Father Nelson H . Baker had been dead for years and the campaign to make him a saint hadnât yet begun. But the orphanage Baker made famous in Lackawanna would be Knickerbockerâs new home. One government official summed up the feeling of those who had gathered best: A manâs success in life should be measured by the friends he makes and the good he does. Measured by this rule, Father Baker was the most successful man in this country and, probably, the world. > Next Chapter: His Legacy Continues. A priest who for years oversaw the legacy of Father Nelson H . Baker â the Buffalo Dioceseâs sainthood candidate â is accused in two recently filed lawsuits of sexually abusing boys in Our Lady of Victory programs he oversaw. The definitive work on the life and miracles of Father Nelson Baker , first published in 2005, is now available in an updated edition. The Mysteries of Father Baker , meticulously written and researched by local historian John Koerner, first captured the hearts of readers nearly a decade ago. John Phillips of South Buffalo, who died last week at the age of 95, lived his formative years at the orphanage founded and operated by Baker . Phillips’ recollections have been used by advocates as they work to have Baker canonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Entering his 90s, Father Baker ’ s body began to slow, but his mind was sharp and filled with ways to assist those in need. Those records that have been left behind from that era tell a story of a bustling “City of Charity” that did more good than could be imagined. These are just some of the wonders that have been attributed to the intercession of Father Nelson Baker during his life - and even after his death. This new book examines the historical record. The late Western New York priest, the revered Father Nelson Baker (1841â1936), devoted himself to Catholic works, including replacing a fire-damaged church with an impressive basilica and creating a hospital, a boysâ orphanage, a boysâ protectory, and other institutions.
Father Baker's Numnies: A Legacy of Scandal and Mystery
Father Nelson H . Baker had been dead for years and the campaign to make him a saint hadnât yet begun. But the orphanage Baker made famous in Lackawanna would b...