About St. John Neumann · Powhatan, Virginia
St. John Neumann Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Powhatan County, Virginia, located at 2480 Batterson Road in Powhatan. The parish is part of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Deanery 8) and is currently led by Pastor Rev. Eric Anokye, with three permanent deacons assisting in ministry. Centered in Christ through the celebration of the Eucharist, the parish community seeks to imitate Christ through prayer, outreach, fellowship, and education, serving Powhatan Catholics with two Sunday Masses, weekday Masses, a year-round Eucharistic Adoration hour, and a growing ministry of religious education, prison outreach, and Columbarium prayer garden.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. John Neumann
- Rector
- Rev. Eric Anokye
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
St. John Neumann offers a small-parish warmth with the fullness of Catholic sacramental life: two Sunday Masses plus a Saturday vigil, daily Mass four days a week, weekly Saturday confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays. Worshippers can grow in faith through religious education for all ages, the OCIA (RCIA) process for those becoming Catholic, youth ministry for high-schoolers in 'Neu Waves,' and adult formation offerings like Breaking Open the Word, Spanish Bible study (estudio de la biblia española), and Thursday Night Theology. The parish also reaches outward — a prison ministry at Deep Meadow and the Henrico County West Jail, ministry to Amelia Nursing Home and Blessed Sacrament–Huguenot School — and offers a Columbarium and Prayer Garden for those wanting a sacred resting place on parish grounds.
Mass times at St. John Neumann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (with Vespers at 6:00 PM, Rosary at 7:10 PM, and Benediction to follow)
Parish History & Identity
St. John Neumann's story is unusually rooted in Catholic education. Saint Katharine Drexel and her sister Louise Drexel Morrell established schools on the 1,600-acre Belmead estate in the 1890s, launching the first Catholic community in Powhatan County. In 1928 Louise Morrell built St. Edward's Chapel, which served the community until 1970. After desegregation and the closure of St. Emma's Institute, the parish relocated, was renamed St. John Neumann in 1976, and eventually dedicated the present Flat Rock campus on November 2, 1986. Successive campaigns built classrooms, offices, a dedicated worship space, and more recently a Columbarium and Prayer Garden.
- 1894 — St. Emma's Institute founded for young Black men by Louise Drexel Morrell
- 1899 — St. Francis de Sales founded by Saint Katharine Drexel for young Black women
- 1928 — St. Edward's Chapel built (destroyed 1970)
- 1976 — Parish renamed St. John Neumann
- November 2, 1986 — Current Flat Rock campus dedicated
- Diocese of Richmond founding record: 1948
Mission Statement
The parish defines itself as "a Roman Catholic parish, centered in Christ through the celebration of the Eucharist." Through the grace of that sacrament, members are empowered individually and as a community to imitate Christ through prayer, outreach, fellowship, and education.
Pastoral Team & Staff
St. John Neumann is led by Pastor Rev. Eric Anokye and is served by three permanent deacons — Rev. Mr. Jim Tubbs (also Pastoral Associate), Rev. Mr. Tom di Stefano, and retired Rev. Mr. Ed Schmidt — along with a full lay staff handling music, faith formation, youth ministry, and administration.
- Rev. Eric Anokye — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Jim Tubbs — Permanent Deacon / Pastoral Associate
- Rev. Mr. Tom di Stefano — Permanent Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Ed Schmidt — Permanent Deacon (retired)
- Dee Lynch — Minister of Music
- Jeannie Kennedy — Director of Religious Education
- Elizabeth Papelino — Youth Minister
- Jaime Quinn — Director of Administration
- Lee Mecca — Business Manager
- Iris Guillet — Administrative Assistant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Christian Formation Office describes its mission as transforming the parish's foundational Religious Education program into a multifaceted program of Christian formation that draws all parishioners into a life of ongoing conversion leading to evangelization. Religious Education classes run K-8, with Stations of the Cross during the Religious Ed program and a youth program called Neu Waves for grades 9-12.
- Religious Education (K-8)
- Stations of the Cross — Religious Ed
- Neu Waves — Grades 9-12 youth ministry
- Protecting Our Children (Safe Environment)
Adult Faith Formation
The parish notes that Adult Faith Formation is meant to sit at the center of parish catechetical activity. St. John Neumann hosts Breaking Open the Word, a Spanish Bible study (estudio de la biblia española), and Thursday Night Theology (which includes daytime opportunities). The parish has historically struggled to sustain a full adult-formation program and is actively seeking coordinators and catechists; inquiries go to Deacon Jim Tubbs.
- Breaking Open the Word
- Spanish Bible Study — estudio de la biblia española
- Thursday Night Theology
- Contact: Deacon Jim Tubbs ([email protected])
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), the updated name for the traditional RCIA process. The program walks inquirers through the Period of Evangelization and Pre-catechumenate, the Rite of Acceptance, the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election (typically the First Sunday of Lent at the cathedral), final Purification and Enlightenment during Lent, and reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Mystagogy continues at least through Pentecost. A sponsor accompanies each candidate throughout.
- Period of Evangelization & Pre-catechumenate
- Rite of Acceptance → Catechumen
- Catechumenate with sponsor
- Rite of Election at the cathedral
- Lent — Purification & Enlightenment
- Easter Vigil — Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist
- Mystagogy (post-baptismal catechesis)
Outreach & Specialized Ministries
Beyond its campus, St. John Neumann reaches into the wider community through prison ministry (Deep Meadow and Henrico County West Jail), ministry at Amelia Nursing Home, and a special ministry partnership with Blessed Sacrament–Huguenot School. The Diocese of Richmond's parish page lists these as the parish's standing outreach commitments.
- Prison Ministry — Deep Meadow and Henrico County West Jail
- Amelia Nursing Home ministry
- Blessed Sacrament–Huguenot School
Columbarium & Prayer Garden
An on-site Columbarium and Prayer Garden is part of the parish campus at 2480 Batterson Road, providing a sacred in-parish resting place for the cremated remains of the faithful. The Diocese of Richmond lists its phone as the parish office line, (804) 598-3754.
- St. John Neumann Columbarium and Prayer Garden
- Location: 2480 Batterson Road, Powhatan, VA 23139
- Inquiries: (804) 598-3754
Contact & Location
The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The mailing address is 2480 Batterson Road, Powhatan, VA 23139. The fax line is (804) 598-1467. The pastor can be reached at his parish email listed on the Diocese of Richmond page.
- Phone: (804) 598-3754
- Fax: (804) 598-1467
- Office hours: Tues–Fri, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Address: 2480 Batterson Road, Powhatan, VA 23139
- Website: https://www.sjnpowhatan.org/