The Rev. Ricardo Sheppard has been called to serve the Diocese of Virginia as Canon for Discipleship. He will begin his new call on June 1, 2025.
“With thanksgiving to God, I am delighted to announce that the Rev. Ricardo Sheppard will join the Diocese of Virginia as Canon for Discipleship, beginning June 1, 2025. God has blessed us with a faithful servant whose experience includes leadership development for clergy and laity, youth and young adult programming, community outreach and engagement, and justice initiatives. Please join me in welcoming Canon Sheppard!” -Bishop Stevenson
“Discipleship is letting faith possess us. It’s building relationships where we can see gaps into which we bring Jesus. I am excited to partner with Rev. Sheppard, and I look forward to seeing how God uses this new call to better equip the Diocese of Virginia to be disciples.” -Bishop Harris
“I am excited by the opportunity to serve in this new call. Discipleship is an active, lifelong journey of following Christ. It requires continual spiritual formation, engagement with scripture, and a commitment to living out our faith in the world. To “be disciples” is to be both learners and practitioners, seeking to grow deeper in our relationship with God while engaging our communities with love and service. My ministry has been defined by a deep commitment to discipleship, equipping leaders, and fostering lifelong spiritual formation across diverse communities. I am filled with joy to start this new call in the Diocese of Virginia, walking alongside her people to nurture a lifelong, justice-centered faith formation.” -the Rev. Canon Ricardo Sheppard
About the Rev. Canon Ricardo Sheppard
The Rev. Canon Ricardo Sheppard was born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1975. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged after 9½ years of service.
Sheppard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Social Science from the College of New Rochelle, a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Before joining The Episcopal Church, Sheppard served as Youth and Outreach Minister at Hebron Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY—a church founded by his father, the Rev. Valentine Sheppard, in 1983.
Ordained to the priesthood in 2016, he served as Priest-in-Charge at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in New Brunswick, NJ, until 2019. In September 2019, Rev. Sheppard was called to serve as Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Washington, D.C.
Since arriving in Washington, he has served as Chaplain at the Bishop Walker School for Boys, a member of the Diocesan Council, and Chair of the Diocesan Committee on Black Ministries. Sheppard is passionate about proclaiming the love and hope of God to both the greatest and the least in the Kingdom.