Actor Mark Wahlberg has paid tribute to the "many wonderful priests" who had helped and guided him through his life and said he will pray for more vocations to the priesthood.
The star of movies including The Perfect Storm, Planet of the Apes, The Departed and The Fighter attends mass daily andis open about his Roman Catholic faith.
In a video recorded as a greeting to the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors, taking place in his home town of Boston, he said: "I want you to know my support for your work to foster vocations to the priesthood, because I want my children and future generations to have good priests in their lives, just like I had."
He continued: "My Catholic faith is the anchor that supports everything I do in life. In my daily prayers, I ask for guidance, strength in my vocation as a husband and as a father."
In the video, he reflects on the priests he has known.
"Growing up in Dorchester, I got myself into trouble now and then but I always had a priest to stick by me," he says.
"I was married by a priest. My children were baptized by a priest. And whenever somebody in my family passed away, they've all been buried by a priest. My sins have been forgiven when I go to confession to a priest. Every time I go to mass, it's through a priest's hands that I receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which strengthens me to share my Catholic faith with others."
