Eight adventurous Sisters of Mercy left Kinsale, Ireland, and landed in San Francisco on December 8, 1854. Their leader, 25-year-old Mary Baptist Russell, led the small band first into healthcare, as they nursed the City through the cholera epidemic the next year. Their ministries branched out into protection and education of young women, care of the elderly, prison ministry, and education. Remarkable for their compassion and competence, these sisters were soon joined by other young women.