What happens when you combine the #1 prayer app with the #1 draft pick? A series you won't want to miss.
What happens when you combine the #1 prayer app with the #1 draft pick? A quarterback who prays every morning, guiding a challenge on the man who wrote most of the New Testament
Fernando Mendoza is narrating a 7-day prayer challenge about St. Paul for the Catholic prayer app Hallow, which started yesterday, July 13. He has a personal connection to the saint, as he attended St. Paul Catholic Center in Bloomington during his time at Indiana University.
Mendoza, who was the #1 NFL draft pick in 2026 and perhaps the best known college athlete in the U.S. before that, is known for his devout Catholic faith. Mendoza will be quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, after winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated 16-0 season and the national championship.
Hallow is the #1 prayer app in the world, featuring over 10,000 audio-guided prayers, scripture readings, and sleep meditations. The app hosts frequent collaborations with well-known figures like Gwen Stefani, Chris Pratt, Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Bishop Barron, Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT, Jeff Cavins, Dr. Scott Hahn, and many others.
Hallow kicked off the collaboration with this social media post on July 13, featuring this message from Mendoza:
Hello, welcome to Saints in Seven Days. My name is Fernando Mendoza, and it's such a blessing to be with you. I spent the last four years playing college football, and this fall will begin my first season as a quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. Getting the opportunity to play at this level and do what I love has been among the greatest privileges of my life.
However, at the end of the day, what's most important to me is using what God has given me to bring Him glory and praise. I've always been drawn to St. Paul. God called him, even when he was far from perfect, and then transformed him again and again and again. He's a man who goes from persecutor to preacher, from certainty to surrender, from enemy to someone who wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else.
Hallow welcomed viewers to download the app and pray alongside Mendoza with this caption:
Saints in 7 Days kicks off today! Join us for a 7-day challenge on the life of St. Paul, guided by none other than Fernando Mendoza, #1 Overall Pick and Las Vegas Quarterback!
Today, @fernandomendoza will guide us through the first part of St. Paul’s incredible story. He’ll set the stage for one of history’s most remarkable transformations – from fierce opponent of Christianity to one of its greatest defenders.
Several days before it launched, Hallow and Mendoza announced the collaboration on July 10 with a short video from Mendoza welcoming viewers to join the challenge, in which he said:
One of the most meaningful habits I've built in my life is starting each day with a prayer. Taking a few minutes each morning to slow down, reflect, and pray helps me begin the day with gratitude, perspective, and purpose.
Hallow is an app that's helped me stay consistent with that habit. It offers guided prayers, daily meditation, scripture, music, reflection on the saints, and content from people like Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, Father Mike, and others.
I'm also excited to be a part of a reflection series on St. Paul that I hope you'll check out.
Check out Hallow and enjoy learning more about the inspiring life of St. Paul alongside Fernando Mendoza.
