VENERABLE
NELSON H. BAKER
"Apostle of Charity"

Prayer

   Lord, you gave us Your servant Nelson Baker as an example of service to the poor, homeless, and young.  By Father Baker's ardent concern for those in need, inflame our hearts and lives with compassion for the poor, justice for the oppressed, hope for the troubled, and courage to those in doubt.  We pray through the intercession of Our Lady of Victory, if it be Your will, that Your servant, Nelson Baker, may one day be canonized.
Amen.   Glory Be   (3 times)

    Msgr. Nelson Baker, most commonly known as "Father Baker", was born on February 16, 1842, in Buffalo, NY, to his German Lutheran father and Irish Catholic mother.  While attending public schools, he assisted in his father's general store.  After graduating from high school, Nelson enlisted in the Union Army for 30 days of active duty during the Civil War.  Upon his return, he began a grain and feed business with partner, Joseph Meyer.  After five years of running a successful business, Nelson pursued a calling to the priesthood, entering Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Niagara Falls, NY.  He was ordained a diocesan priest on March 19, 1876.

    For five years, Father Baker served as assistant at the Limestone Hill Institutions in Lackawanna, NY, which included an orphanage, boys protectory and small parish.  After serving for one year as curate at St. Mary Parish in Corning, NY, he was called back to Lackawanna to take over the charitable organization that would become Oour Lady of Victory Institutions.  Father Baker grew the existing services and expanded the scope of ministry to include and industrial school, a home for unwed mothers and infants, and a hospital.  He was named Vicar General of the Buffalo Diocese in 1902, a Domestic Prelate in 1905, and later raised to the rank of Prothonotary Apostolic.  In thanksgiving to his patroness for all her help, Father Baker built Our Lady of Victory National Shrine, which was consecrated and named a minor basilica in 1926.  He continued his outreach to those in need in the surrounding region until his death on July 29, 1936.

    In 1987, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints approved the initiation of Father Baker's cause for canonization.  his earthly remains were moved from a nearby cemetery to a tomb within the basilica in March 1999.  Pope Benedict XVI delcared Father Baker Venerable on January 14, 2011.

    Twenty-two Knights of the Knights of St. John, International, Buffalo Grand Commandery, 2nd Regiment of Buffalo, NY and thirty Knights of the Knights of Columbus provided a processional honor guard for the 75th Father Baker Day Mass and Celebration on Sunday, July 31st, 2011 during Noon mass.  The Buffalo Grand Commandery, 2nd Regiment of Buffalo, NY is blessed to have counted Father Baker as one of its own.  Knights of the Regiment were blessed to participate in the consecration of Our Lady of Victory Basilica in 1926 and in providing Funeral Honors for Father Baker in 1936.  Commandery No. 382 was blessed by one of its patrons with the presentation of a Father Nelson Baker relic.