Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J.

On August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration, Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., the founder of St. Michael Broadcasting, died, at age 96. He was a faithful and orthodox priest, friend, and advisor. We might take courage by knowing more about his edifying life.

Ken Baker was born in 1929. His parents divorced the following year, and his upbringing fell to his maternal grandparents. Neither his father nor grandfather was Catholic, but his grandmother was and had him baptized at age 5.

In grade school, he was taught by Franciscan Sisters, who greatly influenced him through their “witness to the transcendence of God.” After grade school, he hoped to attend a Catholic high school, but his grandfather had no income after suffering a stroke. Ken expected to attend a public high school. Just then, an uncle offered to pay for his first year at the Catholic high school, and hired him to work at his diner so that Ken could pay for his future schooling.

In high school, Ken was impressed by the joy and dedication of his Jesuit teachers. In junior year, he attended Mass every day during Lent. He bought a car. By senior year, he had a job, a car, and a girlfriend from a nearby girls’ school. Teen heaven!

Then the chaplain suggested that Ken consider entering the Jesuit novitiate. His dismayed girlfriend encouraged him. In 1947, Ken entered the novitiate, and in 1949 took perpetual vows. He took two years of classical study: Greek and Latin, and then three years of philosophy. After teaching for a few years, he was sent to Austria for theological study, and learned German and how to snow ski. He was ordained in 1960, returned to the USA in 1961 for teaching and pastoral work, and then was sent to Marquette University, where he received his Ph.D. in Theology in 1967. In 1968, as Chairman of the Theology Department at Gonzaga University, he spoke in support of the encyclical on moral procreation, Humanae Vitae.

In 1969, to Fr. Baker’s surprise, his Provincial appointed him president of Seattle University, a position he took on Feb. 1, 1970. Fr. Baker ran into a hornet’s nest! The school was perilously in debt. Fr. Baker made severe budget cuts, which made him unpopular with department heads. Anti-Vietnam War agitators wanted ROTC off campus! The Black Student Union wanted a separate all-black homecoming! Shouting their complaints and demands, demonstrators broke into his office while he was there, and trashed it. He received death threats, and then three weeks of 24 hour police protection. Fr. Baker, sensing insufficient support for his Catholic vision for the university, resigned on November 1, 1970. That same month, Fr. Baker appeared on Wm. F. Buckley’s “Firing Line,” speaking against the increasing secularization of Catholic universities.

In December 1970, Fr. Daniel Lyons, S.J., suggested that he become editor of a nearly bankrupt publication called The Homiletic and Pastoral Review. In 1971, after Fr. Baker became editor, thousands of new subscriptions poured in from priests glad to hear a voice strongly supporting Church teaching. In 1975, Fr. Baker began producing a radio program called “Views of the News,” which was carried on over 100 radio stations.

While continuing as editor, he gave retreats, led pilgrimages, and provided spiritual direction for three convents. He wrote his first book called Fundamentals of Catholicism (1983).  In the 1980s, Fr. Baker helped start some Catholic television stations, including what is now St. Michael Broadcasting, in St. Paul. His book titled Inside the Bible (1998) was made into a 13 part series by EWTN. Other instructive videos followed: The Theology of the Old Testament, The Synoptic Gospels, The One and Triune God. In 2011, he resigned from The Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He was 81 years old.

After this, he taught a few courses for Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter seminarians, whose particular charism is to offer the Sacred Liturgy, including the Mass, according to the Latin liturgical books of 1962. He wrote for The Latin Mass magazine, translated many books, and authored several, including: The Will of God: Finding and Fulfilling your Purpose in Life (2012).

A common theme stressed by Fr. Baker is that the Church is not a social service agency: its primary purpose is the conversion of all and the salvation of souls. In Mark 16:15, Jesus says “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Good News…” In his book The Mystery of Death and Beyond (2019), Fr. writes “Our good deeds and evil deeds have far-reaching effects--- consequences that continue after our death.” Fr. Baker did proclaim the Good News by administering the sacraments, teaching, writing and broadcasting. When the station receives notes from viewers who thank us for our programming, that gratitude redounds to Fr. Baker. As St. Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7, he “fought the good fight, he finished the race.” Well done, Fr. Baker. Thank you! Requiescat in pace.

                                                                  Michael Bird, President and volunteer

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