or lower).
- No glitter on clothing.
For the Young Men
- No jeans. Wear dress pants only.
- Wear collared dress shirts—no t-shirts.
- No hats worn inside Church buildings.
Room Rental Information
- Contact the Parish Office to check availability of the Ave Maria Room or Regina Caeli Room.
- Security Deposits:
- Ave Maria Room: $200
- Regina Caeli Room: $250
- Full deposit is due in cash at the time of booking.
- If the space is cleaned and in excellent condition after the event, half the deposit will be returned.
- If additional cleaning is required, the entire deposit will be kept.
