“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.
Thoughtful Reflection
Scripture Reflection for April 19
Third Sunday of Easter
Today’s readings include the beautiful story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They have already heard that the tomb was empty and that the women saw angels who told them that he was alive, and some men from the group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But the disciples on the road are returning to Emmaus, dejected after all that has happened, apparently failing to believe the women or the angels or the men. But the stranger on the road opens up the scriptures to them, and when they share a meal with him, they recognize that “it is the Lord!” And they run back to Jerusalem. We as Christians are now in the role of Jesus on that road to Emmaus, sharing with others the story of how Christ has acted and is acting in our lives. We are not necessarily called to share our faith randomly with everyone we meet, but certainly the people on the road to Emmaus were open to hearing a word that would encourage them. And God put Jesus there to do just that. God also puts us in places where a word of faith is needed —let’s be ready to give people hope!
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.