Father Christopher McEvoy was born in Queens County, Ireland, in 1840.
Before coming to Villanova College in 1866, he attended Notre Dame
University and Niagara College. In 1868 he entered the novitiate at
Villanova, Pennsylvania, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop
James F. Wood in 1871.
After ordination, Father McEvoy was stationed at Our Mother of
Consolation in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania; and in 1881 he opened the
first parochial school there, in the basement of the Church. From 1882 to
1890, he served as Provincial of the Province of Saint Thomas of
Villanova. As Provincial, he attended the Third Plenary Council in
Baltimore, Maryland, in 1884.
Father McEvoy next served at Villanova, where he was President of the
College, Prior of the Augustinian Community, and Pastor of Saint Thomas of
Villanova Church. He also served at Saint Denis' in Ardmore, Pennsylvania;
at Saint Augustine's in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and, again, at Our
Mother of Consolation in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. Still later, he was
stationed at Saint Mary's in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He was also on the
mission band for a time.
On 14 December 1914, at age of 74, Father McEvoy died at Villanova. He
is buried in the Augustinian Community Cemetery on campus.
Source: Necrology of the Augustinian Provinces of the United
States of America
(Revised, May 2000).