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city services in the area. The only time the streets arereally cleaned is the day before the Opening Day ofthe Reds — only for the cameras.On the positiveside, a lot of guys come away amazed that peoplecan be happy with so little.We do anywhere from three to six Urban Plungeweekends during the school year and one eight-dayPlunge during the summer. Over-the-Rhine has thehighest crime rate of all the Cincinnati neighborhoods.The first day of the Plunge last summer, Icould tell by the students' body language that theywere really scared. I just said, "Don't take anythingfor granted." By the second day, they were morecomfortable, but we always walked as a group.Mission TripsOur first mission trip was to Nazareth Farm in WestVirginia. Nazareth Farm is located in one of thestate's poorest Appalacian areas, with a populationof about 7,000. The mission program there wasstarted by a priest in Brooklyn, NY. We believed thatthis area was a good place to start, and we said toour students, "Nazareth Farm, like Nazareth, iswhere Jesus grew up — physically and spiritually.We hope you will grow here too." We wanted toimpart the message that the world is your classroom.We later began our mission trips to Mexico with theClass of '96. As the mission programs became morepopular, Bro. Ron (Luksic) found out about themission in Honduras. Last year we offered fourmission trips for our guys. This year we had 72applicants for 27 spots this summer.Day to DayAs for day-to-day activities, I mostly deal withstudents, trying to meet their spiritual needs. I dealwith their parents as well. I have no boundries; Ibelieve in an open-door policy. I also believe everykid is a good kid here — they just don't always seeit within themselves. It's my ministry to see that theydo, and I find great joy in helping people discoverthe God within. More than anything, that gives methe greatest joy and satisfaction. — helping peopleto discover the face of God. •Father Mike continueson his journeyby Rose Eckhoff, Director of Public Relations& Special EventsIt's hard to say good-bye to a friend. But,Moeller finds it even tougher to say goodbyeto Father Michael Leshney — as he hasbeen much more than a friend to MoellerHigh School. He has been a mentor, a teamplayer, a spiritual leader, a companion, aco-worker, and, above all, an integral memberof the Moeller Family. As one studentsaid, "Father Mike is the best, all rolled intoone." His mark on Moeller and its studentswill remain for many years to come.When Father Mike arrived nine years ago,he was given the overwhelming, yet critical,job of beginning Moeller's first comprehensivepastoral ministry program. Fromvery modest beginnings, Father Mike hasnurtured the Moeller ministry program toinclude Kairos retreats, the Urban Plungeministry program, an outreach service program,daily communion services, weeklyMasses, regular reconciliation times, personal& spiritual consultation, local ministries,global outreach.. The list goes on andon. Father Mike commits countless hourseach week to ensure that the spiritual needsof the Moeller Family are met. According toFather Mike, "I have had the privilege ofpreparing young men for the challenges oflife on this earth and, most of all, for theanticipation of life with our Lord Jesus inHeaven. What better job could there be? Nomatter where I go, I will always be there for'my boys,' if they need me. I can assure you,they have given me more that I could haveever given them, and, for this, I am grateful.All of them will remain forever in mythoughts and prayers."Father Mike will not be going far, for he willofficially join the pastoral staff at GoodShepherd in Symmes Township thissummer. He promises to maintain his closeties with Moeller and looks forward tocontinuing his journey .The Moeller Family— the administration, faculty, staff,students, parents, alumni, and friends -wish him "Godspeed." •For his exceptionalservice to the MoellerCommunity, FatherMichael Leshneyreceived the prestigiousFounder's Day Awardthis year (seepage 43).S U M M E R 2 0 0 0 W I N D O W S 33