Mark Wahlberg has shared his faith with countless viewers as the star of a Super Bowl ad for the Catholic app Hallow.
Wahlberg, 52, a devout Catholic, begins the commercial in a church, where he blesses himself before sitting in a pew and beginning to pray.
‘God, we take this moment just to thank you. We thank you for this time to come together as a family, as friends and as a country,’ he says.
‘Help us Lord, especially in this Lent, to draw closer to You. Amen.’
‘Join us in prayer this Lent on Hallow. Stay in prayer,’ he concludes.
Mark Wahlberg has shared his faith with countless viewers as the star of a Super Bowl ad for the Catholic app Hallow.
As Wahlberg narrates, flashes appear on screen of a family praying at the table, a crowd cheering at a game, and military men and women kneeling in prayer.
A priest is then shown placing ashes on the forehead of actor Jonathan Roumie. With his eyes closed, the actor looks serene.
Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app co-founded by Alessandro DiSanto, Alex Jones and Erich Kerekes in 2018.
Wahlberg has been open about his faith with his fans, and last year he spoke openly about his religion during an appearance on the Today is the show.
The Ted actor said he has always talked about his faith, but added that he “doesn’t want to swallow it for anyone.”
Wahlberg said Catholicism had allowed him to focus on being a “better version of himself,” as he appeared on the Ash Wednesday morning show, which begins the 40 days of Lent.
Wahlberg appeared on the show with a black cross on his forehead: devout Christians receive the ashes of repentance in the form of a cross on Ash Wednesday, a holy day of prayer and fasting.
“I’ve always talked about my faith,” Wahlberg told the Today Show. ‘It’s a balance. I don’t want to shove it down anyone’s throat, but I don’t deny my faith.
The commercial begins with Wahlberg entering a church.
‘God, we take this moment just to thank you. We thank you for this time to come together as a family, as friends and as a country,’ he says.
He dips his finger in the holy water.
A family is shown praying at the table while Wahlberg narrates
A group applauds while watching a game.
Military men and women kneel in prayer
A priest is then shown placing ashes on the forehead of actor Jonathan Roumie.
‘That is an even greater sin. You know, it’s not popular in my industry, but, you know, I can’t deny my faith. “It’s important for me to share that with people.”
Speaking about what his faith means to him, Wahlberg said: “It’s everything, it’s given me so many things.”
‘God did not come to save the saints, he came to save sinners. “We have all had problems in our lives and want to be better versions of ourselves, and by focusing on my faith, that has allowed me to do that.”
Wahlberg’s family is Catholic and in 2022 his 17-year-old son Michael was confirmed in the faith.
Confirmation is one of the seven Catholic sacraments. It is a rite where Catholics reaffirm their faith in the religion they first joined after being baptized.
The Uncharted actor shares four children with his wife Rhea Durham: Michael, Ella, 20, Brendan, 15, and Grace, 13.