“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.
Scripture Reflection for May 17
Ascension Sunday
I wonder sometimes about Jesus’ choosing of the first disciples. Were these men he had known since childhood? Or were they new to him, and he was just going on the direction of the Spirit? Whatever method he chose, the test case came at the death-resurrection-ascension. After three years of formation, Jesus ascends into heaven, promising not to leave them alone. And with one exception, these men stayed faithful and carried the message of Jesus to “the ends of the earth,” either themselves or through their followers. And today, some 2000 years later, Christ is still with us, and the original band has grown to billions. There is still work to be done, though, so the message of the Ascension is still the same: “Go!” We as Christians are to use our God-given talents and abilities to spread the faith by teaching, by service, by example, by whatever means we have. So, go!
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.
Accessibility Statement: We have taken steps in good faith to make this website accessible and usable for all visitors. While full compliance may not always be possible, we remain committed to ongoing improvements. If you encounter any accessibility issues, please contact us.