Father Nelson Henry Baker
Priest, Pastor, Founder

Nelson Henry Baker was born in Buffalo, New York in 1842. His Father was Lutheran and his Mother was  Catholic.  He was the second  of four boys. He was baptized a Roman Catholic in 1851 at nine years age. Young Henry worked in a grocery store run by his father. It was there that he learned how to manage a business.

Nelson enlisted as a Union soldier during the Civil War. After he returned home, he started a successful feed and grain business with his friend, Joseph Meyer. He demonstrated a strong interest in religious matters and joined the St. Vincent DePaul Society. After five years, he decided that God was calling him to the priesthood.

He entered the seminary in 1869 at  the age of 28.  While he was studying at the seminary, he was privileged to be able to go on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1874. The pilgrimage stopped in Paris and toured the church of Our Lady of Victories.  This shrine was to inspire Nelson in the years to come and was the beginning of his devotion to Our Lady of Victory.

Nelson Baker was ordained on March 19, 1876 and became known as “Father Baker”. He was given several assignments in the following years.  He was eventually assigned to Lackawanna, NY. This assignment included taking care of  an orphanage, boys protectory and small parish. Under Father Baker’s guidance the existing services grew and expanded.  He also began an industrial school, a home for unwed mothers and infants, and a hospital. He began the “Association of Our Lady of Victory to raise money for his many missions. In thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Baker built Our Lady of Victory National Shrine. This Shrine was named as a minor basilica in 1926. He received many civic and church honors.   

Father Baker’s health began to deteriorate during the first part of 1936.  He was alert until July 29 when he slipped into a coma. At 9:20 on July 29^th, he breathed his last while he was being anointed by Father Joseph A. Burke, who was to become the bishop of Buffalo, New York.

During Father Baker’s sixty years as a priest, he performed the corporal and spiritual works of mercy through the many missions he either began or expanded. He gave a home to the homeless, fed the hungry, cared for the sick, loved those who had no one to love them, gave hope to the hopeless, and brought the grace of God into the lives of all he knew.

Father Baker was named Servant of God In 1987.   On January 14, 2011, he was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI.