“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 this time in our history, our ministries will focus on children, homelessness, food insecurity, immigrants, refugees, and 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.
Sunday Scripture Reflection for December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Advent
“Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.”
This line from Sunday’s First Reading contains a tiny three-letter word that makes a BIG difference — we are ALL the work of your hands. Not just me and people like me. Not just us and people like us — same color, same faith, same values, same language, same anything. No — ALL. By the looks of social media these days, we have somehow been given license to be rude, bigoted, nasty, even threatening and violent toward anyone who is the least bit different from us. If this tendency escalates, and it seems that it will, there can be no good end, except as the first reading also notes, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you.” We don’t usually like mountains quaking, but if that’s what it will take to knock some sense into us, then so be it. We are ALL the work of God’s hands, even the “bad” ones, who were not likely born bad.
Join Us
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.
Prayer
If you would like to request a prayer for yourself or a loved one, please let us know.