Michael R. Simone, S.J., a member of the USA Midwest Jesuit Province, is pastor of the Church of the Gesù in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A graduate of John Carroll University and Weston Jesuit School of Theology, he later earned a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Semitic Languages from Johns Hopkins University. From 2013 to 2021, he was assistant professor at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry where he taught Scripture and preaching, served on the core faculty of spirituality studies, and was chair of the Education Policy Committee. After his tertianship year in Dublin, Ireland (2021-22), Fr. Simone returned to the USA and served as associate pastor of Old St. Patrick’s parish in Chicago. He moved to Milwaukee July 2024.
Fr. Simone also works in Catholic publishing. He is contributing editor at America Magazine where he also serves as a regular columnist. He has written for the Portuguese Jesuits’ Mensageiro do Coração de Jesus and was a contributor to the 2023 and 2025 editions of LTP’s At Home With The Word. Among his other publications, Fr. Simone is the author of a commentary on the book of Judges for the Paulist Biblical Commentary, commentaries on the prophecies of Nahum and Zephaniah for the Jerome Biblical Commentary, Revised Edition, and the monograph Your God is a Devouring Fire(CBQMS 57). In his free time, Fr. Simone enjoys fishing and cheering for Boston sports teams.
This week, we have been deeply affected by the images and reports from the Bhotekoshi flood in Nepal. The loss of life and the widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods are difficult to comprehend. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and communities who have suffered so much in this tragedy.
How You Can Help
You can support recovery efforts by donating to the Rotary Disaster Response Fund. Contributions help Rotary clubs respond to urgent needs through disaster response grants and provide critical resources to people affected by the floods.
Rotary Disaster Response Fund: Donations can be made after 12:00 p.m. on August 31, once Rotary International completes updates to the global grants page. https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund
We are also continuing to collect supplies and donations to support the Menasha tornado recovery. Thank you for all you are doing to help our neighbors during this difficult time.
The needs are great, and every act of support—large or small—is deeply appreciated.
Cedarburg Community Pool on Evergreen Ave. Cedarburg, WI
Join us for this family and dog friendly event. As always, it will include a t-shirt and THE best pancake breakfast prepared by our friends at From Scratch Catering.
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Registration................................ 7:00am FUN Run/Walk Start................. 8:00 am
Register for Rotary Connect & Lead 2026 Conference
Get ready to grow your skills, expand your network, and lead with confidence at Rotary Connect & Lead 2026 - a full day of professional development featuring dynamic speakers, interactive workshops, and meaningful networking.
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026 Time: 8:15 AM – 3:30 PM Location: Concordia University, 12800 N Lake Shore Drive, Mequon
This year's lineup includes:
• Tech Tools: "Catch the Thief: Reclaim Your Day" with Don Griffing - Simple, tool-agnostic strategies to reclaim your focus and stop distractions from stealing your day.
• Leadership: "Managing Volunteers Like a Pro" with David Sakrison - Motivate volunteers without authority, delegate effectively, and avoid burnout.
• Culture: "True Ownership" with Katherine Breuss - Discover how upstream thinking transforms leadership, teams, and organizations from the inside out.
• Emotional Intelligence:"No Is Just an Opportunity" with Alexandria Binanti - Navigate organizational politics and turn pushback into progress.
• Personal Branding with Ben Bauer - Build a brand that reflects your strengths and opens doors.
• Networking: "Networking & Social Capital" with Ben Zang - A proven framework for building relationships that create real opportunities.
• Community Engagement: "From Project to Movement" with Christi Hunter - Turn service projects into partnerships that attract volunteers, sponsors, and lasting impact.
• Effective Communication with Brian Hendricks - Practical tools to communicate with clarity and confidence.
Why attend? This is a fantastic opportunity for professional growth, fresh ideas, and connecting with fellow leaders, whether you're a longtime Rotarian or new to the organization. And good news: the event is open to non-Rotary members too, so feel free to bring a friend or colleague!
Cost: $15 for Rotary Members | $25 for Friends of Rotary (lunch included)
Registration closes September 18 - don't miss out!
Save the Date: What Makes September 17–21 Different This Year?
Mark your calendar now: registration for the 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona opens September 17, 2026. And this year, the first five days matter more than ever.
A Different Kind of Registration Window
If you've registered for a Rotary convention before, you may be used to a familiar rhythm of pricing tiers stretched out over many months. This year looks different. Rather than the traditional structure, registration opens with a short, five-day discount window – September 17 through 21 – before prices step up. It's a smaller window with a bigger reason to pay attention. The convention itself takes place June 26–30, 2027, at the Fira de Barcelona. This gives you plenty of time to plan once you've locked in the early rate.
The Price Difference Is Worth Planning For
Here's what registering early actually saves you:
For members, nonmembers, and guests age 31 and over:
September 17–21: $595
September 22 – March 31, 2027: $795
April 1 – June 30, 2027: $895
That's up to $300 in savings simply by registering during the opening week.
For those age 30 and under:
September 17–21: $250
September 22 – March 31, 2027: $350
April 1 – June 30, 2027: $400
Up to $150 in savings for our younger members and guests.
The takeaway is simple: the earlier you register, the more you keep in your pocket for the trip itself.
Bring the People Who Make It Meaningful
Registration isn't just for members – family and friends of any age are invited to attend. Guests ages 5–18 register at a reduced rate, and children under 5 attend free. If Barcelona has been on your travel list, or if you've always wanted to show the people you love what a Rotary convention feels like, this is the year to make it a trip together.
What Your Registration Includes
A full in-person registration gets you:
Admission to the opening and closing ceremonies and general sessions
Breakout sessions to build your communication, leadership, and project management skills
Access to the House of Friendship, where you can connect with projects and fellowships from around the world
Entertainment from local artists and musicians
Transportation between your hotel and the convention venue (if booked through Rotary's official housing partner)
Have questions or want to plan your Barcelona trip with fellow club members? Talk to your club leadership or district team – and watch for more details as the date approaches.
To access the website directly, you can click on the Hotlink in the lower right hand corner of our bulletin.
In need of more gear to show that you are a true Thiensville--Mequon Rotarian? Look no further than our newly updated Swag Store! Click on the link below to get your quality hats, shirts and pullovers, for both men and women, in a variety of sizes and colors!
Apple pie has long been emblematic of wholesome Americana. There’s even a saying tying the dessert to U.S. culture: “as American as apple pie.” But the classic treat actually originated across the ocean, in 14th-century England. The first known record of an apple pie recipe was in The Forme of Cury, an English cookbook compiled around 1390 by King Richard II’s cooks. The recipe calls for apples, figs, raisins, pears, and spices, but unlike the dessert we know today, it didn’t call for any additional sugar. All of the ingredients were to be baked inside a hard, lard-based shell called a “coffin,” meant to be a container, not a golden, flaky crust.
Eventually, apple pie made its way to America with European settlers; the first recorded mention of the dessert in the U.S. was in a 1697 diary. By the late 1700s, multiple updated recipes were included in America’s first known cookbook, American Cookery. By the early 1800s, American farmers were growing thousands of apple varieties. Apple pie continued to gain popularity through the 19th century, but it didn’t become a cultural icon until the 20th century. As early as 1902, a New York Times editorial called it a symbol of American prosperity, and by the 1920s, “as American as apple pie” started to appear in print. The dessert’s position as a meaningful part of American culture was all but cemented during World War II, when soldiers proudly declared that they enlisted for “mom and apple pie.”
