Michelle Duppong

 I never heard of her until I read a blurb about her in a church bulletin and read that her feast day was on Christmas. She died the same age I was viewing it. I felt compelled and inspired to look up and research more about her. 

Fast forward, almost a year later, and I'm excited to see a documentary about her. It was so interesting, engaging and touching to learn more about her life, her work as a FOCUS missionary and then as the Director of Faith Formation and even just her ordinary life and family and friends speaking about her. She seemed very normal, very cheerful. My mom and I both had tears at the end of the documentary. 

On Christmas Day this past year, I was sick and wasn't able to make it to Mass. I thought of Michelle and felt close to her- she was sick and in bed with cancer for almost a year and died on Christmas Day 2015. This small cross I felt I could connect with her.

 Looking back, I feel she chose me, (as the saying goes, you don't choose the Saint/Blessed etc. they choose you) and feeling inspired and encouraged by her faith, her mission, her service, her joy. Now she is a Servant of God, and on her way to becoming a saint! I want to remember to pray to her often.