THE HONORABLE CHIEF JUDGE
TREVOR M. JEFFERSON &
MS. RENE VANESSA M. COLEMAN
INVITE YOU TO A CELEBRATION OF
SLOANE AVERY &
HARPER LEIGH
AT THEIR FESTA DE QUINZE AÑos
WHAT IS A FESTA DE QUINZE AÑOS?
Our family celebrates the Festa as a coming-of-age ceremony to celebrate the transition from childhood to young adulthood. In our family, the Quinze, as the 15-year old candidate is called, carries 247 years of recorded stories and traditions. We can trace our Assumpḉao, Barros, Byrd, Coleman, DaSilva, de Burgo, Gonḉalves, Jefferson, Leonor, Lomba, Martin, McCoy, Monteiro, Newsome, Pina, Stebbins, and Washington ancestors back to the 1780s. They hail from far away countries like the Cape Verde Islands, Mali, Portugal, Senegal, and Spain. We also share deep American roots in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Virginia.
Historically our family would host a party to attract fellow nobles into a strategic marriage. We embrace a more modern approach and host this Festa de Quinze Años to simply celebrate the twins being amazing humans.
RSVP by November 20, 2026
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We also welcome newer traditions that pay homage to our Southern African-American and Southwestern American roots. Join us in a celebration of love and thanks for fifteen years of faith, accomplishments, advocacy, perseverance, and love.
As is tradition, our Quinze must complete all Catholic Sacraments of Initiation into our Catholic faith. We were honored that Retired Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr and Father Grzegorz Okulewicz performed the twins’ Sacrament of Confirmation.
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SERVICE
In addition, our family’s Quinze candidates must complete a year of service and personal growth exploration preceding the year of their 15th birthday.
Their year of services included
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interviewing Dr. Perotti, an ocean acidification scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
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protesting the unjust treatment of vulnerable populations and advocating for social justice,
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volunteering for over 50 hours at the St. Martin of Tours Food Pantry,
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Twenty+ miles of swimming for heart and lung health,
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visiting Catholic shrine and relic sites such as Notre Dame and Saint Chappelle in Paris, St. Giles in Edinburgh, and Westminster Abbey in London.
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Serving as camp counselors for St. Francis of Assisi's faith formation summer camp, and
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Participating in the 2026 Archdiocese of Washington DC's Teen Exult Conference.
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TRADITIONS
You will see some Festa de Quinze Años traditions:
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Placement of the bouquet to our Mother Mary during the Presentation to signify deep thanks for her grace and protection throughout the Quinze’s 15 years.
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The presentation of a new Catholic rosary and heirloom jewelry worthy of the newly acquired young adult status.
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The placement of a crown signifying the transition to young adult status.
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The Mirror Dance: The Quinze’s last dance as a youth mirrored by a representative of her younger self. The twins have chosen their younger sister, Ellis Marie Pascal Thea, to serve as their sole Dama in a symbolic performance.
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Changing of the Shoes: The parents and Padrinos gift the Quinze with her first pair of young adult shoes. Traditionally these are high heels or stilettos, but the twins have more interest in expanding their collection of authentic New Mexican boots.
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