Mark Wahlberg said that COVID caused a “disconnect” between Americans and called for people to come back together through the “power of prayer.”
The 52-year-old actor talked to Fox News about leaving Los Angeles for Las Vegas recently with his family and how excited he was for the city to host Super Bowl LVIII, saying the event will be a great way for people to connect once again.
“We’re having fun, we’re connecting with people,” Wahlberg said ahead of the Super Bowl weekend. “We’re in Vegas, we’re bringing people together.”
“This is a time for people to reconnect with one another,” he added. “COVID has created such a disconnect; it’s time to bring people back together.”
Mark Wahlberg on Lent:
“It’s about trying to do more. To be better, to grow as a person, as a servant to God, as a father, as a husband, to grow as an example. What better than to have Ash Wednesday fall on Valentine’s Day because where do you get more love than with the Lord?” pic.twitter.com/6c3omZL0dP
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 14, 2024
During an interview on “Fox and Friends” on Ash Wednesday, the “Uncharted” star and devout Catholic talked about how people can become closer to God through prayer with the Hallow app.
“We just want to be able to do more, and I think, what better than to have Ash Wednesday fall on Valentine’s Day?” Wahlberg told the hosts about the start of the 40 days of Lent, commemorating the 40 days Jesus Christ spent in the desert before he began his public ministry.
“Because where do you get more love than with the Lord and… in a time where there’s such a disconnect?” he added. “We need things to bring people together and the power of prayer is doing that.”
During his appearance last year on the “Today” show, the superstar actor opened up about his faith and being part of Hollywood.
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“It’s a balance,” Wahlberg told the host. “I don’t wanna jam it down anybody’s throat, but I do not deny my faith. That’s an even bigger sin. You know, it’s not popular in my industry, but, you know, I cannot deny my faith. It’s important for me to share that with people.”
“But I have friends from all walks of life and all different types of faiths and religions, so you know, it’s important to respect and honor them as well,” he added.
Later, the host asked the actor to explain what his faith meant to him.
“[I]t’s everything. It’s afforded me so many things,” the “Shooter” star shared. “… God didn’t come to save the saints, He came to save the sinners … We want to be better versions of ourselves, and through focusing on my faith, it’s allowed me to do that.”
Wahlberg and his wife, Rhea Durham, have been married since 2009 and share four children together.
Related: Mark Wahlberg Says Once He ‘Started Putting My Faith And Focus On God, Good Things’ Happened To Him