“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 11
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Sunday’s readings all have to do with forgiveness, forgiving those who wrong you, not holding grudges, being merciful as our Father in Heaven is merciful. And today is the test of all those readings: the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, which united all Americans as we have not been united before. Unfortunately, we were united against a common enemy and bent on their destruction. I certainly don’t have the answer to how we should deal with our enemy in a case like this. Their whole country was not to blame. And we are not altogether innocent. Perhaps a respected world court would have some wisdom, but we are not quite there yet. But as we reflect today on the anniversary of our unity against Islam, we need to remember that there are not two supreme gods at war with each other. God is not the problem — we all are, and we need to work on that.
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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