Father Derek LaBranch was born in Sacramento, CA on 3 December 1978.

Father LaBranch grew up in the Eastern suburb of Sacramento County called Fair Oaks. He and his family are parishioners at St. Mel Parish in Fair Oaks.  He attended local public schools and graduated from Mira Loma High School in 1997.  Father LaBranch was in the school’s International Baccalaureate program.

Upon acceptance as a Seminarian for the Diocese of Sacramento he studied philosophy at Mt. Angel Seminary in Saint Benedict Oregon where he received his BA in 2001.  During a two year leave of absence, Fr. LaBranch was a Catholic school teacher and received a M.A. in Teaching Education from the University of San Francisco.  After returning to seminary formation, FR. LaBranch was in residence at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas while attending the Oblate School of Theology.  Fr. LaBranch graduated from Oblate School of Theology in May 2007 with a MA in Theology and Master of Divinity degree.  Fr. LaBranch studied Clinical Pastoral Education at the Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento based at the Sutter Center for Psychiatry. Fr. LaBranch also spent a summer studying spirituality and sexuality at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha, NB.

Fr. LaBranch was ordained a deacon by the Most. Rev. Richard J. Garcia in May 2006 with seven of his classmates and in his ordination homily referred to the group as the “Magnificent Seven”   He was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on 29 June 2007 by the Most Rev. William K. Weigand.  Fr. LaBranch’s first priestly assignment was as parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist Parish in Folsom.  Fr. LaBranch also served as a priest-chaplain to Mercy Hospital of Folsom.  In 2009, Fr. LaBranch was appointed Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Maxwell.  Fr. LaBranch is currently studying to obtain his S.T.B. through the University of St. Paul in Ottawa, Canada. In June of 2010, at the completion of the Columbian Year, Fr. Derek will be resigning from his position as the Faithful Friar of the Knights of Columbus Centennial Council #1903 Folsom (click here for article).

Like all priests, Fr. Derek was assigned apostolic ministry or theological field education during his seminary formation. During this time most work was carried out in the Archdioceses of Portland in Oregon and San Antonio. Fr. Derek brings a plethora of learned skills from these ministries.  These assignments included: Catechist, St. Joseph Parish, Salem, OR; Pastoral Care, Mt. Angel Towers Retirement Community; and Outreach Ministry on Burnside.  In San Antonio, Fr. Derek worked in the Catechetical Office of the Chancery, Detention Ministry at Bexar County Jail, and The Marriage Tribunal.  During his pastoral year at St Theresa Parish in South Lake Tahoe, Fr. Derek taught religion at St. Theresa School for third, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.  Fr. Derek also served as an Ecclesiastical Notary in the Marriage Tribunal of the Archdiocese of San Antonio for three years and served as Episcopal Master of Ceremonies. As a deacon, Fr. Derek was assigned as Chaplain to Antonian College Prep High School, and as Deacon Assistant at the Shrine of Padre Pio.

In addition to his responsibilities as a parish priest, Fr. LaBranch is a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserves and assigned to Beale AFB, CA.  Fr. LaBranch is a graduate of the Air University Commissioned Officer Training School and the United States Air Force Basic Chaplain Course at Maxwell AFB, AL.  Fr. LaBranch previously served as a chaplain candidate with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.  Upon his ordination to the priesthood he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.  In October 2008, Fr. LaBranch was promoted to the rank of Captain at a ceremony held at St. John Notre Dame School in Folsom, CA.