Our Lady of Victory Organizations unveiled new brands and a refreshed identity for its three partnering organizations in an effort to clarify, unify and simplify the brands

On July 24, 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States established November as Black Catholic History Month.

It was a proud moment for the Diocese of Buffalo when 15 deacons were ordained this past September at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna. Upon entering this sacred space the awareness and immensity of God's presence is captivating. Those gathered to celebrate the ordination struggled to recall a time in recent memory when there were so many prepared and ready to serve the Lord and his Church.

The Venerable Nelson H. Baker earned his title "Servant of God" by helping those with the greatest need. Well known as the "Padre of the Poor" and father figure to the orphaned Baker Boys, the Lackawanna hero also had a hand in helping the African-American population in the Diocese of Buffalo.

A recent family collaboration resulted in $200,000 to benefit Our Lady of Victory Organizations via their ongoing capital campaign. The campaign, entitled The Campaign for "Father Baker's" ­- Continuing His Legacy of Caring, which started in 2012, has now reached $11.5 million of its $12 million goal to enrich the lives of people in the Western New York area. The capital campaign runs until Dec. 31.

As Western New Yorkers prepare for some cold weather, Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard is preparing for a meeting in Rome. The pastor of Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna will visit the Vatican at the end of October to discuss Venerable Nelson Baker's cause for canonization.

In honor of the 81st anniversary of Venerable Nelson H. Baker's death, Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica continued its longstanding tradition of honoring the beloved Buffalo icon on July 30. A congregation, including clergy, religious, lay faithful and "Baker Boys," men who lived at Father Baker's orphanage as young boys, listened as Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard, rector of the basilica, urged all Catholic faithful to use Father Baker's life of service as an ideal role model for modern day sainthood.

On Sept. 23, the Vatican announced it has slightly modified requirements for scientifically confirming occurrences alleged to be miracles. Among other changes, the Vatican is now requiring a larger number, a supermajority of two-thirds of medical experts, testifying that there is no medical or scientific explanation for an occurrence, as well as requiring the experts be compensated via bank transfer rather than cash. However, this will not yet have an impact on Venerable Nelson Baker's cause for canonization.

Things have not changed much since Father Baker's day. Back in the 1880s, the Padre of the Poor reached out to Catholics across the country via a direct mail campaign. Now, the Father Baker Guild does much the same thing.

On Easter Sunday, March 27, two programs produced by Daybreak TV Productions of the Diocese of Buffalo will air on WKBW-TV Channel 7.

Over more than a half century of ministry, Venerable Msgr. Nelson Baker made a profound impact in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, helping thousands of orphans, founding the various Our Lady of Victory Institutions and now as a candidate for sainthood. As we celebrate the anniversary of his death on this day in 1936, take a look back at his life and ministry in our photo gallery.

LACKAWANNA - Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity will hold its annual auction, Baker Victory Nite, on Friday, May 1, at 6:30 pm, at Michael's Banquet Facility in Hamburg. The Wizard of Oz-themed event features cocktails and food stations, with chances to win over $40,000 in valuable prizes through raffles, theme baskets, split clubs and a silent auction.

LACKAWANNA, NY (April 21, 2015) - Bishop Richard J. Malone joined Baker Victory Services (BVS) President Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard and Chief Executive Officer Terese M. Scofidio to break ground and officially begin construction on a new $16 million residential treatment facility on the BVS Martin Road Campus in Lackawanna. The latest development in the continuing evolution of programs begun by Father Nelson Baker, the new state-of-the-art facility is designed to replace cottages that were built in the 1950's and 60's, currently home to residents in the BVS RTF programs.

Christmas is creeping up fast. Your "to do" list seems to be getting longer instead of shorter. You start to feel jumpy, nervous and, yes, even a bit crabby during this jolly, holiday season. And to top it off ... inevitably you miss a holiday television special that you wait all year to watch.

Daybreak TV Productions has reached out to local talent for the documentary "Building a Basilica." The 60-minute film tells the story of the priest and architect who built a magnificent church to honor the Blessed Mother Mary and will air on WKBW-TV on Jan. 19, 2014, at noon.

At the Vatican today (Jan. 11, 2014), Pope Benedict XVI declared the heroic virtues of Father Nelson Baker, the diocesan priest who built Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna and Our Lady of Victory Institutions, which continue Father Baker's compassionate legacy of caring begun more than a century ago. The declaration by the Holy Father is the next step on Father Baker's path to sainthood.