“Their sturdy backs bent down, by labor and fatigue, their eyes intent upon the earth, sift through stubble discarded by the reapers.”
—Sister Michaela O’Connor
Our Mission:
To seek out and advocate for the poor and needy, especially families, for the Kingdom of God since 1872
Celebrating Our Legacy
Past
As Gleaners, we stood at the edge of society where Christ was encountered in word, silence, and action as the power of His Kingdom pushed out the boundaries of our world. We have been recognized by our simplicity of life and visible presence among the most abandoned.
Celebrating Our Legacy
Present
Our mission as Gleaners is to serve segments of the population who are underserved by Church and social institutions. As we celebrate this time in our history, our ministries will focus on children, homelessness, food insecurity, immigrants, refugees, and healthcare.
Celebrating Our Legacy
Future
Reflecting the heart of our mission our legacy will live on into the future for others through the Gardens at Palmdale, our Opportunity Fund with Abode Services, our Archives Collection, and Early Childhood Education Scholarships.
Sunday Scripture Reflection for March 17, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Lent
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” This image from Sunday’s gospel was used by Sister Jane Mast in a reflection for our 100th anniversary as Sisters of the Holy Family in November 1972. When Sisters Michaela, Judeana and I wrote the poetic legacy document for our approaching 150th anniversary, we used the same image to separate our past, present and future narratives. Death is not a scandal (though sometimes the means of death can be a scandal); rather it is a part of life. We are experiencing many deaths these days — deaths of Sisters and Associates, who take their places in our Cloud of Witnesses; deaths of activities, abilities, mobilities as aging takes its toll; deaths of spaces and homes we have grown to love and now must move on. As Sister Jane wrote in her reflection in 1972, “And yet, Life is not taken away But rather, changed…And so it will always be In the life of a person or a community.” Death brings grieving, yes, and it also clears the way to new life.
Join Us
There are a number of ways you can join our Family of Friends, including donations, prayer requests, connecting with a Sister, and joining our mailing list.
Prayer
If you would like to request a prayer for yourself or a loved one, please let us know.