“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 3
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. (Psalm 33:22)
As old as I am, and as often as I have learned this lesson of faith, I still sometimes fret that I just don’t understand God. I know it is not my job to understand God; I need to trust God, not understand God. But when I see an infant suffering from prolonged illness, when I see injustice in the world around me, when I see that nations still wage war against one another after two millennia of professing faith in the Prince of Peace, I start thinking, “I just don’t understand.” But me understanding God would be like an ant understanding rocket science — it is far beyond me to imagine how the stars maintain their courses and how atoms and molecules stick together as they do. I grow in understanding, but fullness of understanding is not mine. Trust is what is needed, and I can do that.
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.