St. Francis/ St. Emma is located on the James River in Powhatan County, VA. St. Francis is also referred to as Mount Pleasant or “Rock Castle.” It was the site of the high school for girls. St. Emma is also referred to as Belmead and was the site of the school for boys. They are separated by Deep Creek which rises in Appomattox and empties into the James River at this site. Ownership The 2265 acre property is owned by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, a congregation of Catholic vowed religious women. The Sisters were founded by St. Katharine Drexel in 1891 for the benefit of Native and African American people. Mission of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament As Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, we believe God calls us to be a sign in the world of the power of the Eucharistic Christ to effect unity and community among all peoples. Guided by the spirit of Katharine Drexel, we are called to share the gospel message with the poor, especially among the Black and Native American peoples, and to challenge the deeply rooted injustice in the world today. For more information about the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament visit their website at www.katharinedrexel.org. FrancisEmma, Inc. In 2004 the Sisters formed a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation to preserve and protect these lands, develop religious and educational programs, foster eco social justice and help support the mission of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Governance FrancisEmma, Inc. is responsible for the planning and management for all aspects of the St. Francis/ St. Emma lands. It operates under a lease agreement with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and is accountable to the Sisters for the well being of the corporation. It is financially responsible for all areas of planning and management, and receives no subsidy from the parent organization, the diocese of Richmond or any other Catholic Church agency. The Board of Directors is legally responsible for all affairs of FrancisEmma, Inc. The Board of Directors Membership Chairperson of the Board: Ms. Patricia Gunn Vice Chairperson: Sr. Jean Marie Craig, SBS Secretary: Sr. Elena Henderson, SBS Treasurer: Mr. Daniel Jones Executive Committee: Officers of the board Sister Land Ministry Committee: Sr. Franceline Malone, SBS Sr. Angela Lydon, SBS Sustainability Committee: Sr. Jean Ryan, SBS Sr. Theresa Chato, SBS Historic/ Cultural Committee: Sr. Jeanette Kinlicheeny, SBS Mr. Robert Blair Sandra Morris Kemp Finance Committee: Mr. Daniel Jones Sr. Elena Henderson, SBS Mr. James Gottwald Mr. DeMarco Harris Administration Executive Director: Sr. Maureen T. Carroll, SBS Directors: Sr. Elena Henderson, SBS Sr. Angela Lydon, SBS Sr. Jean Ryan, SBS Advisory Committee The FrancisEmma, Inc. Advisory Committee is a group of up to 30 members who serve for a term of two years. Their role is to offer advice, expertise and support for FrancisEmma, Inc. Florine Bell Local community member, volunteer Mary Jo Blair FrancisEmma Art Network: www.francisemmaartnetwork.com Rev. Robert Bluford Granary Consultant, Assoc. for Preservation of VA Antiquities Allan Brooks Volunteer who also taught at St. Emma Walter Clark SEMA alumnus, Richmond Papastye Das Volunteer, Washington DC, involved since 2000 Patrick Del Ponte Finance Committee, Hoffman, Inc., Comprehensive Plan William Greenleaf Environmentalist, Capital Region Land Conservancy Gordon Lohr Granary consultant, Assoc. for Preservation of VA Antiquities Calder Loth Virginia Department of Historic Resources Margaret Manning Local community member John McCarthy Volunteer, Brockton, MA Betty McCracken Monacan Soil & Water, local community member Jennie Shulkis Finance Committee, volunteer, accounting advisor Max Swoboda Volunteer, local community member, lived on site Leslie Trew Virginia Outdoors Foundation, consultant for easement Robert Walker SEMA Alumnus, Richmond Obadiah Goodman Local community business leader Vernell Straughter Local community business leader and FrancisEmma volunteer Ron Spears Administrator, Elk Hill School Donate online now | Need more information | How you can help