Mark Wahlberg: 'The first thing I do each day is pray'

12/28/2010

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over-the-top action hero in the comedy Date Night. Right now he is to be seen playing "Irish" Mickey Ward in The Fighter, the bio-pic of the renowned Bostonian boxer, a project that has been close to his heart for some time. Meanwhile, he has also made his name as a highly successful producer of popular television shows like Entourage, In Treatment and Boardwalk Empire. Not bad, you will agree, for a kid who didn't even make it out of high school.

"But that's not what it's about," he insists. "Being a good actor or a good producer: that's not going to help me sleep at night or get me into heaven. The most important thing from where I sit is to be a good father, a good husband, and a good human being - a man who helps his fellow man and raises his kids to be good human beings too."

Mark and his wife, model Rhea Durham, have four children, Ella, seven, Michael, four, Brendan, two, and Margaret, nearly one, and are expecting another next year. "Every single aspect of my family life is joy," he smiles now.

"And the most important thing to remember about being a father is that you can't leave anybody out. I get up really early in the morning but the baby is usually up before me because my wife feeds her at five o'clock and then puts her into the swing so that she and I can have our own little time together when I take my wife a coffee before the day begins. Then the day is taking my older kids to school or to karate or whatever they have. The youngest boy is already trying to get in with the bigger kids so we make time for him too. At five in the evening we all sit down and have dinner together and after that it's pandemonium for a couple of hours until we can get them into bed! It's great!"

Although Thea and he have been in a committed relationship since 2001, it was only in August 2009 that they made their wedding vows at the church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. The reason for this, he says, was not lack of the will but simple logistics.

"Rhea grew up Baptist but she wanted to be baptized and confirmed as Catholic before we got married, which took some time. Also, we wanted to get married here in California but we wanted Fr Flavin from Boston to do it, so we had to work out that timing. Then there were my movie commitments. Then Rhea got pregnant and she didn't want to do it when she was bigger so we had to wait till the dress fitted again. it was a number of factors really."
Now that they are good and hitched, he says, they could not be happier.

"My wife is gorgeous but if you're going to have a real relationship with someone it's going to have to be based on what's inside as well as out, what kind of person they are and what kind of values they have.

"I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world because I met one of the most beautiful women in the world who also is very nice and approachable, very comfortable to be with and has a great sense of humour. And. well, I don't know which one of the lines I used on her was the one that actually got her but she fell for one of them! And all these years later we have four beautiful children and each other.

"I'm just a very lucky guy. In so many ways."

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1 - 10 of 68 Comments

Anthony N Pugliese
1 month ago
Always felt this man was a special.
Mc29
1 year ago
I'm happy he's come such a long way, but is devout really the word to describe the 'kind' of Catholic he is? He had his children out of wedlock and his movie roll choices definitely have not been in line with what the church teaches about morality. Saying that one of the reasons he had to wait to marry his wife was so she didn't look "big in her dress" (with no mention of the church's teaching on abstinence) seems a little backwards. He talks a great deal about the violent sins of his past but not the most current ones dealing with sexual morality. In today's world I believe THAT is the most difficult part of being a faithful Catholic. I'm glad he gets to mass, prays and visits the church, but there is more to it than that.
terrianne
1 year ago
I just want to say that I give Mark a standing ovation for speaking out his beliefs and I also applaud his parents for being a good example too. I think Mark is courageous as well as talented. Thank you for sharing this story and I believe that somehow or someway his own life past will help someone else conquer their demons. May God Bless him and his family.
Carmels27
1 year ago
After watching 12/04/2011 series "Boardwalk Empire", I quickly googled "Mark Wahlberg & the Catholic Faith". I wanted to know what events had caused Mr. Wahlberg to develop a dislike if not hatred of the Catholic Church. I was schocked to learn that Mr. Wahlberg prays daily, goes to church & was married in a quiet catholic ceremony.

WOW- I am always a struggling Roman Catholic who daily questions God of the Whys or WHY not's in my relationship with God. I genuinely appreciate Mr. Wahlberg willingness to openly share his faith and live it to the fullest.

