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 March 2, 2025
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Shine like lights in the world” — I’ve been thinking lately of an old saying, “There’s more than one right way to be a tree.” There’s more than one right way to be or do almost everything, and I think most arguments are disputes over two right ways, not between right and wrong. But I was taken this week by our Gospel Acclamation: “Shine like lights in the world.” Look around at the lights in the world: the warning flash of a lighthouse, the steady beam of a flashlight in the darkness, the gentle glow of a candle, the reassuring warmth of a nightlight, the whimsical blinking of a firefly, the flash of lightning, the startling glow of a cat’s eyes in the dark, and the list could go on and on. We as humans have so many ways we can be lights in the world, whether on a world scale or in the life of one or a few other people. However we may choose to shine, it is far better to shine like a light than to contribute to the darkness. “Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the Word of Life.” Please!

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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