“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.
Thoughtful Reflection
Scripture Reflection for February 8
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thus says the LORD: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. (Isaiah 58:7)
God requires that we attend to the needs of the poor and humble, because that is where God focuses the divine attention. What comes to mind to me are the nacimientos I have seen in Mexico and in various places here in California, and even on my wall: elaborate village scenes which depict Jesus’ birth. They may take up half a room of a small house, or a large corner, or a space on a wall, but they are always striking because they show the Holy Family in the midst of the lives of ordinary people: a village where it may be difficult even to locate the Holy Family because they fit in so well. In fact, it is the three kings or wise men who stand out as they pick their way through narrow village streets with their whole retinue of camels and servants in search of the house where the family is staying. Jesus came as Lord not to lord it over us, but to be one of us to show us how to treat each other, to see each other as brother and sister, not as stranger, foreigner, “other.”
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.