“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
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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.
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.
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.
Sunday Scripture Reflection for June 30, 2024
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“For he fashioned all things that they might have being;
and the creatures of the world are wholesome.”
In my last reflection I wrote about a flower, the Matilija poppy, that had captured my attention recently. This week we look at all the living, sentient, moving-under-their-own-power creatures that God placed on this most amazing planet. While the Blue Dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) and lightning bug are certainly amazing, this week’s winner is the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa, a hopping desert rodent that is perfectly adapted to life in the central Asian desert which it calls home. The first picture I saw looked like a cat’s head on tiny kangaroo legs, and I thought it was a badly photoshopped imaginary creature. But it’s real, and quite fascinating. Google it! And then marvel at a God who could create such things, and so many different things to live in so many different places, and reflect on how you yourself have adapted to your living situation and give thanks for the wonder of it all. What an awesome God! (I know we’re not saying “awesome” any more, but it works!)
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.
Prayer
If you would like to request a prayer for yourself or a loved one, please let us know.