“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
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 Our Legacy: Past, Present & Beyond, our ministries will focus on children, the homeless, the hungry, immigrants and refugees, and those needing 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.
Scripture Reflection for February 28, 2021
Second Sunday of Lent
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” This is a question raised in our Sunday readings this week, and it’s pretty much a rhetorical question. If God is for us, what does it matter who is against us? But another question that might come to mind today is, “If God is against us, what can anyone do?” To many people it must seem that God is against them. Again, I’m thinking of Texas. As if the coronavirus were not enough, there is the weather, bringing with it extreme cold, extreme water, loss of property, loss of shelter, loss of life. And the infrastructure, both civic and church, is just not equipped to handle the volume of need. Is God indeed against us? It’s easy for me in California (75 degrees, tree blossoms and garden flowers everywhere, vaccine readily available) to say of course not, God is for us, but God’s ways are not our ways. God is with us as God was with Jesus on the cross; and Jesus too felt abandoned. We need to remember and hold on through thick and thin, even when the waters have risen to our necks (see Psalm 69!). And yes, that’s easy for me to say, now. But it has not always been easy. Easy or difficult, we need to remember firmly God is for us and with us.
Sister Carol J. Crater, SHF
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