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Bangkok’s Priest to the Poor Finds His Fit Among Fellow Outcasts Bangkok’s Priest to the Poor Finds His Fit Among Fellow Outcasts
(1 day later)
BANGKOK — The young priest, always something of a misfit, chose an unconventional spot to start his preschool: a former pigsty near a slaughterhouse in one of Bangkok’s poorest neighborhoods.BANGKOK — The young priest, always something of a misfit, chose an unconventional spot to start his preschool: a former pigsty near a slaughterhouse in one of Bangkok’s poorest neighborhoods.
For a fee of a penny or two a day, the Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. Joseph H. Maier, took in children from the most destitute families, teaching them to spell their names in Thai script and feeding them what was often their only meal of the day.For a fee of a penny or two a day, the Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. Joseph H. Maier, took in children from the most destitute families, teaching them to spell their names in Thai script and feeding them what was often their only meal of the day.
He also lived nearby, his neighbors the castoffs in Thailand’s capital: butchers, scavengers, street vendors, professional beggars, thieves and prostitutes. Wooden planks formed walkways over the neighborhood’s muddy ground, which turned into polluted swamps during the rainy season.He also lived nearby, his neighbors the castoffs in Thailand’s capital: butchers, scavengers, street vendors, professional beggars, thieves and prostitutes. Wooden planks formed walkways over the neighborhood’s muddy ground, which turned into polluted swamps during the rainy season.
Fifty years later, Father Joe, as the American priest came to be known by his neighbors, is still there, ministering to the residents of what remains one of the Thai capital’s poorest neighborhoods as Bangkok has transformed itself into a modern metropolis.Fifty years later, Father Joe, as the American priest came to be known by his neighbors, is still there, ministering to the residents of what remains one of the Thai capital’s poorest neighborhoods as Bangkok has transformed itself into a modern metropolis.
He initially came to the neighborhood, Klong Toey, as a sort of exile, he said, shunned by the church because of his boorish behavior.He initially came to the neighborhood, Klong Toey, as a sort of exile, he said, shunned by the church because of his boorish behavior.
“Nobody wanted me around,” he said in a recent interview. “I was drunk; I was always angry about something, an angry young man. I didn’t fit in.”“Nobody wanted me around,” he said in a recent interview. “I was drunk; I was always angry about something, an angry young man. I didn’t fit in.”
But in Klong Toey, Father Joe, now 82, found his place in the world, an outcast among outcasts.But in Klong Toey, Father Joe, now 82, found his place in the world, an outcast among outcasts.
That tiny, threadbare preschool was only the beginning of Father Joe’s life’s work as a socially engaged priest, as interested in people’s material well-being as in their spiritual growth.That tiny, threadbare preschool was only the beginning of Father Joe’s life’s work as a socially engaged priest, as interested in people’s material well-being as in their spiritual growth.
In the years that followed, he started the Human Development Foundation and its related Mercy Center. The foundation has grown to include a network of more than 30 schools that have taught more than 30,000 children; a home for abandoned mothers and children; and an AIDS hospice that evolved into a home care system.In the years that followed, he started the Human Development Foundation and its related Mercy Center. The foundation has grown to include a network of more than 30 schools that have taught more than 30,000 children; a home for abandoned mothers and children; and an AIDS hospice that evolved into a home care system.
“For me, he is more than Father Joe,” said Nitaya Pakkeyaka, 52, who was one of the first children to attend his preschool and now works as a member of his staff.“For me, he is more than Father Joe,” said Nitaya Pakkeyaka, 52, who was one of the first children to attend his preschool and now works as a member of his staff.
“I can say he is my everything, he is my dad, he is my grandpa,” Ms. Nitaya added. “Every time I have a problem it’s always him to hold my hand. He is always on my side, whether good or bad, sad or happy.”“I can say he is my everything, he is my dad, he is my grandpa,” Ms. Nitaya added. “Every time I have a problem it’s always him to hold my hand. He is always on my side, whether good or bad, sad or happy.”
But even now, Father Joe said, after gaining international recognition, a master’s degree in human settlements, two honorary Ph.D.s, honorary citizenship of Bangkok and a lifetime achievement award presented by Queen Sirikit of Thailand, the queen mother, he still has not shaken off his feeling of not belonging.But even now, Father Joe said, after gaining international recognition, a master’s degree in human settlements, two honorary Ph.D.s, honorary citizenship of Bangkok and a lifetime achievement award presented by Queen Sirikit of Thailand, the queen mother, he still has not shaken off his feeling of not belonging.
