June 28th, 2026 – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.”
~ Julian of Norwich
Hello, People of God,
My name is Fr. Arul Ponnaiyan, and I am grateful and excited to join this cluster of four wonderful parishes. I was born and raised in India in a family of five children. I have two older brothers and two younger sisters. All of my siblings are married and blessed with children. I have seven nieces and one nephew, and I even babysat six of them!
My journey to the priesthood began after high school when I joined an African missionary congregation with the desire to serve as a missionary in Africa. After eight years of seminary formation, I left during my second year of Theology studies to pursue a law degree in India. Following graduation, I practiced law for six years at the Chennai High Court in southern India. Later, I took time to discern my vocation more deeply and volunteered for six months in the Diocese of Lodwar in Kenya. Bishop Emeritus Patrick Harrington accompanied me during that discernment, and through that experience I strongly felt called to missionary priesthood.
I applied to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, was accepted, and came to Milwaukee in 2010. I completed my theology studies and was ordained a priest in 2013. Since ordination, I have served at Holy Apostles in New Berlin, Saint Paul in South Milwaukee, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Saint Francis, and again at Holy Apostles as pastor for six years.
Now I am blessed to begin this new journey with all of you. I look forward to getting to know you, praying with you, serving you, and growing together in missionary discipleship. Please come and introduce yourself when you see me.
God bless you all.
Fr. Arul Ponnaiyan
June 21st, 2026 – Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us.”
~St. Augustine
Dear Friends,
On this Father’s Day weekend, our love and prayers to all fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, and all men who serve in a guiding and life-giving way in our lives! May God our Heavenly Father bless all, living and deceased!
An aspect of parental love that is inspired and sustained by divine love is the unconditionality of real love. As our Gospel from St. Matthew points out today that God’s love is so overwhelming that not even a tiny sparrow is unimportant to God, so too are we held close to the heart of God, even in our seeming smallness and insignificance. We are held close to God not because of what we do, but because of who we are. We are never dismissed from God because of what we might do, but held even more closely so we can become the person God created us to be.
A theologian once commented that God does not expect much, but he does expect our hearts. Especially in this month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and in light of the recent consecration of our country to that Heart by our bishops, give your whole heart to God. Let him love you, heal you, forgive you, guide you, affirm you, challenge you!
Memorize that unconditional love by heart, and be that unconditional love to all you meet!
In the Heart of Jesus,
Fr. Tim
As we bid farewell to Fr. Brian and Fr. Silas and promise prayers for them in their new assignments, we welcome our new associate pastor, Fr. Arul Ponnaiyan, to our Family of Four Parishes. Fr. Arul comes to us from Holy Apostles Parish in New Berlin. Welcome, Fr. Arul! We are so blessed you are here!
June 14th, 2026 – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Saint Matthew tells us that “at the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them.” While that translation is beautiful, the Greek word used by the evangelist is even more striking. It suggests that Jesus was moved in the deepest part of himself—moved in his very guts.
Jesus does not simply feel sorry for the people before him. He experiences compassion.
The word “compassion” comes from two Latin words meaning “to suffer with.” True compassion is more than kindness or sympathy. It is the willingness to enter into another person’s suffering and to allow their struggles to touch our own hearts.
That compassion stands at the center of the Christian life.
We live in a world where it is easy to become distracted, indifferent, or overwhelmed by the needs around us. The suffering we encounter—whether in our families, our communities, or across the world—can sometimes feel so constant that we begin to look away.
But Jesus never looks away.
Instead, he teaches us to see others as God sees them and to recognize the dignity of every person.
The Gospel reminds us that Jesus does not keep this compassion to himself. He entrusts his mission to the disciples and sends them out to continue his work of healing, mercy, and hope. The same invitation is given to us. As followers of Christ, we are called to become people of compassion: people who notice the needs of others, who refuse indifference, and who allow the love we have received from God to become a gift for the world.
“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
In the Divine Savior,
Fr. Silas Henderson, SDS
June 7th, 2026 – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Dear Sisters & Brothers,
You might say that I have been on a “farewell tour” these past couple of weeks. I’ve celebrated my last weekends at Our Lady of Divine Providence and Ss. Peter & Paul. This weekend, I am at Three Holy Women and then at Old St. Mary’s on June 13-14. With this final bulletin article, I would just like to say a couple of things to all of the Family of Four parishioners.
“Thank you” does not even begin to express all the feelings that are in my heart as I prepare to move to Good Shepherd in Menomonee Falls. Your welcome, support, friendship, and love have been overwhelmingly wonderful. I have felt a part of our parishes since the day I walked in two years ago. I will sincerely miss you and will cherish my time with you. I’ve often said that God’s goodness breaks through in our lives in many unexpected ways. You have shown me God’s love time and time again. I ask a remembrance in your prayers and will assure you of my continued prayers for each of you.
