Journey to sainthood

It was a surreal moment for Ken and Mary Ann Duppong and their family on All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where Bishop Kagan made the formal announcement that he was opening a cause for canonization for their daughter, Michelle, giving her the title, Servant of God. This ordinary prairie girl from Haymarsh, North Dakota may, one day, be recognized by the Catholic Church as a saint.

The story of Servant of God Michelle Duppong is told in the newly released biography, Michelle Duppong: Hope in the Depths of Suffering, by Bismarck author, Patti Maguire Armstrong, with Stephanie Parks. Through the story of Michelle’s life, we come to know this ordinary farm girl who loved travel, visiting with friends, four-wheeling, pizza and Irish bands. But in the midst of her ordinariness was an extraordinary love of Jesus that she would not—could not—contain. She did not just want to be a saint, but “a great saint.” She craved heaven not just for herself, but for everyone.
 
After graduating from Fargo’s North Dakota State University in horticulture, it was a perfect fit that Michelle became a FOCUS missionary for six years promoting the faith on college campuses with the last year being at the University of Mary in her beloved North Dakota. From there, Bishop Kagan hired Michelle to be the Director of Faith Formation for the Bismarck Diocese. Besides sharing her deep faith with the staff, she reached out to the small-town priests and churches to put on missions, and she headed up the first Thirst Conference in Bismarck in which over seven thousand attended to listen to top Catholic speakers.
 
Cancer diagnosis
 
Michelle brought people to Jesus and celebrated the beauty of the Catholic faith even during her last year of life while fighting cancer. When she was diagnosed with benign ovarian cysts in late 2014, surgery was scheduled to remove them since the pain had become intense. To everyone’s shock, the expected routine surgery revealed there were tumors throughout her abdomen. Michelle was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given two months to live.
 
Michelle and her family were not alone in the fight against cancer. The story spread and an international network of prayer warriors united, and ultimately over 230,000 people prayed and followed her story on the Caring Bridge website. People continued to be drawn to Michelle during her last year, though dying and so often in pain, she comforted others and led them to Jesus. Michelle prayed for healing but trusted in whatever God’s plan was for her.
 
Michelle died at the age of 31 on Christmas Day in 2015, a year after the initial discovery of cancer. Almost immediately, her parents, as well as Bishop Kagan, began receiving sympathy cards and letters daily from around the country. People testified to the impact Michelle had on them, with many describing the graces obtained through her intercession. Most reported a deep peace and trust in God’s will after praying to Michelle. Her growing reputation for holiness led Bishop Kagan to open her cause for canonization. After the diocesan investigation is complete, it will be sent to Rome. If it is agreed that Michelle lived a life of heroic virtue, she will be given the title “venerable.” From there, a miracle is required for her beatification to be called “blessed” and another to be canonized as a saint.
 
Still stirring hearts
 
Msgr. James Shea, President of University of Mary, explained in the book’s foreword, that Michelle’s evangelization did not end with her death, but now continues on through the story of her life.
 
In the words of her spiritual director, Msgr. Thomas Richter, Michelle’s last year on Earth was a “twelve-month Holy Week”—a year in which illness and suffering did not interrupt her evangelization but instead fulfilled it.
 
Each chapter includes “In Michelle’s Words”—brief excerpts from her talks, podcasts and writings from a book assembled by Servant of God Michelle Duppong Guild—to help readers pray with her heart and live what she lived. Readers will witness a woman whose joy and faith is still spreading, whose sanctity continues to lead others to Jesus and whose hope-filled insights into redemptive suffering will help steady souls in their trials. For more information on the guild that works to promote awareness of Michelle’s life and ministry, go to michelleduppongcause.org.
 
Michelle’s example leads us all on a path to sanctity. Her life reveals how to practice present-moment trust in one’s relationships with God and others, and how to accompany others into deeper discipleship with Him. 
 
Get the new book
 
The new book, Michelle Duppong: Hope in the Depths of Suffering, is available for purchase at Amazon.com and other online retailers such as sophiainstitute.com and catholiccompany.com.
 
—Staff report