Derrick Flannigan

From the nearly six years he spent at the seminary to planning his wedding to fiancee Erin this May, see where life has taken Derrick Flannigan since graduation.

Questions

Favorite High School Memory: My favorite high school memory would be walking across the stage at graduation to get my diploma at the same time that my best friend Charlie Raymond was receiving his diploma. What are the odds that out of about 500 students we would receive our diplomas at the same time?.

Favorite High School Class: My favorite high school class was a Civil War history class with Mr. Williamson. I always enjoyed his passion for and knowledge of history.

Favorite High School Activity:My favorite high school activity was performing in marching marching band and winter drumline.

In 2002, I spent my weekends: In 2002 I spent my weekends at music competitions, helping out at my parish, St. Clare of Assisi, and spending time with my best friends-Charlie Raymond, Tyler Holman and Lauren Tracy (wife of David Feng) from the Class of 2002 and Katie Ward, now Katie Johnson, from the Class of 2003.

In 2011, I spend my weekends: In 2010/2011 I spend my weekends planning for my wedding, which is May 13, 2011, grading papers and spending time with family and friends!

Any other thoughts to add about LHS or the Class of 2002?

My favorite all-time favorite teacher from LHS was Mr. Aaron Bryan (band director 2002, etc.) We still keep in contact, are in the same music fraternity and I learned a lot about being a better musician and man from him.

What He's Up To Now

After high school I entered Kenrick-Glennon Seminary and Saint Louis University where I discerned a vocation to the priesthood for almost six years. I also helped the LHS Lancer Regiment Marching Band as a music instructor from 2002-2004. During the summer of 2004, I was given the unique opportunity to perform with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle corps and perform throughout the United States, ending with the Drum Corps International World Championships in Denver, CO where we performed before 30,000 fans and placed 8th overall. In 2005 and 2008 I was blessed to see Pope Benedict XVI in Europe and New York City. In 2007 I took a sabbatical from my seminary studies and actually worked as a railroad conductor and engineer for Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska.

In 2008 I left the seminary, as I came to peaceful realization that God was not calling me to become a Catholic priest. As of 2009, I am currently working as a freshman theology teacher at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in Washington, MO and am getting married to my beautiful fiancee, Erin Jokerst, on May 13th, 2011. We are very excited about starting a new life together and we cannot wait to raise a family together! We actually met at the LHS Homecoming football game in 2002 during my freshman year of college seminary through a mutual friend that she knew while attending Fontbonne University.