Quinceañera holds celebration with classmates
By Elsa Baughman
JACKSON — Ivonne Amaro Torres’ quinceañera celebration was different and special for two reasons: her partners, seven girls and seven boys, were all Americans and the religious part of the celebration included the baptism of her baby brother, Angel Jesus.
The “quinceañera” is a traditional Hispanic celebration in which a young woman celebrating her 15th birthday gives thanks to God for her life and faith. The ritual emphasizes her passage from childhood to adulthood and the occasion is usually marked with a Mass or blessing held in a church followed by a fiesta.
Father Joe Dyer, pastor of Forest St. Michael Parish, celebrated Mass for Amaro at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Saturday, April 18, at 3 p.m.
Amaro said she asked Father Dyer to be the celebrant because she grew up in Canton and attended Sacred Heart Parish where he was pastor. “He is very special to me,” she said.
About Amaro, Father Dyer said she was the most faithful altar server in the parish. “She is a leader,” he said, and laughing added, “if Ivonne ever went to a convent she would be the mother superior right away. She will never be a novice; she will go right to the top.
“She is not afraid to take over, she is very confident,” he said.
Father Dyer said the quinceañera celebration is almost like a mini-confirmation where the celebrant, in the presence of her family, partners and friends, renews her baptism promises. “I like it when families get together for religious reasons to celebrate something related to their faith. I think it is always a good thing,” he said.
Her partners, the ones with whom she danced the quinceañera waltz, are her classmates at Madison St. Joseph School.
Usually, the 14 partners are Hispanics or of Hispanic descent but Amaro said she doesn’t have Hispanic friends her age. “I am very happy and enthusiastic because this is going to be a special celebration where the races and cultures will mix,” she said days before the celebration.
Talking with some of her partners before Mass, they all said they were honored to be asked to be in the celebration and have learned a lot about another culture.
Jon-Vincent Holden said he was shocked when Amaro invited him because he can’t dance, much less dance a waltz. “It has been a challenge but I am glad she picked me,” he said.
By April 18, and after many practices, Alex Bohannon said he had mastered the dance and was enjoying the experience of being in a quinceañera fiesta.
Morgan Farmer noted being part of this celebration has opened her eyes about other cultures and doing things different. “It has been a good experience,” she said.
What caught his attention the most Victor Andrews said was the support Amaro has from her parents. “I learned that family is a great thing to have and I think we should all be closer to our family,” he said.
At the party, Amaro said, “I want to give thanks to God and to my parents for this day and for the opportunity to share this celebration with my baby brother who was baptized during the same Mass.”
For Ivonne’s mother the significance of the event is that her daughter is entering a new phase in her life. “She is leaving her childhood behind; she should now forge her goals for her future life,” she said.
After Mass, a fiesta was held at the Madison Square Center for the Arts.
A message on the invitation read, “ ... I want to thank God for giving me two guardian angels that have shown me how big his love is and who have taken care of me just like I am their biggest treasure.”
Late last year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Divine Worship released a ritual book for the quinceañera celebration, “Order for the Blessing on the 15th Birthday.”
It can be ordered online at http://www.usccbpublishing.org. The cost of the booklet is $6.95.
God for her life and faith. The ritual emphasizes her passage from childhood to adulthood and the occasion is usually marked with a Mass or blessing held in a church followed by a fiesta.
