Sisters of the Holy Family | Advocating for the underserved in our community

“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

 

 

Above: The Gleaners, by Jean-François Millet (1857), depicting three peasant women gleaning a field of stray stalks of wheat after the harvest.
(funeral to be held September 2024)

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.

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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.

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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.

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Sunday Scripture Reflection for January 19, 2025
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus and his disciples went to a wedding feast in Cana (wherever that is), and the host ran out of wine. We don’t even know who was getting married. But that didn’t stop Mom. She asked the Son of God — no, told the Son of God — that they had no wine, and fully expected him to make more. What possible difference could this make to the world? So the host might have been a little embarrassed; big deal. But Jesus did as he was told and the party went on. Kind of a funny little story. But it was a beginning, because that was when his disciples began to believe in him. “Believing in” is different from just listening, learning and following. And the signs that followed, during his 3-year walk with his disciples, caused many more to believe in him — and many more after his death and resurrection, and even to today. So maybe nothing is too small to ask, and nothing is too big to ask. I can imagine Jesus, before he was quite ready to begin, rolling his eyes a little and saying, “Mo-o-o-o-om…” (you know how they do!), but she (and he, ultimately) knew what would impress the disciples, and 120 gallons of wine is 120 gallons of wine! Is that a big or small ask? It doesn’t matter — it was a beginning! and it apparently has no ending!

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.

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Prayer

If you would like to request a prayer for yourself or a loved one, please let us know.

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News

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