Foundress of the Order of Presentation, Sr Nano Nagle died 225 years ago.
Her work around issues of justice led to her inspiring sisters all over the world.
She was born into a wealthy family in Ireland during a time when it was illegal to be Catholic, and worked with Irish children deprived of education because of their religion.
By visiting the poor and sick, she became known as the Lady with the Lantern, and was believed to live on by bringing hope to a dark world.
The sisters came to Dunedin in 1950.
Today, there are three in Dunedin and two in Milton.
They carry out pastoral ministry education and prison chaplaincy work.
Sr Veronica Casey said their work was shaped by "the needs of the day".
The special Mass was followed by a lunch and the sisters were happy to celebrate the "courageous and valiant woman" with others, Sr Casey said.
For Sr Noreen McGrath, the day was about "recalling a woman who became an inspiration which has flowed down through the years".
She was especially touched by a song written by Fr Chris Skinner called Nano's Song.
The song was about symbols which represented her, such as the lantern, and how she chose to "walk tomorrow's road".
The "very special day" was marked by about 3000 sisters of the order around the world, Sr McGrath said.
