As the world observes Ash Wednesday, marking the start of the 40-day Lenten season, some of Hollywood’s most prominent Christians are stepping forward with a unified message: it is time to silence the chaos and return to God.
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Actors Jonathan Roumie, Mark Wahlberg, and Chris Pratt have teamed up with the Hallow prayer app to lead “The Return,” a global 40-day prayer challenge designed to help believers navigate a culture that many feel has become increasingly overwhelming.
‘The Global Noise’
Appearing on “Fox & Friends” with ashes visible on their foreheads, Roumie and Wahlberg discussed the importance of this liturgical season.
Roumie, known for his portrayal of Jesus in the hit series The Chosen, noted that the modern world makes spiritual focus more difficult than ever.
“I think every year, the noise in the culture, the global noise, just seems to get louder and louder and louder,” Roumie told Fox News Digital.
For Roumie, Lent offers a necessary antidote to that volume.
“Lent becomes a time for just meditation, peace, and reflection,” he said. “It is essentially the epitome of what it means to take time for yourself, and to return to this time of meditation and prayerfulness with God.”
‘Stay Prayed Up’
Mark Wahlberg, a frequent advocate for daily discipline and prayer, joined the conversation with his signature encouragement to “stay prayed up.”
Wahlberg, who has been vocal about his Catholic faith, noted that his contributions to the Hallow app are designed with the “busy” person in mind.
Wahlberg often reminds his followers that his prayer sessions are typically shorter than others because he understands the demands of a modern schedule.
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“Discipline has always been important for me in life,” Wahlberg previously stated, noting that focusing on his faith has allowed him to become a “better version” of himself.
During the “Fox & Friends” segment, the actors highlighted “The Return,” a challenge that invites users to a journey of repentance and renewal, inspired by spiritual classics and scripture.
To make the challenge accessible to as many people as possible, Hallow is currently offering an extended 90-day free trial.
A Powerful Trio
Joining the effort is “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt.
Pratt, who has previously used his platform to share his journey as a Christian, is leading Friday sessions alongside Wahlberg throughout the Lenten season.
Pratt’s involvement comes on the heels of his recent “Daniel Fast” challenge, a 21-day period of prayer and fasting. Pratt has described the Book of Daniel as a “story of radical faith, courage, and learning to give up the things in our lives that are holding us back.”
The collaboration between these three A-listers represents a significant moment in the “digital desert” of social media, aiming to lead followers toward the “secret code” of peace found in scripture.
Returning to the Source
The Lenten season serves as a 40-day journey toward the resurrection of Jesus at Easter.
It is traditionally marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, a practice summed up by the solemn words of Genesis 3:19, often recited during the imposition of ashes: “For dust you are and to dust you shall return.”
For Roumie, Wahlberg, and Pratt, the goal of this partnership is simple: to meet people where they are and provide the tools to encounter the Holy Spirit in a powerful way.
As Roumie concluded, this season is about finding “peace that this world cannot give.”
Caleb Parke is an award-winning independent journalist. Follow him on X, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.
