“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 12
Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
If we as a nation had gone ahead and destroyed two civilizations last Tuesday this would be a very different reflection. Wait, two civilizations did I say? Yes, the ancient Iranian civilization and the 250-year-old U.S. civilization, because we could no longer call ourselves civilized if we had wiped out a smaller and weaker “enemy,” like the bully on the block. So now, as we approach Divine Mercy Sunday, we are in an uneasy ceasefire. I do not claim that Iran is an innocent victim, but I do point out that the God who is being asked to guide our bombs to destroy our enemies is the God who says, “Love your enemies.” We are to show mercy, not to the point of being stupid, but to the point of finally someday achieving true peace on earth, our little spaceship planet that holds all we know of love and peace and joy and history. Pray for peace! And work for peace!
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.