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March 18, 2025For more than 50 years, Father Paul Zahler, O.S.B. has dedicated his life and vocational career to upholding the seven Catholic social teachings.
Prominently, life and dignity of the human person presents a significant passion.
That passion can be seen today at Camp Benedictine in McLoud, where those with disabilities enjoy activities that were once not available, before Father Zahler put a vision into action.
A fervent believer that all life is sacred and the dignity of the human person is inherent, Father Zahler brought innovation and perspective to the study of physical and intellectual disabilities. By approaching what was, decades ago, a relative unknown through the lens of scripture, he made groundbreaking changes in the approach to serving individuals with disabilities. His mission started in 1972, when Father Zahler started a volunteer swim program at Saint Gregory’s University, specifically for people with disabilities.
“It used to be that people with disabilities weren’t even allowed to go in the water,” he said.
Seeing these people deprived of fundamental rhythms of life, Father Zahler made quick work of establishing programs that would bring all people an equal opportunity to learn, thrive and embrace the physiological aspects of the human body that others believed impossible.
In 1976 at St. Gregory’s, Father Zahler opened a child development center focused on the benefits of an activity-oriented approach to integrating people with disabilities into mainstream society. He also worked with parents, creating home-based activity-oriented programs that encourage growth and cognitive development.
Realizing how deeply the lack of knowledge and resources was impacting individuals and their families, his passion to learn and educate others proved an unstoppable force. Not only did he encourage parents and family members to be advocates for their loved ones, he advised government officials on creating programs that were both cost-effective and efficacious.
Throughout the 1980s, Father Zahler traveled the world to study other countries’ approaches to understanding and working with different kinds of disabilities, while simultaneously laying the foundation to start an overnight camp where participants experience the joy of physical activity, music and dance as they never had before.
The developmental quotient, widely used to classify an individual’s level of disability, is a numerical indicator of a child’s growth to maturity across a range of domains. Rather than rely on the classifications of normal, moderate and severe alone, Father Zahler created his own developmental experience quotient centered around activity, relying strongly on faith-based and community-based efforts.
Today, Camp Benedectine continues to provide monthly opportunities for its campers to ride horses, play soccer, swim, dance and make music together. The camp, formerly housed on the campus of Saint Gregory’s University, is located in McCloud, about 30 miles east of Oklahoma City. As a result of the closure of Saint Gregory’s campus in 2017, Camp Benedectine temporarily moved to a campground in Pink, however, restrictions implemented due to the pandemic in 2020 meant they were unable to serve as many individuals as they had in previous years.
Camp Benedictine contracts with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services Division to provide their services under a “respite care agreement.” This voucher payment program provides funding through respite vouchers, allowing parents, family members and caregivers an opportunity to take a short break from their duties as a caregiver.
For more information, visit nidd.us/programs/camp.
Because the camp had become such a gift to the community, Father Zahler knew he had to do something to ensure that it remained operational.
“Saint Benedict says that you are to provide a person with a place to eat, sleep, pray and work,” said Father Zahler. “I have air, land, water and fire … air is horseback riding, land is soccer, water is swimming and fire is life!”
“Camp Benedictine chose to close the camp and focus on fundraising so that we could build our own campsite,” said Administrative Director Virginia Reeves. “In 2022, we purchased a 40-acre property in McLoud to begin the task of renovations and building the needed facilities.”
Renovations to the buildings included concrete floors, lighting, a commercial kitchen, restrooms and storage. Current fundraising efforts are geared toward the installation of a swimming pool for campers, something that is clearly important to Father Zahler. In April 2023 sleeping quarters were added, allowing campers to resume overnight stays. By September that year, the housing unit, now known as the Retreat Center, was completed.
Camp Benedectine opened its doors for the first camp in the new facility on Oct. 20, 2023.
“What a great feeling it was to see the campers and their families excited to be back,” Reeves stated.
The first camp at the new facility saw 20 campers in attendance. Since then, participation has continued to grow.
“We are currently serving 30-40 campers consistently, every month,” she said.
Father Zahler humbly described a time when someone praised him for all the great work he was doing. In response, he stated he was simply surrounding himself with great people.
“If I stand on their shoulders I see more,” he said, “not because of me, but because of them.”
Sally Linhart is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: (Above) Fr. Paul Zahler, O.S.B. Photo Sally Linhart/Sooner Catholic.
