Mother M. Evangelista Fitzpatrick is an excellent example of the many brave Mercy women who travelled to many regions of the world throughout the nineteenth century.

In 1856, she led a group of four Sisters of Mercy from Baggot Street, Dublin, to establish a foundation in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a time of deep political unrest in Argentina, and religious women who were not cloistered were not safe there. Mother M. Evangelista received an invitation from the Bishop of Adelaide, South Australia, and in 1880 led the whole congregation (by then 24 sisters) from Buenos Aires to Adelaide, South Australia. From Adelaide, she led a group of six sisters to re-establish the Sisters of Mercy in Buenos Aires.  Mother M. Evangelista was known as a woman of patience, courage, and resilience.

Mother M. Fitzpatrick was born in Ireland to a family that was considered wealthy.

She was educated by the Loreto Sisters at Rathfarnham Abbey on the outskirts of Dublin. In her early years, Christina was already focused on caring for the poor, especially orphaned children. In 1845, she joined the Sisters of Mercy on Baggot Street, and Mother Vincent Whitty served as her Novice Mistress.

Mother M. Evangelista had a particular interest in the education of girls, but she and those who joined her both in Adelaide and in Argentina engaged in a wide range of the corporal and spiritual works of Mercy, including healthcare, pastoral and spiritual ministries, housing, and education. Evangelista, like Catherine, understood the importance of addressing the root causes of poverty, and her educational and social ministries were aimed toward this goal.

Evangelista faced a difficult decision when she decided to leave Argentina for Adelaide in 1880.

By then, some women from Argentina had joined the group. Evangelista likely felt that the political turmoil at the time left her with no other option but to prioritise the safety of the community.

St Aloysius College in Adelaide is very much in the Mercy tradition and many other schools in the State of South Australia have benefited from Mercy input. The Sisters of Mercy in South Australia have had a significant impact on justice issues locally, nationally, and worldwide.

McLay, Anne, “Women on the Move: A history of the Adelaide Sisters of Mercy, Ireland to Argentina 1856 – 1880, to South Australia 1880.  Published by the Sisters of Mercy Adelaide 1996.  ISBN 1 864 20 0987

Mary-Anne Duigan, “Death of M Evangelista Fitzpatrick, Foundress Of B” Mercy International Association, accessed 8 May 2024. https:/www.mercyworld.org/facts/death-of-m-evangelista-fitzpatrick-foundress-of-b/