The ‘Upper Room’ Men’s Group derives its name from the place the Apostles met with Jesus at the Last Supper and after Jesus returned upon His resurrection. It is where the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles, Mary, and some disciples at Pentecost after Jesus’ Ascension. It is here where the faithful united, learned, and formed the bonds for bringing the Gospel to the world. The Upper Room Men’s Group helps unite men in faith and fellowship under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Greg Shaffer. The group prays together; engages multi-media including top impact speakers and programs on important topics; discusses subjects from multiple life experiences; and finds time to share personal interests over donuts and coffee. The driving purpose is to help one another become better husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, cousins, friends, co-workers, and soldiers for Christ. We strive to grow in virtue and to imitate it in one’s daily life. The men of the Upper Room meet between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM, every Saturday. Come as your busy schedule allows and join us in our faith journey. 
 

The Upper Room Men’s Group will be hosting a monthly speaker series at 7:00 pm on the second Tuesday of each month. The speakers will include Catholic men in leadership positions and will focus on the Virtues of the Catholic Church and their impact on forming their leadership styles or helped them become the leaders they are today.  The first speaker scheduled for October 10, 2023, is USMC Lt. Colonel Kevin Walsh.

Kevin Walsh grew up in a variety of different locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Ohio. His family eventually settled on the Maryland side of the DC area where Kevin attended Archbishop Carroll High School and the University of Maryland (College Park). He was captain of the Carroll wrestling team and a walk on bench warmer for Maryland’s team. After graduating from Maryland in 1993, he worked at St Mark’s Catholic Church as the Youth Director where he was charged, by pastor Fr Tom Wells, with developing a youth program modeled on the Life TEEN ministry, which was centered on the ‘youth mass’.

Upon leaving St Mark’s, Kevin joined the US Navy and served as a Builder in Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 (NMCB-3) in Port Hueneme, CA where he served in various billets and attained the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer [Seabee Combat Warfare (SCW)]. Since he earned his college degree prior to enlisting, he was able to be accepted into USMC Officer Candidate School and attend immediately after the end of his active-duty service with the navy. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on 6 April 2001.

He has served as an Infantry Officer and an Intelligence Officer, during his time in the Marine Corps and has attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He currently serves in the Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM) G5 section as the Operations Branch Head. During his service in the military, Kevin deployed to Rota, Spain; Estonia; Guam; Thailand; Nairobi, Kenya (after the embassy bombings); England; Kosovo; Indonesia; Haiti; Afghanistan (OEF); and Iraq (OIF).

Kevin is married to his bride of fourteen years, Adrienne, and they have six faith filled children: Jude (13), John (11), Peter (9), Lucy (7), Jimmy (4), and Tommy (1). Kevin and his wife teach Natural Family Planning at their parish St William of York, Stafford, VA. Kevin is a repentant sinner and needs a lot of prayers…you can ask his wife.

Kevin Walsh's Career Bio