Commercials for the Super Bowl range from the tear-jerking to the hilarious, all aiming to become the next iconic, memorable moment. Mark Wahlberg joined the fray on Sunday in a Super Bowl ad promoting Hallow, a faith-based meditation app that encourages prayer during Lent.
For the promo, Wahlberg teamed up with fellow actor Jonathan Roumie. Since 2019, Roumie has starred in The Chosen, a crowd-funded television show about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In it, the Movieguide Award winner plays Jesus himself. Here’s how the faithful pair promoted prayer.
Mark Wahlberg encourages prayer in his new Super Bowl ad appearance
The Superbowl ad shows Wahlberg starting off a prayer, saying, “God, we take this moment, just to give you thanks.” The footage shows a nuclear family gathered around the table for prayer before a meal, along with deploying soldiers knelt in a moment of reflection, joyful crowds, similar moments of uplifting hope, and Roumie looking Christ-like.
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Wahlberg follows up with “Join us in prayer this Lent on Hallow,” adding, “Stay prayed up.”
Hallow refers to a Catholic meditation app that is owned by Hallow, Inc. Its services include audio-guided Bible readings, prayers, sleep ambiance, Christian music, and meditations.
Wahlberg puts his history with religion at the forefront
“I don’t want to jam it down anybody’s throat, but I do not deny my faith,” Wahlberg has said of his devotion to his Catholic faith, adding, “That’s an even bigger sin.”
“It’s important for me to share that with people,” he went on during a February 2023 interview on TODAY. “But I have friends from all walks of life and all different types of faiths and religions, so it’s important to respect and honor them as well.”
Wahlberg serves as both a spokesperson for Hallow and as a narrator for some of the app’s spoken content.
“When we learned about the timing of the Big Game this year, we couldn’t have been more excited to work with Mark and Jonathan to use it as an opportunity to invite millions into prayer,” said Hallow owner Alex Jones.
Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, falls on Valentine’s Day this year; it is during this period that observers may abstain from certain foods and activities. This lasts until the week leading up to Easter Sunday.