The Reverend Ricardo Sheppard was born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1975.  He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged after serving 9 ½ years. He earned his Bachelors of Arts degree with a concentration in Social Science from the College of New Rochelle, a Masters of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from the University of the South, School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee. Prior to coming to the Episcopal Church Reverend Sheppard served as the Youth and Outreach Minister at Hebron Baptist Church, Brooklyn NY, a church which was organized and founded by His father Reverend Valentine Sheppard in 1983.  After His ordination as a Priest in 2016, Reverend Sheppard served as the Priest in Charge of St. Albans Episcopal Church in New Brunswick, NJ until 2019. In September of 2019 Reverend Sheppard answered the call to serve as the Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Washington DC. Since coming to Washington, he has served as the Chaplain at the Bishop Walker Episcopal School for Boys, on the Diocesan Council and he currently serves as the Chair of the Diocesan Committee on Black Ministries.  Rev. Sheppard is enthusiastic and passionate about sharing the love and hope of God to the greatest and the least in the Kingdom.