“I’ve always been an outsider, always on the margins,” he said. “I’ve always been, as the Irish say, ‘walking on the edges of the tin’” — on the periphery of society, as he explained it.“I’ve always been an outsider, always on the margins,” he said. “I’ve always been, as the Irish say, ‘walking on the edges of the tin’” — on the periphery of society, as he explained it.
Born in Longview, Wash., on Oct. 31, 1939, he was abandoned by his father, a house painter and farmer, whom his mother repeatedly took to court in fruitless attempts to gain child support.Born in Longview, Wash., on Oct. 31, 1939, he was abandoned by his father, a house painter and farmer, whom his mother repeatedly took to court in fruitless attempts to gain child support.
“He wasn’t abusive; he just left us, and it hurts so badly,” he said. “That’s the essence of it all: I wanted to become a priest to help other kids so they wouldn’t suffer and hurt like I did.”“He wasn’t abusive; he just left us, and it hurts so badly,” he said. “That’s the essence of it all: I wanted to become a priest to help other kids so they wouldn’t suffer and hurt like I did.”
While still a boy, he left home to join Roman Catholic Redemptorist seminaries in Oakland, Calif., and in Oconomowoc, Wis.While still a boy, he left home to join Roman Catholic Redemptorist seminaries in Oakland, Calif., and in Oconomowoc, Wis.
After ordination, he recalled the thrill of preaching his first sermon in a tiny wooden church in South Dakota that had been built by his Irish relatives and seated just 40 people.After ordination, he recalled the thrill of preaching his first sermon in a tiny wooden church in South Dakota that had been built by his Irish relatives and seated just 40 people.
“That’s a very important moment for a priest,” he said, pointing to a small framed black-and-white photograph of the church hanging on a wall above his dining table.“That’s a very important moment for a priest,” he said, pointing to a small framed black-and-white photograph of the church hanging on a wall above his dining table.
When he arrived in Thailand in 1967, on his assigned mission by the Redemptorists, he was first dispatched to the far northeastern part of the country and to Laos. Returning to Bangkok in 1971, after war came to Laos, he was reassigned to Klong Toey, almost as far out of sight as if he had been in the distant highlands.When he arrived in Thailand in 1967, on his assigned mission by the Redemptorists, he was first dispatched to the far northeastern part of the country and to Laos. Returning to Bangkok in 1971, after war came to Laos, he was reassigned to Klong Toey, almost as far out of sight as if he had been in the distant highlands.
“The priest there was drunk,” he said, “and I replaced him there, as a drunk and a priest.”  “The priest there was drunk,” he said, “and I replaced him there, as a drunk and a priest.”  
In Klong Toey, he met a Catholic nun, Sister Maria Chantavarodom, now 92, who led him through the narrow lanes and joined him in founding the tiny school in a former pigsty.In Klong Toey, he met a Catholic nun, Sister Maria Chantavarodom, now 92, who led him through the narrow lanes and joined him in founding the tiny school in a former pigsty.
“Sister Maria was always the heartbeat, always the holiness,” he said. “It was always her and it’s still her,” Father Joe said, perhaps embracing the humility that befits a priest. “It’s never been me. I just stumble along.”“Sister Maria was always the heartbeat, always the holiness,” he said. “It was always her and it’s still her,” Father Joe said, perhaps embracing the humility that befits a priest. “It’s never been me. I just stumble along.”
Soon after he arrived there, he had an opportunity to escort Mother Teresa around Klong Toey during her visit to Thailand. He was so taken with her charisma and saintliness that he says he remembered exclaiming: “I want to be like this. Wow!”Soon after he arrived there, he had an opportunity to escort Mother Teresa around Klong Toey during her visit to Thailand. He was so taken with her charisma and saintliness that he says he remembered exclaiming: “I want to be like this. Wow!”
Following her example, he said that for 23 years he visited the inmates at a maximum-security prison and an immigration jail. During Holy Week, he carried out a ritual of washing prisoners’ feet.Following her example, he said that for 23 years he visited the inmates at a maximum-security prison and an immigration jail. During Holy Week, he carried out a ritual of washing prisoners’ feet.
For decades, Father Joe lived in a shack, like his neighbors. In 2001, an American philanthropist, John M. Cook, donated money to build a compound for the Mercy Center that includes dormitories, classrooms, a chapel and a comfortable apartment for the priest.For decades, Father Joe lived in a shack, like his neighbors. In 2001, an American philanthropist, John M. Cook, donated money to build a compound for the Mercy Center that includes dormitories, classrooms, a chapel and a comfortable apartment for the priest.
