“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
We remember and celebrate the lives of the remarkable women who dedicated themselves to service, faith, and community. Their legacy continues to guide and inspire us each day. Click on the button below to view the obituaries of our sisters who have gone before us, and join us in honoring their enduring contributions and cherished memories.
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.
Sunday Scripture Reflection for September 27
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I hope your parish chooses to read the long form of this Sunday’s second reading, Philippians 2:1-11, with its wonderful hymn about Jesus not seeking to appear like God but rather humbling himself. It’s one of my favorite readings, and has been so for most of my life. The poetry is beautiful, of course, but the whole concept of Jesus not lording it over us — which he could literally have done! — but becoming human both in appearance and behavior, demonstrating the best that we could be, is high praise for Jesus and a challenge to us. A challenge, because of that little first line which we might let slip by: “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus”. We are to be obedient to the point of death — oh, not obedient to other humans but obedient to God. It’s a challenge which Jesus lived fully, and which he calls us to follow: simply to act human.
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.
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