He would read and respond to the signs of times and adapt in a way that was still faithful to the gospel. When he founded the order, it wasn't thought of as only priests who had this mission to spread the gospel. We're all part of the mission. Zehler built many of the historic buildings on campus, including St. Mary's Hall. Although Chaminade never came to Dayton, his presence is constantly felt at UD and in the Marianist community.
Alumni are teachers, physicians, lawyers, and business leaders who choose to remain in Dayton.
As a proud father of two Chaminade-Julienne grads, Merz knows it's a good bit more than that now. But it's still a good deal, with damn fine results. Chaminade's followers have been working toward his beatification since 1907. You know how clericalized the church has been. Yet in the Society of Mary, lay brothers could hold authority over the ordained.