Bélanger's
gathering
in L'Islet-sur-Mer
on june 18th 2000
Some 525 Bélanger and
friends got ready, as Armand Bélanger did, for the long trip to
celebrate our ancestors. It was a symbolic reunion. Early in the morning
there was a gathering to meet one another. Two American Genealogists, Jim
Bélanger and Ronald-George Bélanger, were there with their
computers to help find ancestors to those who expressed the interest.
The Mass celebrated
by Bélanger Priests was full of emotions because five families living
on the ancestral lands without interruption since the XXVIIth century were
honored. Many appropriate gifts were given to each including an "olympic"
medal engraved with their names for labour of work well done over the years.
One of them received a designer'style picture of the planting of a Bélanger
tree at Cana, Galilée, during the passage in Israël of the Pope,
by Capucin priest Jacques-Toussaint Bélanger.
Following a copious meal in
Montmagny, commemorative plaques specific to each one, were presented to
them. These five families are:
Laurent Bélanger, Prudent
Bélanger, Paul-Robert Bélanger, Philippe Bélanger, tous
de l'Islet-sur Mer
et, Marcel Bélanger de l'Ange-Gardien.
Commemorative plaques
were also presented as a gesture of appreciation
for the labour of work well done
for the preparation of the Bélanger Gathering à:
Florent Bélanger, Armand Bélanger
et Fernand Bélanger
Presentation of the plaque
to Fernand Bélanger
by Florent Bélanger
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Presentation de la plaque
to Armand Bélanger
by Florent Bélanger
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The Côte du Sud choir
conducted by Guy Bélanger, whom also sang during the Mass, enchanted
the audience by appropriate songs. Marie Roberge with her scenic art group
of Montmagny brought the audience to the XXVIIth century with their costumes.
Alain Laberge and Pierrette Morais presented a bit of history. Even a youth
fashion parade took place; presented by Les Boutiques L'Ensemblier and Inter-Sport.
On the parvis
of the Church of Notre-Dame du Bon Secours of L'Islet-sur-Mer each of the
five Bélanger cast off an helium balloon containing a message of peace
for the far away person that may receive it.
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