A Growing Legacy
1892 - 1921
As Father Baker celebrated both the dawn of a new century and his 25th year in the priesthood, he could reflect on all he had accomplished. In 1883, St. John's Protectory was home to 120 boys, while St. Joseph's Orphanage housed 118. By 1901, the numbers had increased dramatically to 385 and 236, respectively. The OLV Institutions were growing rapidly.
To keep up with this steady influx of new children, more building projects took place. In 1897, the Protectory was expanded to 190 rooms, and a brand new Working Boys Home was opened. The home was a sanctuary for 80 boys, age 15 and up, who had left the Protectory and were now working in the Buffalo area.
Shortly after the advent of the 20th century, Father Baker enjoyed one of many highlights of his priestly career, as he was named Vicar General of the Diocese of Buffalo in 1903. This post, which he would occupy until his death in 1936, allowed the humble priest to serve as the Bishop's right-hand man -- a tremendous honor for someone who had entered the priesthood at such an advanced age.
At that time, news of infant bones being dredged out of Erie Canal reached a horrified Father Baker. The practice of dumping unwanted babies in the waterway was becoming all too common. In response, Father Baker announced plans to construct an Infant Home to offer refuge, prenatal care, and adoptive services for infants and unwed mothers. The ambitious (and controversial) project began in 1907, was completed in March of the following year, and immediately filled to capacity. With the addition of the Infant Home, the OLV Institutions now could offer a complete lifetime of care to those in need (birth-5 at the Infant Home, 5-10 at the Orphanage, 10-15 at the Protectory, and 15+ at the Working Boys Home).
After just six years, it became apparent to Father Baker that the now overcrowded Infant Home was in desperate need of expansion. Once again, the humble priest announced the growth of what was being hailed as his "City of Charity", as he unveiled plans for the construction of a Maternity Hospital in 1914. Although work on the new facility was halted temporarily in 1916 due to a fire which destroyed the orphanage, the project was completed and opened in 1919. The next year, under advisement from Dr. Michael Sullivan, a boy raised by Father Baker himself, the new facility was converted into a general hospital, and reopened to serve the entire Western New York region. OLV Hospital continues to provide care to this day.
Although his body was beginning to weaken, Father Baker, at the age of 79 in 1921, was not one to sit back on his laurels. Instead, he was to embark on his most ambitious and beloved project of them all . . .
 |
||
 |
The
Father Baker Story Photo
Gallery The
Path to SainthoodOnline
Community |
|
|
||