Rites of Passage — Column by Mark Martinez
I attended my first Quinceañera this past weekend since moving to Idaho five years ago. I went to a lot of them when I lived in Southern California. However, it’s not a big thing in these parts of town.
You may be wondering, “What IS a Quinceañera? Also, what is phronesis?” More on the latter one in a moment. A Quinceañera is a traditional celebration in Latin American culture that marks a girl’s 15th birthday and her formal transition from childhood into young womanhood.
It’s a coming-of-age celebration with both religious and social significance. It represents the daughters transition to maturity, with an emphasis on faith, family, and personal responsibility. In short, a coming-of-age traditional celebration for this young lady which marks the milestone from being a little girl to becoming a young woman.
The celebration can vary widely from a simple event where the girl adorns a beautiful dress, guests bring gifts, food is served and everyone dances, to an extravagant and expensive event which functions just like a wedding ceremony, but nobody gets married. Regardless of how the ceremony is conducted, this rite of passage is something most Latina girls look forward to.
However, what good is a traditional event which implies the transition from childhood into adulthood if the teen does nothing to prepare for what it means to be an adult? Which is better, tradition or phronesis?
Phronesis is a Greek term for practical wisdom, involving the ability to make sound judgments and apply knowledge effectively in real-life situations. It emphasizes thoughtful action guided by experience and ethical understanding, contrasting with mere theoretical knowledge or empty tradition.
I’m so proud to say that the young lady whose Quinceañera I attended earned the right to her ceremony. She was a graduate of my CROP Ministries program, which mentor’s preteen and teen boys and girls into learning what it means to be an adult and then acting like one. She not only graduated the CROP program, but also earned her Quinceañera. In addition to the card and gift that I gave her, this is the personal letter I wrote to her:
“Thank you so much for inviting me to your Quinceañera. I am honored to share this special day with you, and I couldn’t be happier for the young woman you are becoming.
This celebration is more than a birthday—it’s a meaningful tradition that marks your transition from childhood to young womanhood. It’s a time to recognize faith, family, and responsibility as you step into a new season of life.
Through your one-year CROP mentorship journey, I’ve seen you reflect on who you are and who you want to become. Hearing your heart in those moments was a blessing to me, and I know God has placed in you a deep desire to grow in wisdom and character.
As you enter this new stage, life will bring both challenges and joys. You’ll experience deeper relationships, greater responsibilities, and sometimes, heartbreak. But remember this: hope is never lost. When you trust God through the hard times and choose to look for His goodness, you will find joy, love, and purpose.
Don’t forget what you learned in CROP—you can’t control what others say or do, but you can always choose how you respond. Life is beautiful, worth living, and full of opportunities to see God at work, no matter your circumstances.
From now on, you are responsible for your own growth—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Your family has laid a foundation, but it is up to you to build upon it. Who you want to be as a wife, a mother, and a friend begins now, in the decisions you make and the habits you choose to form.
The good news is you never have to walk this journey alone. Your mom, your family, your friends, your mentors—we’ll always be in your corner. And most of all, God is with you. He will guide you, strengthen you, and even when you drift, He will always welcome you home.
So, walk forward with courage, humility, and faith. Surround yourself with those who love you for who you are and never forget—you matter. God placed you on this earth with a purpose, and I am excited to see how you will fulfill it.
It is a joy to watch you grow into the woman God is shaping you to be. Congratulations on your Quinceañera—may this be the beginning of a beautiful new chapter in your life.”
