Sister Nancy Murray made her way through the crowd in St. John's Student Parish Friday night, greeting the audience with a heavy Italian accent, embodying her alter ego — St. Catherine of Siena.

Sister Murray, the older sister of acclaimed comedian Bill Murray, spent the next two hours throwing herself into the role with vivacity for a diverse audience made up of students, children and adults.

"Sister Murray is someone who, in our minds, is the most famous of the siblings in the Murray family," said Father Mark Inglot as he introduced the Adrian Dominican Sister. "She's the best looking, too."

St. Catherine of Siena, played by Sister Murray, explained what it was like to be the 24th child in her family and not allowed to receive an education as a female in 14th-century Italy.

"You had to pay very close attention," Sister Murray said, addressing the males in the audience. "There were no girls in your class to tell you the answers."

The one-woman performance focused on the life and accomplishments of the saint. Sister Murray has portrayed her more than 260 times throughout the world.

Sister Murray's performance involved constant interaction.

"I am in the audience," she said. "Spontaneously, people become members of my family."

Sister Murray said her background led to her joining the order of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

"I come from a big Irish-Catholic family; I'm one of nine," she said. "I could relate to some of Catherine's story. My mother would be calling for kids, mixing the names up.

"As a child, I knew I had a spirituality, but I wanted to do a lot of things as a child. I didn't know the word extrovert at that point in my life, I didn't know my mother was an introvert. I thought her life was too boring, staying home with the kids and doing laundry."

As for her close ties to the star of "Caddyshack," whom Sister Murray affectionately calls Billy, she said some interest in her show is piqued because she is Bill Murray's sister.

"I think for many people that is an interesting (thought)," she said. "Bill Murray (is) related to a nun."

Sister Murray added that her profession has sparked a number of quips with her witty family.

"They do love to tease Nancy," she said. "The comedy in the family started at the dinner table. My birthday is on All Saints Day, so that has always been something."

Psychology and German freshman Claudia Molter said she was impressed with Sister Murray.

"She was very passionate about it," she said.

Sister Murray said she hopes to influence her audience during her performance.

"Through this presentation I hope people are able to see that each person is gifted in the way that generation needs," she said.

"We have the talent. What we need is the courage. There's been too much silence. People need to speak up — it isn't just nagging and whining."