Name: Justin Golbabai
Age: 25
Job title: Budget Analyst for the Austin Police Department, Fire Department, and Solid Waste Services
Place of work: City of Austin, City Hall
Education: University of Notre Dame; BA in Economics and Sociology; University of Kansas: MPA in City Management; Houston Catholic Worker: Degree in Humility.
Grew up in: Windsor, Connecticut
Fav. Movies: Gladiator (greatest movie of all time), Braveheart, Matrix, Blues Brothers, Entertaining Angels, Rocky movies
Fav. musicians: Dave Matthews Band of the 1990s, the Blues Brothers, Keith Urban
Fav. activities: Making people roll their eyes with puns and bad jokes; reading philosophy, theology and the lives of the saints; playing basketball, watching ND football, dreaming of ways to make the world a better place.
Fav. foods: Oranges, grapes, Grandma's spaghetti and meatballs.
Fav. devotions: Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Rosary
Fav. prayers: Hail Mary, Our Father, Come Holy Spirit Come, "Lord I trust you with my whole life. Make me the man you want me to be."
Fav. scripture verse: Luke 6:27-36: "But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you… For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them."
Matthew 25:31-46: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me… Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."
What does being Catholic mean to you? It means God wants nothing less than for each of us to be saints, to orient our lives towards the fullness of truth. It means having a true vision of our humanity, our destiny, our purpose, how to love, and how to live in virtue and in joy. It means being part of the Church founded by Jesus Christ to preserve the fullness of truth throughout the centuries and throughout the world. It means having heroes like Mother Theresa, Maximillian Kolbe, John Paul II, Francis of Assisi, Dorothy Day, as well as countless martyrs who gave of their lives in order to witness to the truth. It means believing in absolute truth and the revelation of that truth by God himself, and trusting in the Church as our mother to guide us so that we can flourish as human beings.
Why is your Catholic faith important to you? I'd be lost without it. In a world with many lies and half-truths, the Church does its part by revealing the straight and narrow path that will lead to fulfillment and joy. Now, it's up to me to use my free will to accept that apply it to everyday choices and situations. In the uncertainties of life, being Catholic helps me not be afraid. For I know that if I use my free will to trust in Him, God has a plan, a destiny, for my life that is greater than anything I could imagine.
What is your favorite part about the Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry? Friends. My best friends I've made in Austin have been through the 20 Somethings. They are friends that I can both laugh and pray with and challenge me to be a better man. The Catholic 20 Somethings Ministry is my favorite part about living in Austin.