“The Slum Priest” Father Joe Maier to Visit as Global Leader in Residence

Father Joe Maier (aka “The Slaughterhouse Priest” and “The Slum Priest”) will come to Westminster College on Tuesday, 10-21, and Wednesday, 10-22, as a Global Leader in Residence.

Father Joe Maier, C.Ss.R. has ministered to the poor in Bangkok’s slums for over 40 years. As the Parish Priest of the Catholic community, he has lived alongside the poor residents around the city’s main slaughterhouse in Klong Toey slums—which is how he became known as “The Slaughterhouse Priest.” Fr. Joe co-founded the Human Development Foundation – Mercy Centre, a community-based organization dedicated to strengthening the poorest slum communities of all religions and protecting and educating their most vulnerable children.

He is also a sought-after speaker and has been the graduation keynote for several United World Colleges (UWC).  Fr. Joe dons his doctoral robes once a year and presents a certificate to every graduating student of the Mercy Centre kindergartens, which have produced over 40,000 graduates to date.

For more information, please visit:

VIDEO: Fr. Joe’s work in Bangkok
Fr. Joe Maier on Wikipedia
CNN/Asia story on Fr. Joe Maier
PBS special Fr. Joe

Begun in 2011, the Global Leaders in Residence program brings leaders from a variety of academic and professional fields to campus for two to three days to speak to classes, interact socially with students, consult with faculty and staff and deliver a campus-wide presentation on their efforts to make a difference in the world.

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