For all his good works, Father Joe can be demanding and abrupt, according to the center’s staff, and five decades after his arrival in Thailand, his relations with the church hierarchy remain strained.For all his good works, Father Joe can be demanding and abrupt, according to the center’s staff, and five decades after his arrival in Thailand, his relations with the church hierarchy remain strained.
“The church wants nothing to do with me, and the cardinal kind of ignores me, which is fine,” he said, apparently referring to Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit, the archbishop of Bangkok. “Jesus was never accepted for doing good; they killed him.”“The church wants nothing to do with me, and the cardinal kind of ignores me, which is fine,” he said, apparently referring to Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit, the archbishop of Bangkok. “Jesus was never accepted for doing good; they killed him.”
The new pastor of the local Redemptorist mission, the Rev. John Wirach Amonpattana, said that it was only the higher levels of the church that are still wary of Father Joe, who celebrates Mass at his Holy Redeemer church every weekend.The new pastor of the local Redemptorist mission, the Rev. John Wirach Amonpattana, said that it was only the higher levels of the church that are still wary of Father Joe, who celebrates Mass at his Holy Redeemer church every weekend.
“He is like a prophet with his work,” Father Wirach said.“He is like a prophet with his work,” Father Wirach said.
Catholics are a tiny minority in Klong Toey, and in Thailand over all, but Father Joe says that he has always embraced the Buddhists and Muslims he lives among, and that the respect is mutual.Catholics are a tiny minority in Klong Toey, and in Thailand over all, but Father Joe says that he has always embraced the Buddhists and Muslims he lives among, and that the respect is mutual.
“We are in total unity with the Buddhists and Muslims,” he said. “We pray together.”“We are in total unity with the Buddhists and Muslims,” he said. “We pray together.”
The religious differences are “no big deal,” he added. “They accept me as one of them. I’m treated like a monk, behaving with politeness, kindness; don’t get angry, don’t show off.”The religious differences are “no big deal,” he added. “They accept me as one of them. I’m treated like a monk, behaving with politeness, kindness; don’t get angry, don’t show off.”
Caring for the welfare of his flock has always been his top priority, he said. Conversions to Christianity was never on his agenda. Caring for the welfare of his flock has always been his top priority, he said. Conversions to Christianity were never on his agenda.
Every Saturday, Father Joe offers Mass for the children of the center, and they are free to pray in whatever religion they choose. “But in the midst of the Buddhist prayers,” he said, “we make sure to slip in a ‘Hail Mary.’”Every Saturday, Father Joe offers Mass for the children of the center, and they are free to pray in whatever religion they choose. “But in the midst of the Buddhist prayers,” he said, “we make sure to slip in a ‘Hail Mary.’”
As with Catholic priests, Buddhist monks in Thailand are not expected to be vegetarians, but Father Joe still gave it a shot. “I tried, but I couldn’t do it,” he said. “I ate a lot of chicken noodle soup and instant noodles on the side.”As with Catholic priests, Buddhist monks in Thailand are not expected to be vegetarians, but Father Joe still gave it a shot. “I tried, but I couldn’t do it,” he said. “I ate a lot of chicken noodle soup and instant noodles on the side.”
But as a religious figure in Klong Toey, he was motivated, he said, “to be pure as snow,” adding, “I couldn’t do anything stupid, like getting drunk.”But as a religious figure in Klong Toey, he was motivated, he said, “to be pure as snow,” adding, “I couldn’t do anything stupid, like getting drunk.”
At the beginning, it was hard to be pure.At the beginning, it was hard to be pure.
 “I was a hypocrite,” he said. “I drank privately.” “I was a hypocrite,” he said. “I drank privately.”
When he had a younger man’s legs, he wandered Klong Toey’s passageways and food stalls.When he had a younger man’s legs, he wandered Klong Toey’s passageways and food stalls.
When he does get out now, people still greet him, “Hello, Father Joe!” as if they were Catholics themselves.When he does get out now, people still greet him, “Hello, Father Joe!” as if they were Catholics themselves.
“He’d walk along and talk to everybody, even though his Thai wasn’t that good: ‘How are you doing today? Are you selling well?’” said Amphorn Iamphorn, 58, who has been selling grilled toast with butter and sugar here for 23 years. “For me, it has nothing to do with religion; he’s just a good man.”“He’d walk along and talk to everybody, even though his Thai wasn’t that good: ‘How are you doing today? Are you selling well?’” said Amphorn Iamphorn, 58, who has been selling grilled toast with butter and sugar here for 23 years. “For me, it has nothing to do with religion; he’s just a good man.”
Muktita Suhartono contributed reporting.Muktita Suhartono contributed reporting.