Stephen Joseph Baker, O.S.A.

1963 – 2025 (August 1)

Stephen Joseph Baker, O.S.A., was born on June 9, 1963, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, the son of Kenneth J. and Patricia E. (Miller) Baker. He had two brothers and two sisters. He was baptized on June 23, 1963, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Saint George Parish School, Glenolden, Pennsylvania from 1969 to 1977, and Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1981. He entered the Province’s Pre-Novitiate Program at Burns Hall and began his studies at Villanova University in 1981. He was received into the Order as a novice on August 15, 1984, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, Lawrence, Massachusetts, he professed first vows on August 10, 1985. He returned to Saint Augustine Friary and completed his studies at Villanova University, obtaining a BA in English in 1986. He then went to Augustinian College, Washington, DC from 1986 to 1990, and pursued his theological studies at the Washington Theological Union, obtaining his MA in 1990. He professed solemn vows on May 15, 1988. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 18, 1990, at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, by Bishop Howard Hubbard, Bishop of Albany, New York.

Fr. Steve was first assigned to Assumption/Saint Paul Parish, Mechanicville, New York, as associate pastor from 1990 to 1994. He then served as associate pastor at Saint Augustine Parish, Andover, Massachusetts from 1994 to 1996. In 1996 he was assigned to Saint Joseph Friary and served at Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania as teacher and campus minister from 1996 to 1999. He then served as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Staten Island, New York from 1999 to 2001. He returned to Bonner High School, again to teach and to be the campus minister from 2001 to 2005. In 2005 he was assigned to Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Pennsylvania, where he taught Theology and English and served as the Chair of the school’s Theology Department. He pursued graduate studies in Education at Saint Joseph’s University, while continuing his work at Malvern, obtaining an MS and EdD.

In August of 2010, he was transferred to Saxony Hall, Rosemont, Pennsylvania and assigned to teach at Villanova University, where he taught until the spring of 2025. After the Provincial Chapter of 2014, he was assigned to St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery, Villanova, Pennsylvania and appointed treasurer of the community while continuing teaching at Villanova University. As a treasurer and teacher, Fr. Steve was warm and welcoming in addressing the needs of the friars and his many students. In the spring of 2025, he became ill, and he passed away at Kindred Hospital August 1, 2025.