Clergy
Father Ricardo Sheppard
reverand
The Reverend Ricardo Sheppard was born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1975 at the age of 9. His family settled in Brooklyn, New York, where his mother continues to reside. Rev. Sheppard enlisted in the United States Marine Corps directly out of high school and served with distinction until he was honorably discharged in 1993 after serving 9 ½ years. Rev. Sheppard served as the Associate Minister for Youth and Outreach at the Hebron Baptist Church in Brooklyn before becoming a part of the Episcopal Church. 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. Rev. Sheppard started serving at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church as Deacon-in-Charge, in September of 2016 and upon his ordination to the Priesthood in December of 2016, became the Priest-in- Charge. Rev. Sheppard is enthusiastic and passionate about sharing the love and hope of God to the greatest and the least in the Kingdom. He joined the Episcopal Church of the Atonement as the rector in September 2019.
Rev. Antonio Baxter
Our Deacon
From 2005 to June 2018
Rev. Baxter works as the Agency Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services and has worked for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer for the past five years.
Rev. Baxter has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Master’s in Public Policy, and as of May 11, 2021, a Master’s of Divinity. He is now a student in the Doctor of Ministry Program. He was ordained to the vocational diaconate in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington in November of 2020. He has served on the Vestry of Calvary Episcopal Church and was responsible for starting a new outreach ministry. This ministry concentrated on small group discussion with people of the Generation X and Millennials age groups. It meets once a week and is growing.
Rev. Baxter is an avid fan of Duke Blue Devil Basketball. His favorite scripture is Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives.
