“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
The Gleaners, by Jean-François Millet (1857), depicts three peasant women gleaning a field of stray stalks of wheat after the harvest
Our Mission
To seek out and advocate for the poor and needy, especially families, for the Kingdom of God since 1872.
Obituaries
The funeral for Sister Michaela O’Connor, SHF, will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Parish Church, located at 43148 Mission Blvd. in Fremont.
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.
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.
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.
Reflection for July 4
Our Nation’s 250th Birthday
I am taking a departure from our Sunday readings this week to share a brief reflection on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America. Our little retreat on Saturday morning in Cottage 2 will focus on the song “America the Beautiful,” which is not a rah-rah patriotic thriller, but rather a lovely prayer recognizing the beauty of America in its various aspects, and asking God to make real what we dream. Take a few moments this weekend and listen to the song — all four verses! — or sing it, and pray it. “America, America — (may) God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.” We have not been, nor are we now, perfect, but with God’s help we can live up to our dreams and become a lamp to other nations.
Get Involved with Sisters of the Holy Family
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. If you would like to request a prayer for yourself or a loved one, please let us know.
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