FR CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH BAKER 1928 – 2024
Columban Fr Christopher Joseph Baker’s long and fruitful life was dedicated first to educating future priests and then to hands-on service to the neediest of God’s people.
Chris was born on March 14, 1928, in Brighton, Melbourne. His family lived near Tatura, a small town to the north of Melbourne. Most of his early education was at state schools. His family lost their farm in the north during the global depression following the Wall Street Stock Exchange collapse of October 1929. They moved to Cobden in south-eastern Victoria and Chris went to St Patrick's Christian Brothers boarding school for the final two years of high school.
He entered the Columban seminary in Essendon in February 1944 and was ordained on September 23, 1950, by Archbishop Daniel Mannix in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. He was then appointed to Rome to do postgraduate studies in theology and scripture, graduating with a doctorate in theology and later with a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture.
On return to Australia, Chris joined the staff at the Columban seminary in Wahroonga, a suburb on the north shore of Sydney Harbour. He remained on staff for many years, followed by a six-year stint as Rector. Then, in 1977, his life took a turn when he was appointed to Peru. Following lessons in the Spanish language in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Chris began parish work as an assistant and later as parish priest of a huge, sprawling parish that was subsequently subdivided into various parishes. He might have thought he’d be left in peace in his parish in Peru, but no such luck.
He kept up to date with his biblical studies and returned to Rome for studies on both the Bible and liberation theology. On his return to Peru, he dedicated a year to writing a book on the five main covenants in the Bible and teaching in his “spare” time.
Chris was appointed to Ireland as editor of Columban Intercom, beginning in May 1989 and continuing until June 1997. In 1991, he produced the book Covenant and Liberation: Giving New Heart to God’s Endangered Family, which was published by Peter Lang in Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
On signing off from the Intercom job, Chris returned to Australia for a break, but Peru continued to call him. On returning to Lima, he took on the difficult task as the pastor of a poor inner-city parish constructed on an old garbage dump dating back to 1535 when Lima, located on the west coast of South America, was founded by Francisco Pizarro, the leader of the Spanish conquest of South America.
He was parish priest there for four years, one of his most memorable legacies being to help found an institution that supported people with physical disabilities. He continued to support this institution for 18 years, showing a talent for raising money and spending it wisely in favour of those most in need.
Chris retired to Essendon in 2018 but never stopped reading, writing, and supporting others. He insisted on celebrating in a significant way the 74th anniversary of his ordination, possibly just in case he did not make it to his 75th. He died peacefully in hospital surrounded by the most supportive of nurses.
Listen to "A long and fruitful life "
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - January/February 2025
