“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
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)
This line is addressed to the nation of Israel, but we tend to apply it variously to Israel, to our own nation, to our faith community and sometimes to ourselves personally. And probably rightly so, as there can be little lights and BIG LIGHTS. Each one of us is called to be a light to those we meet, and change/salvation can work its way through a whole population in that way, but slowly, of course. If we are in a rush, it’s more effective to have a whole nation be a light to the world. It doesn’t seem to be working out that way today, but maybe there’s another way — an international light, not necessarily of the same faith but of some common understandings, holding up a light for all the nations. One thing for certain: the world needs light, not violence nor retribution.
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.