Showing 1 - 10 of 29
Jesus in Klong Toey
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 25/12/2020
» Baby Jesus was too young to travel but there was no choice. It was either life or death. His parents -- blessed Virgin Mary and carpenter Joseph -- had to run from the bad guys. It was either flee or die. The angel had jarred Joseph awake in a vivid no-nonsense dream saying that they are going to kill baby Jesus and that means you and his mum too because we angels know you will give your lives defending infant Jesus.
From the muck andback into the muck, with a different purpose
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 01/06/2020
» It began with a slaughterhouse alumna of our oldest slum kindergarten. She's a young mum now and a heroine in our war on Covid-19. But just a short time ago, she was in a spot of bother. In fact, several spots of bother.
When others turn away
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 06/04/2020
» Temple kitchens are always off to the side, unnoticed unless you are part of the kitchen staff -- those devoted ladies who cook and clean for every ceremonial meal. Auntie Grannie is one of the selfless. Not surprisingly, she is also someone who will always stand by your side when others turn away.
Moonshine Mum
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 04/11/2019
» It wasn't a big jump off Three Soldiers Bridge, maybe 3m, but no matter. She couldn't swim. When you can't swim, any jump into a canal is dangerous.
Magic in the name game
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 21/10/2019
» Most folk around here believe in the power and sacredness of a given name. And maybe that's how Master Ohm survived on pilfered leftover noodles -- by the sacred power of the sacred name pounded into him by the nasty but pious noodle lady who works from a stall parked next to the sacred shrine.
Klong Toey's own worker of magic
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 02/07/2019
» Jae Muey usually dressed in a secondhand slightly frayed wedding dress, looking very much like a fairy godmother. But she didn't do any whambo-bambo Harry Potter stuff. None of her magic shot out of a fancy wand. Rather, her special powers came from a beautiful soul and a faded three-wheel rickety push cart with a squeaky side wheel.
From low to high
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 12/11/2018
» Seventeen years ago, Mum gave birth to a healthy son in a provincial prison hospital two hours outside of Bangkok. She named her son Ake. To avoid the nightmare of trying to remember who might have been the actual father of her child, she had blessed him with her own last name.
School of redemption
Life, Father Joe Maier, Published on 22/10/2018
» Long ago, on their way home from the slum slaughterhouse, a half-dozen Klong Toey lads stopped in at a new neighbourhood "beer hall" to enjoy a pint. It was three in the morning and they had just finished butchering their night's quota of pork.
The lost scavenger
Spectrum, Father Joe Maier, Published on 13/05/2018
» From the second floor window of their flat, Pretty Molly sees her slum scavenger husband returning from a day of foraging. Her snippy stray mongrel barks excitedly as Pretty Molly begins shouting out the window to him.
Getting to graduation with leaps, rebounds
Spectrum, Father Joe Maier, Published on 22/04/2018
» Dressed in graduation cap and gown, pink ribbons in her hair, Miss Pu Glin posed for her first-ever official photo looking regal and confident. She even had a hint of swagger.