“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.
Sunday Scripture Reflection for August 9
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus chose some unlikely characters to be his disciples. This Sunday, Peter is our example. Frightened in a small boat in a large storm, Peter sees Jesus walking across the water and says, “Lord, if that is you, call me to come across the water to you.” So Jesus does, and Peter courageously steps out of the boat onto the water and starts walking. “Wow, this is so cool!” But then he turns to the wind and the waves, and gets frightened and starts sinking. Jesus reaches out and saves him, and says — not in these exact words —“Peter, Peter, you swim like a rock! And I tell you, on this rock I will build my church!” Because the church is built on rocks like Peter. I think all of us have a little rock in us, which is not great for walking on water, but is good for stability and a firm foundation. If we keep our focus on Christ and on God’s trustworthiness, the storms of life will not take us down.
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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