Becca Self, Staff Writer

One might think that any story involving college-aged men and axes cannot possibly end well, but surprisingly enough, Zahm House provides a notable exception.  In the 2012-2013 academic year, several Zahm residents began a faith-based fellowship group called Zahm Militant.  The group is not yet well-known around campus, a rarity for Zahm, but it is only a matter of time.

Zahm House is famous at Notre Dame and beyond for many reasons, the most profound of which is the residents’ pride in their namesake, Father John Zahm, CSC.  They have good reason to be proud of him.  In a 1922 article in the Catholic World, Father John Cavanaugh, CSC described Fr. Zahm as a “gentle priest” with a “heroic militancy for Christ.”  He also claimed: “I regard Fr. Zahm as the greatest mind produced by the University in its long career, and perhaps the greatest man in all respects developed within the Congregation of the Holy Cross since its foundation.”  So what is Zahm Militant, and how do the members follow in Fr. Zahm’s remarkable footsteps?

Madeline Roe, managing editor for the Irish Rover and fiancée of the group’s cofounder, explained: “The men of Zahm gather on Thursdays for Mass and then a community-building activity specifically geared towards becoming Catholic men.”  Recent activities include learning how to chop wood, change tires, grill and ‘dress to impress.’  The idea was hatched over the summer when several residents communicated with Father Jim Gallagher, CSC, currently a priest-in-residence of Zahm, about the need for a setting in which students can discuss what it means to be men of God.  He said that they “needed to do something,” even though their plans had yet to take shape.

Today’s culture tends to downplay or subvert the Christ-like aspects of manhood, and as Fr. Jim said, “Young men need to work hard to move against the grain and become men who are attentive to the needs of others and to their relationships with the Lord and one another.” The students who founded Zahm Militant chose the powerful name because it “helps to reflect the need to remain strong in their efforts.”  The name also echoes the phrase that Catholic theologians often use to describe the church on earth, the Church Militant, because of the reality of spiritual warfare in this life.

What does it mean to be a man of God?

Vocation is a common topic of reflection at Notre Dame, which is both a blessing and a curse.  Many students feel both internal and external pressure to discern where their passions and talents lie before they make important choices regarding careers, relationships, continuing education or volunteer service.  It is good that they desire to do God’s will, but they would benefit from the realization that God is more concerned with who they become than what they do.  Fr. Jim has an understanding of vocation that underlies all the choices that college students face.  He has worked extensively with young people who simply desire to be men and women of God.  According to him, “Personal vocation is the path that draws us more deeply into becoming who we were created to be.”

This is the aim of Zahm Militant.

Fr. Jim described the mission as twofold: to help the men of Zahm “grow in the knowledge of who they are in God,” and “to become more rooted in Christ through the Eucharist.”  The latter aspect of Zahm Militant is developed through liturgy and communal prayer, while the former is lived out in camaraderie.  By forming authentic male friendships, young men can learn about themselves and how they relate to God.  While women generally prefer to build friendships simply through conversation, men tend to bond during activities such as basketball or, for the more creative, wood-chopping.  That creativity is characteristic of Zahm House.

What can be expected of Zahm Militant in the future?  Fr. Jim has high hopes for the program, but knows that all fruit takes time to grow: “The hope is not that we are producing great men of God through one year of gatherings and programs but that we begin to raise awareness of this need and set them on a path to continue this growth.”  Scott Opperman, the hall’s rector, said that the first Zahm Militant retreat was a “huge success.”  It is sure to be a popular event next year.

The retreat, like the weekly meetings, included ‘manly’ activities, which Fr. Jim says have a “threefold purpose”; besides bringing men closer to Christ and closer to who they were created to be, some of the skills are just “handy for guys to know how to do.”

Perhaps the unused fireplaces in South Dining Hall could better serve others with some firewood from the Zahm Militant woodpile, just as the world would benefit from the Zahm Militant’s spiritual zeal.

Becca Self is a business major in the First Year of Studies.  She will be experiencing severe symptoms of domesickness soon, so contact her at rself@nd.edu for consolation and/or commiseration.