INDIANAPOLIS — Valentina Guerra-Pena is just weeks away from her Quinceañera, a celebration in the Hispanic community for a girl's 15th birthday.
"It's another year that God has given you and it's a day that we celebrate kind of like a sweet 16," Valentina said.
Valentina's celebration will start with a religious service at St. Patrick's Church in Fountain Square.
A large portion of the church's members are from the Hispanic community. Over the last 28 years, thousands of Quinceañera services have been held at the church.
"So it's a traditional celebration, it goes back centuries and originally, it was an experience of womanhood, coming into womanhood. So a woman was eligible — eligible at 15, for marriage for running the household," Father Dennis Schafer said. "It's a dedication to Mary who is a model for women in being mothers and running a household."
After the service, Valentina is excited to wear her beautiful lilac dress covered in flowers that light up and dance with her friends and family where the rest of her celebration will take place at an event center. But, she also understands the importance of the day.
"I learned that the most important part of that day is coming and celebrating it in church because it's another year that God has given you," Valentina said.
-
Rice leads No. 16 Indiana past South Carolina
Myles Rice scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half and No. 16 Indiana defeated South Carolina 87-71 on Saturday.California health officials report first case of new form of mpox in the US
The first known case of clade I mpox in the U.S. was recently discovered in a person in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday.Ball St. fires coach Mike Neu after 4 straight losing seasons
Ball State fired coach Mike Neu on Saturday following four straight losing seasons since winning his only Mid-American Conference title.Southwest flight headed to Indy struck by gunfire at Dallas airport
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, while taxiing for takeoff at Dallas Love Field Airport, a Southwest Airlines headed to Indy was reportedly struck by gunfire Friday night.