Soon after arriving, Fr. Bazan learned about homeless men who suffered from alcoholism sleeping near and on the railroad tracks that run through Kensington and Garrett Park. These men would gather, drink, and then fall asleep near the tracks. Some would eventually end up sleeping on the tracks. The morning train whistle would arouse most of them, but Father heard of a man who had been run over by a train. He asked Fr. Quinn if he could bury this man, and, given permission he did just that. Then he heard of a second and a third incident. Msgr. Bazan, interviewed in February 2021 for this article, said he knew he had to do something about this. He had befriended some of the men and promised to take them “to a place where it was warm, and the food was good”. This was before Holy Cross hospital was built so he took them to Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park where they were each admitted under the name “John Smith” and entered a detox program.
He saw these men as “not drunkards but rather individuals who needed help” and eventually found space on Howard Avenue where the men could safely stay overnight, eat breakfast, then leave for the day, and return to dinners prepared by volunteers from Holy Cross. As time went on, he founded other shelters and established half-way houses. He said that today there are 2,000 halfway houses in 36 states and Canada. Msgr. Bazan stated that “when the 13th home opened in Harrisburg, PA he thought he had hit the BIG TIME.” Holy Cross Rectory basement was used as a site for AA meetings for many years. Msgr. Bazan said that he considers Msgr. Quinn and Msgr. Lewis the best pastors with whom he had worked.
A true servant of people, Msgr. Bazan is remembered as an outgoing man who did his utmost to help people rise to a better level—helping children, adults, and all others regardless of faith, race, or circumstance. Everywhere he served he left the place better than when he arrived.
In 1984, Father Bazan was elevated to Monsignor. Today, he lives with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C. and in 2012 he returned to Holy Cross to celebrate his Golden Jubilee.