Following her graduation in 2006, Duppong started a FOCUS missionary and, during the subsequent six years, worked at four institutions: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, South Dakota State University located in Brookings, University of South Dakota in Vermillion, and University of Mary in Bismarck.

Those who served alongside her were impressed by her genuineness, straightforwardness, and commitment to fulfilling God’s intentions. Duppong effortlessly connected with students, expressed her affection for Jesus, and elucidated the Catholic faith.

“It came effortlessly to her; it was simply her identity,” Sarah Herth, 40, a FOCUS missionary who served with Duppong for a year in Lincoln, Nebraska, shared with OSV News. “She possessed a genuine and sincere longing to understand the individual she was encountering.”

Mark Bartek, who became acquainted with Duppong via FOCUS and acted as her regional director, remembered her as an individual who was “truly exceptional at friendship.” He also conveyed to OSV News that she had a profound wish for others to come to know Jesus.

One of his cherished recollections of Duppong is when she acquired a toy armor set, complete with a shield, sword, and breastplate. On these items, she inscribed instances of physical mortifications, like sleeping without a cushion, enduring cold showers, and skipping meals. Then, keeping in mind the depiction of the “armor of God” from Ephesians 6:10-18, she invited a few students she was guiding to select a piece of armor, choose an individual to pray for, and undertake the specified mortification for that individual for a week. Following that week, the students reported to her that they found the exercise quite challenging.

“She (Duppong) mentioned, ‘That’s because souls are connected to this moment,’” Bartek, 44, noted, suggesting that Duppong possessed a “comprehension that the Lord utilizes suffering to draw souls nearer. I often reflect on that concerning her cancer, just that lovely insight she held.”

Bartek and Herth were part of the FOCUS missionaries who encountered Duppong’s parents during the SEEK23 conference organized by FOCUS from Jan. 2-6 in St. Louis. The event featured the showing of a FOCUS-created documentary about Michelle named “Thirst for Souls: the Michelle Duppong Story.”

For a couple of hours after the movie, individuals confided in Ken and Mary Ann Duppong about how their daughter’s narrative had impacted them. Some were “in tears expressing that they experienced a transformation of heart and desire to draw nearer to Jesus, and this (movie) motivated them and provided them hope,” Mary Ann remarked.

Both Herth and Bartek mentioned that they pray for the intercession of Michelle Duppong — as does Bishop Kagan, who officiated her funeral Mass and started her cause for sainthood, a formal acknowledgment that she resides in heaven.

“I often express, ‘Now, Michelle, you are aware of my role as bishop since you have been here and we have collaborated for a significant period, so assist me in being the finest bishop I can be today,’” he shared with OSV News. “I can affirm that she’s keeping me in her prayers, and I sense the strength of her intercession.”

As Duppong concluded her project with FOCUS, she penned a letter to Bishop Kagan, recently appointed to oversee the Bismarck diocese in 2011. She expressed her desire to assist his diocese in whatever capacity possible. He appointed her as the director of adult faith formation. Right from the start, she captivated him with her enthusiasm, organization, and unwavering faith. She conducted parish missions, initiated a podcast, and led a three-day Eucharistic conference that attracted thousands to the Bismarck Civic Center in 2013.

In December 2014, Duppong had an operation to tackle abdominal discomfort that doctors thought was due to ovarian cysts, but the surgeon found widespread cancer instead. That procedure initiated a year filled with medical care and what relatives characterized as significant distress.

Amidst everything, they hoped for a miracle through prayer. In January 2015, following a dedicated period of prayer, Duppong conveyed to her family that she had received a message from Jesus, promising her healing. As her cancer advanced, she realized that her healing would be of a spiritual nature rather than a physical one. However, she chose not to share this with her family, as she did not wish to lessen their hope, according to Mary Ann Duppong.

Regardless of her situation, Michelle Duppong never voiced any grievances, according to her mother and sister. Rather, she constantly directed her attention towards others and willingly endured suffering and treatments for the sake of others’ well-being. Her happiness and altruism shone brightly to her guests, healthcare providers, hospital personnel, and beyond, including via a CaringBridge online journal that attracted over 230,000 views throughout her illness.

“She never once succumbed to the temptation to, so to speak, indulge in self-pity,” Bishop Kagan remarked. “As her pain intensified, so did her readiness to endure the hardships.”

Duppong ultimately went back to her family home for hospice care. She passed away late on Christmas night, encircled by her loved ones. Following her passing, they started to gather narratives about how Duppong had touched the lives of others — and more frequently, those narratives featured accounts of spiritual encounters and healings ascribed to her intercession after death.

Bishop Kagan was also presented with those testimonies, which eventually motivated him to initiate an official inquiry into her life. The process of canonization can be prolonged and is by no means guaranteed. If the diocesan phase concludes that Duppong exhibited “heroic virtue,” the gathered documentation would be forwarded to the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

The materials would subsequently be examined and forwarded to the pope, who may designate Duppong as “venerable” for her courageous virtues. Following this, a miracle must be confirmed before Duppong can be proclaimed “blessed.” An additional verified miracle would be necessary for the designation of “saint.” 

“We cannot officially recognize individuals as saints before the Church does, but we can definitely celebrate their virtues,” Bishop Kagan remarked. “Michelle was a wonderful young lady who adored Christ, cherished the Church, and genuinely aspired to be a saint. I believe that anyone who ever encountered her would reach the same conclusion.”

Additional details regarding Michelle Duppong and her mission for canonization can be found at available here. The documentary titled “Thirst for Souls: the Michelle Duppong Story” referenced has not been made publicly available as of now.

Maria Wiering is senior writer for OSV News.