LES RELIGIEUSES DE JÉSUS-MARIE

• Blessed Dina Bélanger (1897-1929)
  

The community of Les Religieuses de Jésus-Marie was founded in Lyon, France, the day following the French Revolution. Its founder, Claudine Thévenet, died on February 3, 1837 and was canonized on March 21, 1993 by Pope John Paul II. This woman devoted her entire life to easing the misery of the poor and to educating the young people of her community, especially those who were the most destitute. She was a special example of God’s kindness and forgiveness amidst a society in deep despair.

She followed the ideal set by God and prepared souls for Heaven.  She also made Jesus and Mary known and loved through the Christian education of young people. The community’s slogan quickly became: “Blessed be Jesus and Mary forever”. Since 1818, this community, which is today spread throughout 26 countries, has continued to work and live filled with the same spirit that they were filled with from the very beginning.  They work in music, private and trade schools, faith centres, childcare and senior facilities and are involved with parish pastoral programs, faith education and sacramental programs, missionary projects and humanitarian training.

Les religieuses de Jésus-Marie arrived in Canada on December 14, 1855, with the help of Mgr. Bourget. Actually, Mrg. Bourget permitted many religious communities to establish themselves in Québec City. Thus, after a rough voyage, the nuns of this community arrived in Québec City and settled themselves in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy (Lauzon), on the south shore of Québec City. Mother St. Cyprien, first superior of the Canadian foundation, gave spiritual and apostolic guidance that was strongly inspired by Claudine Thévenet. Fifteen years later, les Religieuses de Jésus-Marie opened a convent and boarding house in Sillery, on the outskirts of Québec City. This convent would become the community’s Provincial House. In 1873, the noviciate was transferred from Pointe-Lévy to Sillery. Take note that this community also welcomed Blessed Dina Bélanger in 1921.
 
By way of the Centre-Dina, a monthly newsletter entitled “Dina pense à vous” (Dina is thinking of you) can be sent to you by e-mail in either French, English or Spanish. Contact us for more information. 

Points of Interest:

• The Centre Dina Bélanger
• The Tomb of Dina Bélanger

Les Religieuses de Jésus-Marie
Maison Provinciale
2049, chemin St-Louis
Sillery (Québec)
GIT IP2

Telephone : (418) 687-9260 
Fax : (418) 687-1959
Email : centredinab@jesus-marie.ca
Website : www.jesus-marie.ca

LA BIENHEUREUSE DINA BÉLANGER (1897-1929)
Blessed Dina Bélanger

Dina Bélanger was born in the St.Roch Parish in Québec City on April 30, 1897.  She was raised by her pious parents, and studied first at the St. Roch Convent, then at Bellevue College. She then headed to New York to embark on two years of musical studies.  Her first profound experience with God occurred on March 25, 1908. She returned to Québec City in 1918.

Upon her return, she agreed to give a few piano concerts for charity, but eventually Dina Bélanger, along with her mother, decided to devote herself entirely to the poor. She entered the Noviciat de Jésus-Marie in Sillery in 1921, professing her vows two years later.  She then devoted herself to the educational undertaking of her own religious congregation, mainly through music education.  She died of pulmonary tuberculosis on September 4, 1929, at the age of 33.
 
Though she had numerous “mystical encounters” with Jesus, she never profoundly spoke of them at any other time other than in her autobiography, published in 1934. It is therefore this autobiography that teaches us who Dina Bélanger truly was, as well as the nature of her relationship with Jesus and Mary. According to the testimony that she gives in her autobiography, the mission that Jesus had confided to her was to guide souls to His Eucharistic Heart.  

Dina Bélanger’s spiritual life was marked by prayer, fidelity, and a trusting abandonment to God. It was also marked by her illness from which she suffered in complete serenity. Above all, she was at all times intimately connected with Jesus, her one and only Love, the path to the Holy Trinity. “Love and allow Jesus and Mary do what they will”, such was the motto that she lived by through her entire religious life.

Her profound and sincere devotion, her intimate relationship with Jesus, her loving, faithful and blind obedience to Jesus are the honourable qualities that attributed to her beatification. Dina Bélanger is the first person who was born in Québec City to be beatified. She was declared Blessed on March 20, 1993. The church celebrates her feast day on September 4.