THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DINA BELANGER

Dina wrote her autobiography in obedience at the request of her superiors and it has now gone through several editions. The original is in French. Translations also exist in English, Spanish, Italian and German.  In this way the words of Jesus, «You will do good by your writings » are fulfilled.

On the 29th of September 1995, the fifth edition of the Autobiography in French was launched at the Provincial House of the Religious of Jesus and Mary in Sillery, Canada and on the 29th of July, 1997, the third edition of that in English.

These new editions are preceded by a presentation by Father Francis-Mary Léthel, Carmelite, and Professor of Theology at the Teresianum in Rome.  He analyses Dina’s account and brings out the salient points of her spiritual journey.

POSTAGE STAMP IN HONOUR OF DINA BELANGER

On the 4th September, 2007, the 78th anniversary of her Dina’s death was marked by the Religious of Jesus and Mary of Sillery, Quebec with a Mass which was concelebrated by Father Christian Beaulieu , 25 priests and some deacons.

After the celebration, about 500 people gathered in the Dina Belanger Hall to watch the film, « To know and admire Dina », followed by the song, « Beggar of Love », which was interpreted by Madame Sonia Laliberté and the composer, her husband, Mr Louis-Martin Lanthier.

This was followed by the official launch of a memorial stamp of Dina, designed by Mr Daniel Abel, painter and photographer.  This stamp has been adopted as a permanent stamp by Canada Post.  In this way Dina continues to travel across Canada, for it is still in use, the price being established by Canada Post.

APPRECIATIONS OF BLESSED DINA BELANGER

It was remarked that after the beatification of Dina Belanger, given the fact that she is the first person recognized as Blessed to have been born in Quebec, that she was particularly recognized and appreciated by various groups.

8th October 1996, a copy of the picture of Dina, which had been displayed in Rome for the beatification, was placed in the entry hall of the Diocesan Office in Quebec.

29th September, the “filles d’Isabelle” unanimously agreed that from thenceforth their group would be known as Etat Dina Belanger

11th June 2009, under the presidency of M le Cardinal Ouellet, then the Archbishop of Quebec, the banner of Dina, as a Eucharistic witness, joined that of the founders of the Church of Quebec in the Eucharistic procession that went round the streets of Quebec during the Eucharistic feast that took place after the Eucharistic Congress.

24th January 2011 Father Louis Martin Cloutier SJ, on the occasion of a talk about the Apostolate of Prayer, announced that Dina Belanger had been chosen officially as a patron of the Movement for Canada and Haiti.

In the College Dina Belanger of St Michel de Bellechasse, at the Jesus and Mary School of Beauceville and at the College of Jesus and Mary of Sillery, Quebec, an annual  “Dina prize” has been created as an award to a student  for high achievement in art. 

INTERNATIONAM YOUTH - SUMMIT DINA BELANGER

On the 26^th of June 1997, at the Provincial House of the Religious of Jesus and Mary at Sillery, Quebec, the official opening of the “International Youth Summit of Dina Belanger” took place. This was an international meeting of students of “Jesus and Mary” from 15 to 20 years old, organised in the context of the centenary of the birth of Dina and in the hope of sharing a joyful celebration and  international friendship, in living faith and commitment to those in need, all this in the light of the witness and example of the life of Dina Belanger.

123 young people, accompanied by some Sisters of Jesus and Mary, from 15 countries took part in the meeting, coming  from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, England, France, Gabon, India, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Uruguay and the USA.

During the meeting there were displays by the different delegations, conferences, visits to the places where Dina had lived as well as to the old city of Quebec, boat trips; work-shops, times of prayer and sharing, Eucharistic celebrations and visits to the poor and needy. There were cultural presentations, which underlined the multi-cultural aspect of the Summit, as well as a concert from the Music School of Jesus and Mary at Lauzon, with performances with the clarinet and saxophone, songs and interpretations of some of Dina’s compositions.

The Summit ended on the 2^nd of July with a Farewell Celebration so as to take  something of this experience of walking in the footsteps of Dina out to the whole world. All the participants were given a certificate of participation as they left for home.

ACTIVITIES AND APPRECIATONS: PUBLICITY STALLS

Throughout the celebrations of the birth, death and beatification of Dina Belanger various activities have been organized to make her better known, above all in Canada, by means of liturgical celebrations, the creation of shrines, publications, conferences, power points, videos, stage productions, festivals, the unveiling of plaques, commemorations, programs on Radio Galilee, Radio Canada and on the television about her life and spiritual journey. 

There were also a few greatly appreciated stalls where all kinds of information could be obtained:

From the 16 to 22 June 2008, during the Eucharistic Congress in Quebec, an event of great importance in order to make her better known,  a stall for Dina was set up in the Exposition Hall.

Other stalls should also be mentioned :

28th October 1993 in the Mall of St Roch, accompanying the film of a life of Dina, « The garden of Love »

15th February, 2000, at Lameque, New Brunswick, on the occasion of an exhibition about « The religion of our ancestors »

26th April 2001, at the Jesus and Mary School at Beauceville, for a fortnight during the mid-day break.

18th June 2006, at the Convent of the Dominican Adorers of Beauport, Quebec, on the occasion of the diocesan celebration of Corpus Christi.

26th September 2008, at Beauceville at the request of the Committee of Culture of the town, on the occasion of the week of culture.

16 – 17 May 2014 at the College Garnier at Quebec on the occasion of the Youth Festival.

MUSICAL THEATRE

On the 22nd January a press conference was held in order to launch to the general public, as an official event of the 400^th anniversary of the City of Quebec, the “Musical  Dina”, both words and music by Mr Louis-Martin Lanthier.

The announcement was made with the words “It's official, Dina Bélanger will be the star of a musical play for the 400^th Festival. It was on the occasion of the 49^th International Eucharistic Congress that the play would be first presented, from the 12^th to the 22^nd of June 2008, to be later repeated from the 25^th September to the 5^th October, all in the Dina Bélanger Hall of the Jesus and Mary College of Sillery.

The producer, Bruno Marquis, was responsible for the completion of the project, which included twenty or more singers and actors, accompanied by an orchestra of ten members  and with Myriam Brousseau in the role of Dina Bélanger”.

The Dress Rehearsal of the musical play Dina took place on the 12^th June in the presence of His Emminence  Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Bishops Mgr. Maurice Couture and Mgr. Pierre André Fournier, as well as dozens of priests, the civil authorities and a large audience.

The opening night was on the 14^th! The play was performed to capacity audiences for a total of 15 performances, to the enthusiastic applause of about 6000 delighted  spectators : adults – young people – religious – seminarians – priests - bishops         

MUSICAL ALBUM

On the 10^th November 1997 in the Dina Bélanger Hall of the Jesus and Mary College in Sillery, the CD of the musical works of Dine Bélanger was launched; Ricordanza, The Bells of the Abbey, Dream on the Saguenay, Cantique of Thanksgiving as well as the Mass 'Ricordanza', the work of Sr Cecile Kirouac RJM (a former piano pupil of Dina) on the theme of the piano piece of the same name, in  praise of the Adorable Trinity - this work was in homage to Dina on the occasion of the Beatification in 1993.  These pieces were played by Sr Rachel Fournier RJM, Pianist – Sr Annette Haché RJM, Soprano  - Sr Cécile Kirouac RJM,  Organist – Veronica Mathieu, Violin and the Jesus and Mary choir of Lauzon,

On the 22^nd May 2005, in the Dina Bélanger HaLL of the Jesus and Mary College at Sillery a musical album, entitled “The Courage to Love” was launched,  both the words and music being the work of Mr Louis- Martin Lanthier and provides an agreable account of Dina's life.