Dear Friends,
I LOVE the Saints! Their lives are a stunning testimony to the beauty of living for Christ. For instance, St. Joan of Arc is a beautiful example of courage; her love and trust in the Lord gave her the strength to lead an army and defend France. Or think about St. Catherine of Siena, who stood up to church and political leaders, giving everything she had for the Church. Yet, as inspiring as they are, their stories can sometimes feel distant. Most of us aren’t called to lead armies or debate the Pope, and that can make their lives feel a little less relatable to our daily struggles.
I had the opportunity to watch Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story, a beautiful and moving film that tells the story of Servant of God Michelle Dupong. Michelle served as a FOCUS missionary for six years and later worked in adult ministry, giving her life to inviting others into the love of Christ. Despite facing an immense battle with cancer, her faith remained unwavering, and her interior prayer life radiated outward to everyone she encountered.
Michelle passed away on December 25, 2015, at the age of 31. In June 2022, Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck, North Dakota, announced the opening of the diocesan investigation into her life, a step toward her potential beatification and canonization. While at the screening, my friends, our campus missionaries, and I met a man who had been on her FOCUS team during her first year as a missionary. He shared some personal memories and further insights into Michelle’s life. It was such a gift from God to make this connection and to get a greater glimpse into her life and the impact she had on him.
Journey to Sainthood
Watching Michelle’s story unfold on screen was inspiring. It reminded me that sainthood isn’t reserved for those who perform great miracles or live lives of extraordinary fame. Rather, it’s a call to live with intentionality and selflessness in whatever circumstances we’re given. Michelle’s life shows us that sainthood is attainable—it’s a matter of daily, humble acts of love and perseverance.
In her final days, despite her own suffering, Michelle always focused on others. She had done this her for many years at this point in the very intentional way that she lived her life, so when she was faced with this hardship, it wasn’t a second thought but rather was instinctual. When her doctor came to deliver the difficult news that her illness was terminal, Michelle’s response was not about herself; instead, she gently asked him, “How are you doing?” Her empathy was so unexpected that he had to leave her hospital room.
Perhaps you are thinking, “I haven’t experienced suffering like that.” But consider the crosses in your life, whether they’re ongoing stress from a challenging job, schoolwork, or difficult relationships. This kind of suffering might not seem as dramatic as physical pain or persecution, but it can still be deeply painful. Michelle’s example reminds us that we aren’t called to live without suffering, but to unite our suffering with Christ and to lean on Him.
Living a Life of Joy
In conversation with her former teammates, Steve, he described Michelle as a quiet, humble, and unassuming person. She didn’t seek to make a big impact in a flashy way, and she wasn’t making monumental things happen, but rather she lived a simple life. She transformed lives in small, gentle ways, focusing intently on each person she encountered, making them feel truly seen. Many of her friends and former students spoke about how she had an incredible ability to notice things in others that they couldn’t see in themselves.
Michelle’s joy radiated from within, a joy not born from an easy life, but from her relationship with God. This joy endured through her suffering and pointed to her deep thirst for heaven and eternal union with Christ. Her life is a reminder that true joy isn’t about being happy all the time but about living with purpose and hope rooted in God.
I find it incredibly comforting that she was just a normal girl like us—someone who went out for ice cream with friends, was silly, danced, and cried. We are all called to sainthood, and this journey is lifelong, not something that happens overnight. What I’m taking away is a renewed desire to grow in holiness, to pick up my crosses, and to live as the unique, beloved daughter I was created to be, inviting others to see Christ through my witness. My hope is that you do the same, and that together we grow in this community toward sainthood.
A Final Prayer
Servant of God Michelle Duppong, thank you for your example of faith, humility, and love. Please pray for us, that we may live our lives with the same devotion and courage you showed, radiating joy even in times of suffering. Amen.
With love and prayers,
A Catholic Girl Striving for Sainthood
AKA Jillian
