Mark Wahlberg Teams Up With Cardinal Cupich To Tell Kids To Go To Church

CHICAGO, IL -- Academy Award-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg, formerly known as Marky Mark, is coming to Chicago to encourage young Catholics to go to church. Wahlberg was invited by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, who is hosting a a young adult faith night scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at UIC Pavilion. Thousands of young adults, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, are expected to attend (re)ENCOUNTER for a night of thought-providing speakers, live music and faith-focused discussions.

"This opportunity for young people to celebrate and discuss their faith is particularly timely," Cupich said in an Archdiocese of Chicago news release. "The Church and the world need their energy, honesty and commitment to community more than ever as we face increased pressures undermining our national unity and daunting global challenges."

This is the first year the Archdiocese has hosted (re)Encounter. According to the Archdiocese, the event will include prayerful worship, presentations from Cardinal Cupich; Wahlberg; Sr. Bethany Madonna, Vocations Director, Sisters of Life; and Fr. Paul Mueller, SJ, Vice Director, Vatican Observatory; as well as music from Joe Melendrez.

Wahlberg got his start as an original member of New Kids On The Block and as the frontman for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. His breakout role in the 1995 film “The Basketball Diaries,” catapulted him to other critically acclaimed roles in “Boogie Nights,” “The Perfect Storm,” and “The Departed,” and as a producer of HBO’s “Entourage” and “Boardwalk Empire.”

The youngest of nine children in a Boston Irish Catholic family, Wahlberg dropped out of school and was arrested as a teen for selling drugs. During a prison stint, his faith helped him turn his life around. Wahlberg considers himself a devout Irish Catholic and is a daily Mass attendee, who has said “I don’t try to push it on anybody and I don’t try to hide it.” He is married and the father of four children.

"My Catholic faith has always been a true anchor in my life that supports everything I do; my wish is for all young people to embrace their faith and put it into action," Wahlberg said. "(re)ENCOUNTER is a one-of-a-kind experience and I am thrilled that the Archdiocese of Chicago asked me to be a part of it."

Registration is required for the event. For more information, visit (re)ENCOUNTER Chicago.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon