As his namesake looks on from a wall-mounted relief cradling baby Jesus, the Rev. Joseph Maier kicks up a leg in kung fu style, sending his white cassock flying.

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- In Klong Toey, a Bangkok district between a highway and the Chao Phraya River, families of four share motorbikes, street vendors sell residents pouches of food, and doors of homes are open to the outside...

There is an extraordinary spirituality that shines throughout the story of Father Joseph Maier. His heroic struggles offering trailblazing hope and promise are remarkably astonishing. A uniquely fearless man, sporting unwavering courage, Father Joe is likewise one of those certain few who just might be worthy of being bestowed the title "prophet". His unshakable faith both uplifts and inspires, transforming darkness into light in so many unimaginable ways.

When Father Joe got word that George W. Bush was planning to visit the children he cares for in Bangkok's largest slum, the first thing the American priest did was ask them: "Do you want to meet him?"

In Klong Toey, a Bangkok district between a highway and the Chao Phraya River, families of four share motorbikes, street vendors sell residents pouches of food, and doors of homes are open to the outside. A salesman on a bike cart sells broomsticks, while motorcycle taxi drivers, dressed in orange vests, wait at a corner.