However, here's the rub. I have been watching HBO "Boardwalk Empire" for almost one year and am hooked. Tonight, after learning about the incestuous relationship between Jimmy & his mother, - AND a priest taking MONEY for Prayers (like the old days of indulgences) ect, was so disturbing- I agree, tonights program accomplished "The SCHOCK VALUE". Will their be ANY redeeming factors in the series? Hopefully, ONE person who loves God & the Church seeking to do what is right and never gives up. Surely, in real life their must be ONE?? hmmmmmmm- ok, the Hollywood Factor?? I see - yes, that could be difficult to present ONE individual whose life is committed to God, & meaningful to others around him or her. Whatever our opinion, Boardwalk Empire is challenging- as Catholic, Christian, Jews- we must ALWAYS question- especially ourselves- My challenge everyday, "Keep Going & Keep It Real". Mr. Wahlberg, has certaintly challenged me.
Ken
2 years ago
Brian, I don't think anyone here wants to point a finger at Mr. Walhberg and condemn him. I'll say it again. For what it's worth, I think he seems like a good guy, and we all wish him and his family all the best. But trying to be clear on what the Church teaches about matters of faith and morals is not the same thing as "judging" someone. It's not like Christ's teachings are some great mystery that takes decades to figure out. Unless of course, people are kept in the dark about it. When I came into the Church I had about 30 years or so of a lot of serious sinning I brought with me. But thankfully, I was taught, and I studied, the true teachings of Christ and His Church. Well, I ain't no rocket scientist, but it wasn't too difficult to see that I'd been getting it wrong in an awful lot of areas. St Mary Magdalene pray for us. Point is, Jesus said you can't serve two masters. We're a society that is largely hooked on serving the wrong master. And it's creeping into the thinking of Catholics in the pews and spreading like a virus. Time for us to do the truly loving thing, like Jesus, and tell the truth, and tell it with love. As a part of the Body of Christ, we are not all in this as mere individuals, all alone. What one part does affects the whole body. But I agree with you about the extreme hypocrisy of Pharisees. We have to watch out for that, too. Just as much damage, if not more, is done when parts of the Body become self-righteous and haughty. But the truth is not to be avoided, either, for fear of being accused of being "judgmental". If that were the case, I'd still be wallowing in the mud, having never been shown a better way. The teaching needs to be clear. Then we sinners can do our best to benefit from this new life in Christ we've been given. When the teaching is muddied, that's when our progress is severely stunted. I like C.S. Lewis' book, "The Screwtape Letters". A good book on how the evil one operates, and attempts to stunt and stymie our growth. And it's written in a way that is entertaining as well as enlightening. Pax Christi.
Brian Gregory
2 years ago
For those of you who believe you can comment on Mark - remember Our divine Lord's warning: '"judge not or you will be judged"' (St. Mtt:7.1-2). Only Our divine King and His Blessed Mother are totally sinless - 'if we say we have no sin the truth is not in us' (1 St. Jn:1.8-10). The Pharisees believed they could judge others - where are they now?
JeanCatherine
2 years ago
Ken

Thanks for the comment I to listen to Father Corapi on occaision and Mother Angelica and all of our people in the church.

It still stands on the topics of contraception etc. Nothing has changed and your right people dont and wont like what is really taught. Especially many of our Catholic brothers and sisters who were poorly taught like myself about what the church teaches. There has been a great falling away on this teaching.

In my ignorance I knew nothing of what she taught now is a different matter.

Thanks to Father Corapi and all others to many to mention on EWTN especially Mother Angelica. The world can change but it never really changes much for us as Catholics.
Ken
2 years ago
Autumn has summed things up well. "The church in America seems to be sinking to the level of the time of the Judges in Israel where 'every man does what is right in his own eyes'." I'm still wanting to hear from people involved in this discussion whether or not they are in favor of artificial contraception for practicing Catholics? Perhaps the silence in answering that question says something about those here who are so determined to debate others who challenge Catholics to live lives of purity. It would be interesting to read what the posters here think about artificial contraception within the Catholic Church. Any responses? Father Corapi has a great YouTube video titled, "Corruption in the Church" (about a 10 min. clip) and what is at the root of much of the sexual immorality in our Church. I invite you all to listen to him. He teaches very wisely and clearly. Something tells me many of you aren't going to like the truth.
Raffey
2 years ago
Holiness is God's work, not ours. It is the gift of his life operating within us with his grace that helps us make the right decisions. We become holy as we let the Holy Spirit work through us empowerting us to give glory to God and to love God and those around us. Holiness comes as we offer back to God whatever he has given us. Our journey is not complete until we are called home. You should not judge.
JeanCatherine
2 years ago
Val Vegas

Couldnt have said it better. I believe there is a story about St. Francis of Assisi was asked about a priest who had a woman who lived with him. People told Francis about it. They of course were mortified by this.

Francis went to the priest and knelt before him and kissed his hand.

The priest Im told in the story gave up his mistress and took his vows to the priesthood more seriously than before. He came home from the sin as we all must do.

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