We are extremely saddened to announce the passing of Fr Christopher Joseph Baker (SPC 1942-43, PY1944) on 31 October 2024.
Chris, and his two brothers Leo (SPC 1939-41, PY1942) and Patrick (SPC 1952-55) were well-known in our SPC community for their dedication and lifelong missions as respected priests with the St Columban’s Mission Society.
Chris’ brothers Leo and Patrick both sadly passed away in 2019.
Fr Chris’ life was celebrated by his family and fellow Columbans at the Columban Chapel in Essendon, Melbourne on 14 November 2024 and he was laid to rest at Melbourne General Cemetery in Parkville.
Chris accomplished much during his Columban priestly and missionary life.
The sad news was shared by Fr Ray Scanlon, from the St Columbans Mission Society, who reflected on Fr Chris’ life of service.
“He taught many of us as a Scripture professor in our seminary, but that was just one of his roles during his long life,” he shared.
Chris was born on 14 March 1928, at Brighton Melbourne. His family lived near Tatura, 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. The family moved to Cobden, in south-eastern Victoria and Chris completed his Intermediate A and Leaving years of schooling as a boarder at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat.
Unfortunately, we have very little references or photographs relating to Chris’ time at SPC, due to the lack of records via the College Annuals of the era due to World War II.
Suffice to say, the College proudly boasted that Chris was preparing for the “foreign missions” after passing his 1943 Leaving Certificate in its 1942-44 College Annual.
Chris entered the seminary in Essendon in February 1944 and was ordained on 23 September 1950 by Archbishop Daniel Mannix in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
He was then appointed to Rome to do post-graduate studies in theology and scripture. He graduated 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, on the north shore of Sydney Harbour. He remained on the seminary staff for many years, completed a six-year stint as rector, and finally moved on in 1977 when he was appointed to Peru. Following Spanish language studies 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.
Chris kept up to date with his biblical studies and returned to Rome for studies on both 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. He may have thought he’d be left in peace in his parish in Peru, but, no such luck.
Chris was appointed as editor of Columban Intercom beginning in May 1989 and he continued until June 1997. In 1990, he published his book on Covenant and Liberation, which was published by Peter Lang, 1991, Frankfurt, 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, Chris took on the difficult task as pastor of a poor inner-city parish that had been 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 for supporting people with physical disabilities. He continued to support this institution for 18 years. He was very good at raising money and spending it wisely in favour of the most needy.
He was remembered in a moving tribute for his work in Lima, with Greg and Mariella Barnes reflecting – “Chris was a good friend to both of us, over many years. First, he founded Cristo Nuestra Vida, parish in Lima. In that parish he worked for the education of all – Family Catechetics for adults & children, Youth Groups and annual theology formation courses & his careful homilies. He established a Coordination for over 30 Mother’s Clubs to assist with alimentation of more than 6000 people in times of poverty. He was always, patient, gentle, tolerant, faithful and knowledgeable – a constant gardener and Fergie tractor! We both appreciated his friendship in the parish, his wonderful patience and his intellectual skills.”
Chris retired in 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 in early 2024, and it is thought he did this in case he did not make it to his 75th.
Chris died peacefully in hospital on 31 October 2024 after a short illness at John Fawkner Hospital.
In another moving tribute, Richard Thom wrote “You could not meet three more-decent men than the Baker brothers. Met them all some years back and thoroughly enjoyed their company. In regard to their service to humanity, I have only one word to describe it – AWESOME! Farewell Chris, may you sincerely R.I.P.”
