The Father Baker Story
Early Days
Born in February 1842 to a hardworking, middle-class family in Buffalo, New York, Nelson Baker learned the value of responsibility early. His father owned a neighborhood grocery store, and every member of the family helped keep it running. That sense of duty—to family, community, and country—would shape the course of Baker’s remarkable life.
In the summer of 1863, at just 21 years old, Nelson enlisted to serve in the Civil War. He fought at the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg and was later sent to New York City to help restore order during the violent Draft Riots. When the war ended, he returned home and partnered with a friend to start a grain-and-feed business. Yet despite financial stability, Baker felt a persistent call to something greater.
After years of reflection, he entered the seminary in 1869—at what he later called the “advanced age” of 27. A pilgrimage to Europe in 1874 proved transformative. There, Baker deepened his devotion to the Blessed Mother and dedicated his life’s work to Our Lady of Victory. He was ordained a priest in March 1876.
First Assignment & Big Dreams
Father Baker’s first assignment brought him back to familiar ground: the Limestone Hill Institutions, where he had once volunteered as a young man. Appointed assistant superintendent, he quickly encountered the organization’s severe financial distress. The burden of debt eventually forced him to request a transfer, and he was sent to St. Mary’s Parish in Corning, New York. After just one year, however, he was called back to Limestone Hill—this time as superintendent, responsible for saving the struggling institutions.
What followed was a lifetime marked by faith-filled innovation. Faced with constant financial challenges, Father Baker pioneered creative solutions that were far ahead of their time. In 1882, he launched the Association of Our Lady of Victory, becoming one of the earliest and most successful practitioners of national direct-mail fundraising. In 1891, his bold decision to drill the Victoria Well paid off when it struck natural gas, saving the institutions thousands of dollars in heating costs.
Father Baker’s compassion extended especially to society’s most vulnerable. In 1908, after reading heartbreaking reports of infant remains recovered from the Erie Canal, he opened the OLV Infant Home—a safe haven for unwed mothers and their babies. With its addition, his growing “City of Charity” was able to care for children from birth through adulthood.
A devastating fire at St. Patrick’s Church soon led to Father Baker’s most ambitious undertaking yet: the construction of the Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica. Inspired by the great churches of Europe, the Shrine took five years to build and was completed in time for Christmas Mass in 1925. In 1926, the Vatican named it a Minor Basilica, making it only the second church in the United States to receive that honor.
During the Great Depression, Father Baker’s tireless service earned him a new title in the local press: the “Padre of the Poor.” Under his leadership, the City of Charity provided more than 450,000 meals, 20,000 nights of free lodging, thousands of shoes and coats, and essential clothing for men, women, and children who had nowhere else to turn.
Father Baker passed away on July 29, 1936, at the age of 94. In the days leading up to his funeral, an estimated 500,000 people came to pay their respects—a testament to the profound impact of his life and ministry.
His Legacy Continues
His legacy did not end with his death. In 1987, the Vatican formally opened his Cause for Canonization, naming him a Servant of God. In 2011, he was declared Venerable, recognizing his heroic virtue. His cause now awaits the confirmation of a miracle, the next step toward beatification.
Today, Father Baker’s vision continues to thrive. Our Lady of Victory Human Services supports 10,000 to 12,000 children and families each year through critical programs. The OLV National Shrine & Basilica, now celebrating 100 years since its construction, welcomes more than 280,000 parishioners, pilgrims and visitors annually. And OLV Charities carries forward Father Baker’s pioneering fundraising spirit, ensuring vital support for both the Shrine and OLV Human Services.
More than a century later, Father Nelson Baker’s "City of Charity" remains a living testament to what faith, ingenuity, and unwavering compassion can accomplish.
