Biography 

Michelle Christine Duppong was born on January 25, 1984. She grew up in a Catholic family who made their living farming and ranching in the rural community known as Haymarsh in western North Dakota. Like all her siblings, she frequently helped the family around the farm, always doing her part from gardening, to herding the sheep and feeding the bottle lambs. From a young age she was intensely interested in her faith but, as she matured, Michelle was not content with simply learning about her faith, she wanted to live it fully and help others do the same. Besides being in numerous extracurricular Church and school activities as a teenager, she was a pro-life advocate, praying at abortion facilities and participating in Right to Life marches.

In her college years at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, Michelle continued to grow in her faith and spiritual life, which especially blossomed through the Catholic campus ministry program called FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) at NDSU’s St. Paul’s Newman Center. After completing her degree in horticulture in 2006, Michelle’s desire to bring others closer to her dear Lord was realized by becoming a missionary with FOCUS, seeking to evangelize college campuses, by giving students a chance to learn about Catholicism as well as opportunities to practice their faith together. As a FOCUS missionary, Michelle was responsible for leading Bible studies, mentoring students, and organizing events that promoted Catholicism on four different campuses in three states for the following six years of her life.

Michelle's work as a FOCUS missionary was instrumental in shaping her approach to evangelization and ministry. She saw firsthand the impact that a strong faith community could have on young people, and she committed herself during that time to helping students deepen their relationship with God and the Church. Her passion for evangelization and her ability to connect with young people made her a highly effective missionary, and she was loved by the students she worked with.

In 2012, Michelle discerned that God was calling her to another evangelization ministry, and she accepted the position of Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Bismarck under the leadership of the newly appointed Bishop David Kagan. Serving the Church in this role, she coordinated many significant events such as the first THIRST conference and made herself available to perform outreach faith instruction to parishes within the diocese using her talents and missionary zeal. Some of her simple, yet inspiring, diocesan podcasts can be found on the website, bismarckdiocese.com, under News>Presentations/Talks>Parish Formation Series, as well as her writings known as the Run to Win column for the Dakota Catholic Action publication, in the years of 2013-2015.

On December 29, 2014, Michelle was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 4 abdominal cancer, which began a year-long journey that brought many joys in the midst of sorrows and great suffering. She received everything with a docile spirit, praying that the Lord’s will be done and trusting in His Providence for her future. She never asked, “Why me?” but, instead trusted that God would care for her in life and in death. Although she often felt helpless laying in a hospital bed, the last year of her earthly life was spent in complete service of the Lord continuing her most fruitful work as one of God’s servants and pouring her love out on those around her. The beautiful soul of Michelle Duppong, 31, passed from this life on Christmas Day, 2015, at the home in which she was raised, surrounded by her loving family. 

Michelle will be remembered by those she encountered as a spirited woman of God who loved to have fun and spread joy. Aside from constantly opening her own home to share her faith and enthusiasm for music and dancing, one of her greatest joys was in sharing her love for Haymarsh and the family farm with others. Her joyful personality and authentic interest in others led her to have many genuine friendships. Her work as a FOCUS missionary also lives on in the many students she mentored who have gone on to become leaders in the Catholic Church and other ministries, themselves. Her legacy continues to inspire and guide those who seek to live out their faith daily and make a difference in the lives of others. Her simple life showed that heroic virtue and sanctity is for everyone.

Michelle Christine Duppong’s cause for canonization was opened in June 2022 by Bishop Kagan, and she was named a Servant of God on All Saints Day, the same year. 

Prayer

Jesus, I praise and thank you for the life of your servant Michelle Duppong. in her life and suffering, she joined you in your thirst for souls and embraced the cross offered to her. Following her example, I ask for the special grace of [personal intercession] and, if it brings you greater glory, that she be honored by your Church. Jesus, I ask this in your Holy Name.
Amen.