For anyone who grew up during the late 1980s and early 1990s, it's impossible to look at Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg and not think "Marky Mark." It's been a long, strange journey for Wahlberg, who was involved in drugs and violence as a teenager, became a rap sensation and then, oddly, one of Hollywood's most popular actors.
He's also a devout Catholic with a family he loves, according to this video interview with CBS. He also carries around a dictionary so he knows what the word "consubstantial" means.
It's interesting to see an actor casually drop his Catholic knowledge and experience during a national interview. Even Marky Mark was impacted by the Missal translation changes.
In an interview with The Catholic Herald in 2010, Wahlberg offered this interesting insight into his life.
“Being a Catholic is the most important aspect of my life,” the A-list actor tells me firmly when we meet for tea in a posh hotel near his home in Beverly Hills. “The first thing I do when I start my day is, I get down on my hands and knees and give thanks to God. Whenever I go outside of my house, the first thing I do is stop at the church. The kids will be mad with me. ‘Daddy! It takes too long!’ I’m saying: ‘It’s only 10 minutes and this is something I really need to do.’ Because I do. If I can start my day out by saying my prayers and getting myself focused, then I know I’m doing the right thing. That 10 minutes helps me in every way throughout the day.”
Wahlberg stars in the R-rated "Contraband," which opens in theaters this week.
January 11, 2012 03:27
By Matt Palmer
Frequent Catholic Review photography contributor Bill McAllen contributed these two great videos from Aberdeen, which show the schoolchildren of St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen celebrating the 600th birthday of St. Joan of Arc herself. Enjoy.
January 10, 2012 11:09
By Matt Palmer
I got a chance to speak with several students of Mercy High School as the school celebrated the Religious Sisters of Mercy's Foundation Day Dec. 12. Enjoy the insights of Genai Brisbon, Leah Hill, Rachel Bourne, Brooke Burghardt and Emily Schreiber. They talk about their call to social justice and what they can do to help in the 21st century.
December 16, 2011 01:57
By Matt Palmer
Foundation Day is one in which Mercy Sisters reflection upon their origins with Mother Catherine McAuley, their present mission and their future work. Sister Deirdre Mullan spoke to Mercy High School students about the global outreach of the Sisters of Mercy Dec. 12. It was a captivating glimpse into the life of the Sisters of Mercy and a motivational talk for the young women who will carry on the mantle of leadership. Enjoy the audio from that address.
December 15, 2011 04:37
By Matt Palmer
As a reporter, sometimes you get caught up in getting a quote from someone and then life throws you a curve. Carissa Zukowski did just that while I interviewed her at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis.
When St. Louis youth minister Pat Sprankle sent Carissa over, I didn't know anything about her other than the fact she was from the Clarksville parish. She talked about how this was her first year being involved in youth ministry and that she, as a high school junior, was seeking a stabilizing rock in her life going into college.
"I love it," she said. "The most growth is in that I'm able to make decisions for myself, morally, and that this is what Jesus wants me to be doing. This is your direction. You don't need these distractions that keep popping up in high school."
And this is where it gets poignant. Carissa began talking about workshops that she took part in and how the presenter had an adopted child. Also, singer and presenter Joia Farmer delivered a keynote address at NCYC talking about adopting her daughter and about how Mary is our adopted mother.
"I'm also adopted from Korea," she said. "I love that connection. I feel like the speakers are speaking to me."
Carissa was put up for adoption when her South Korean birth mother was pregnant. She came to the U.S. when she was three months old.
"I went through a time when I struggled with my adoption- accepting it," she said. "I thought, 'Why did God separate me?' There was a lot of hostility in that relationship. I guess it was understanding that God put me there for a reason and seeing how much I do belong with this family. They are my real parents. They raised me. The way I'm being raised with the Catholic faith is something I think is supposed to be happening. This is what God wants me to be doing with my life."
Carissa's open honesty was a revelation to me and brought home the human story of NCYC. Thanks, Carissa.
November 21, 2011 02:43
By Matt Palmer
INDIANAPOLIS - While covering NCYC 2011 for Baltimore's The Catholic Review, I recorded this absolutely stunning homily from Bishop Christopher Coyne, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. It moved the 23,000 in attendance and now you can take a listen, share this and download it to your computer.
I'm still unpacking after the conference, but man, what an experience.
November 20, 2011 06:04
By Matt Palmer
Amanda Ceraldi, from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was a past attendee of the National Catholic Youth Conference, but now that she's a college student, she has something new to attend - the National Catholic Collegiate Conference. Amanda, who attends Catholic University of America and is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Chesapeake in Lake Shore, Md., spoke with me about the conference. Here is the audio.
November 19, 2011 12:14
By Matt Palmer
INDIANAPOLIS - New Orleans' own Mike Patin stirred the crowd at the National Catholic Youth Conference with a talk about sharing Jesus and he wove in a comparison to iPods. It had the crowd riveted and the audio is below.
November 19, 2011 11:56
By Matt Palmer
If you missed Mark Hart's talk today at NCYC,fear not. I have it here for you in Soundcloud and you can also download it! Enjoy and share your thoughts in the comments section here.
Follow me @catholicreview and @reviewpalmer
https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F28351122 Mark Hart's stirring NCYC 2011 presentation by PalmerReview
Matt
mpalmer@CatholicReview.org
November 18, 2011 11:31
By Matt Palmer
I captured these videos yesterday at NCYC. Enjoy!
November 18, 2011 09:26
By Matt Palmer
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