Nelson Henry Baker was born on February 16, 1842. At birth, he was baptized in the Lutheran faith (like his father). When Nelson was 10 years old, though, under the spiritual influence of his devout Catholic mother, he was rebaptized Catholic. The family lived in the growing city of Buffalo, New York. His father, Lewis, was a retired mariner who became the proprietor of a general store downtown. The family lived and worked in the store. In 1863, Nelson enlisted to fight for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Once home, Nelson settled into his old routine, working in his father's store. Around that time, a friend approached him about starting a feed and grain business. He accepted, and Meyer and Baker, a profitable and successful endeavor, was born. During the years that Nelson ran the business, the notion of becoming a priest had crossed his mind, but he was getting older and he knew that he didn’t have the proper schooling to prepare himself for the seminary. Each time the yearning came over him, he dismissed it — but not entirely. For the next year, Nelson worked furiously - helping out at the store all day and studying Latin at night. By June, 1869, he was exhausted. To get some rest, he embarked upon a steamer excursion around the Great Lakes. At every stop, he prayed on the question of what he was to do with his life. When he returned, his mind was clear. On September 2, 1869, Nelson Baker entered the seminary and began a second life in service to Our Lord. Early in 1874, Nelson read about a pilgrimage to some of the great Catholic shrines of Europe. While in France, a postponed trip to Lourdes allowed him to spend an extra day in Paris. He found himself in a smaller, more modest church, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires (“Our Lady of Victory”). There, Nelson felt a special tug on his heart during Mass. Although the pilgrims later visited St. Peter's and spent time with the Holy Father in Rome, his mind kept returning to the wonderful shrine in Paris and the possibility of honoring Our Lady in the same way in America. When he returned home in July 1874, Nelson continued his studies at the seminary. Soon thereafter, Nelson Baker became a priest of God on March 19, 1876. Father Baker was surprised by his first assignment -- he was appointed assistant superintendent at the Limestone Hill Institutions under an old friend, Father Hines. When the young priest arrived, St. John's Protectory and St. Joseph Boys' Orphan Asylum had a combined debt of $27,000. By 1881, the debt had risen to more than $60,000 -- a figure equivalent to more than $1.8 million today! Frustrated, Father Baker was granted a transfer to St. Mary’s Parish in Corning, N.Y. After one year there, though, he was summoned to return to Limestone Hill as Father Hines' replacement. To keep creditors at bay, he drove to the bank and withdrew every penny he had to his name (from his business days) to pay off the debts. But, realizing he needed a more permanent solution, Father Baker got the idea to form the Association of Our Lady of Victory, a fundraising initiative that would transform his organization forever. Every evening, he sat down and wrote letters to postmasters all over the country asking them to send him names of charitable, Catholic women in their towns. He wrote to these ladies and asked for one quarter a year to support his work. The Association was an unqualified success! In a few years' time, Father Baker was able to begin much-needed building projects — a new, larger chapel and additions to the protectory and orphanage. Around the turn of the 20th century, Father Baker was horrified to learn that bodies of infants were being found as work was being done on the Erie Canal. Horrified and called to immediate action, he set his will to a new project. When completed in 1908, OLV Infant Home provided sanctuary for unwed mothers and their babies. The addition of the Infant Home completed Father Baker’s vision of an organization that provided services to needy children throughout their formative years – from birth up to adulthood. Those without hope could be born at “Father Baker’s”, raised and educated, taught a trade and sent out into the world as hopeful, well-rounded individuals. Thanks to his ingenuity, his partnership with the Blessed Mother, and his generous benefactors, his “City of Charity” continued to grow. New sections were frequently added to the older buildings to make room for the influx of needy children. The next large-scale building project, though, was the addition of a maternity hospital that was completed in 1919. A grander vision loomed… On April 8, 1916, a fire in St. Patrick’s church eventually caused it to collapse. No one was injured, but the damage done was enough to require major repairs. In the months that followed, only a few were made, fixing only those areas needed for Masses to be held. By 1920, Father Baker was finally ready to move forward on a new project, the building of a church in honor of his patroness, Mary. In August of 1921, he joined hundreds of priests, religious sisters and politicians at a special ceremony to bless the new shrine’s cornerstone. With that, construction began and, after countless hours of work, Our Lady of Victory Shrine was completed and hosted its first Mass on Christmas Day in 1925. Months later, on May 25, 1926, a celebration was held as the church was dedicated. In July of that year, the pope named OLV Shrine a minor basilica, making it just the second basilica in the United States at the time. The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 ushered in the Great Depression, years that scarred the nation and its people. For many of them, though, a hero arose: Father Baker. Records from that era tell a story of a bustling "City of Charity" that did more good than can be imagined. It is estimated that, between 1930 and 1933, more than 450,000 meals were served and approximately 20,000 nights of free lodging for the homeless were provided. In addition, “Father Baker’s Boys” (the nickname given to those who grew up in his institutions) had made and distributed more than 4,600 pairs of shoes, 2,100 coats, 800 men’s suits, 1,100 women’s dresses and 300 pairs of children’s shoes. He wasn’t done, though. During a time in which he was bed-ridden due to an injury, he looked down from his room at the lines of needy folks gathered for food distribution and noticed several people of color talking with the priests. He sent word down to ask if these individuals would be interested in becoming Catholic. They were. The next month, now recovered, Father Baker began what is referred to as the Black Apostolate. The first class included 30 men, women and children. That number grew. By the end of 1932, its first full year, 500 individuals had gone through the program resulting in 333 baptisms, 291 First Communions and 204 Confirmations. By the summer of 1935, nearly 700 baptisms were performed and at least seven weddings had taken place between people who had met during classes. In 1932, he teamed up with several community leaders to establish the Working Girls’ Home in downtown Buffalo. It provided housing to young women who were temporarily out of work and needed a place to stay until they found a job. Eventually, age caught up with the man who was dubbed the "Padre of the Poor" by local newspapers. His health had deteriorated during the first part of 1936 and he lapsed into a coma on July 29. He breathed his last that morning while being blessed by Father Joseph Burke, himself an orphan who had been raised at “Father Baker’s,” who would later go on to become bishop of Buffalo. His life had been so impactful, that it is estimated that close to 500,000 people came to pay their respects to the humble priest as he lie in state. His funeral service was broadcast live on local radio stations and attended by countless thousands of well-wishers, friends, men and women religious, and community leaders. On October 7, 1987, the Feast of Our Lady of Victory – the Vatican declared Father Baker a “Servant of God.” On January 14, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed upon Father Baker the title of “Venerable.” www.fatherbaker.org