Looking at this powerful image that graces our new beginning, we see
Christ reaching out His hand toward us—an eternal gesture of invitation, of
welcome, of divine love beckoning us forward. His outstretched arm breaks
through the luminous background, reminding us that He doesn't wait for us to
find our way in the darkness. He comes to meet us, extending His hand into
whatever shadows we inhabit, calling us to follow Him into the light.
A New Beginning, A Timeless Invitation
Welcome to the reimagined Saintly Journeys.
As we stand at the threshold of 2026, everything feels fresh, bright, and
full of promise. You might notice something different here—a lighter, more
radiant aesthetic that reflects the very heart of our mission: walking toward
the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. This isn't just a visual refresh; it's a
recommitment to the fundamental invitation that has echoed through two
millennia of Christian witness.
Come & See: An Invitation to Discover Christ.
These simple words—lifted directly from the Gospel of John—capture
everything we're about. They're the same words Jesus spoke to those first
curious seekers, the fishermen who wondered who this rabbi might be. "Come
and see," He said, not demanding immediate commitment, not requiring
complete understanding, simply inviting them to take a step, to draw closer, to
experience for themselves.
And that's precisely what we're inviting you to do here.
The Question That Changes Everything
Is this your year?
It's a question we often ask ourselves in January. Is this the year I
finally get in shape? Is this the year I change careers, write that book,
repair that relationship, break that habit? We stand on January 1st like
travelers at a crossroads, sensing possibility, hoping for transformation,
wondering if this time might be different.
But what if we asked a deeper question? What if, beneath all those
perfectly valid aspirations, there's a more fundamental inquiry waiting to be
voiced?
Is this the year you finally respond to Christ's outstretched hand?
Is this the year you stop circling around faith and step closer? Is this
the year you move from curious observer to committed disciple? Is this the year
you stop merely learning about Christ and actually encounter Him?
Look again at that image of our Lord. His hand isn't tentative or
uncertain. He's not passively waiting at a distance. He's actively reaching,
extending, and inviting. The light surrounds Him, emanates from Him, and He's
stepping toward us with that hand outstretched, as if to say: "Here I am.
I've been waiting. Will you come?"
The question isn't whether He's ready for you. He is. He always has been.
The question is:
Are you ready for Him?
Come & See
John 1:35-39 (RSV
2nd Catholic Edition)
"The next day again John was standing
with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said,
'Behold, the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they
followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, 'What
do you seek?' And they said to him, 'Rabbi' (which means Teacher), 'where are
you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and see.' They came and saw where he was
staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour."
Jesus could have given them a theological lecture or demanded immediate
conversion. But that's not what He did.
He said to them, "Come and see."
This is the pattern of authentic faith: Come. Taste and see. Draw near.
Seek. Faith isn't passive—it's a response to an invitation, a step toward the
Light, a hand reaching back to grasp the hand already extended toward you.
Meeting You Where You Are
One of the things I love most about that image of Christ reaching toward
us is that His hand extends into our space. He doesn't remain in some distant
realm, waiting for us to make our way to Him. He comes to where we are.
Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or a convert like me seeking deeper
spiritual formation or someone who's never set foot in a church but finds
yourself drawn to questions of faith—you're welcome here. Your questions are
honored. Your search for truth is precisely what led those first disciples to
Jesus.
I'm not a theologian with letters after my name. I'm a layperson, a
fellow pilgrim who has experienced Christ's love and wants to share that with
others.
As I often say, God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the
called.
Walking Toward the Light in 2026
This new, brighter theme isn't just aesthetic. It represents a
fundamental truth: we're always moving, always journeying, always being drawn
forward by the Light.
Walking toward the light means making daily choices to align yourself
with Christ. It means choosing virtue over vice, truth over deception, love
over selfishness. It means getting up each morning and deciding, again, to
follow Jesus.
It means engaging in spiritual practices that keep you oriented toward
God: prayer, Scripture reading, sacramental life, and acts of charity. These
aren't arbitrary religious hoops to jump through; they're the very means by
which we maintain our connection to the Light.
But here's what walking toward the light doesn't mean: It doesn't mean
perfection. It doesn't mean never stumbling or doubting. It doesn't mean you
have to have it all figured out before you take the first step.
I stumble just like all of you. I created Saintly Journeys to remind myself of these
truths, and I want to share them with all of you.
Christ's hand reaches toward us in our imperfection. He invites us to
come as we are. His light doesn't expose our darkness to shame us, but to heal
us.
What Awaits You
Throughout 2026, we'll offer accessible spiritual formation that meets
you wherever you are and helps you and me together take the next step toward
Christ. Throughout the year, I will be posting blogs and other content,
reflections on the liturgical year, and practical guidance for deepening your
prayer life.
The point isn't just knowledge—it's helping you respond to Christ's
outstretched hand and walk toward the Light.
A Personal Word
As I write this, I'm mindful of my own journey—from that Cursillo weekend
where I heard God's call, through years of learning and growing and stumbling
and getting back up, to this moment of launching a new year and a new
expression of our ministry.
I'm mindful that I'm a layperson in central, Florida, trying to be
faithful to a calling I never anticipated. I'm blessed by my wonderful spouse,
who supports this work, and by the Orlando Diocese Cursillo community that
shaped my faith. I'm mindful of my studies in spiritual direction at the Avila Institute, which continue to shape me as I walk alongside others seeking Christ.
But most of all, I'm mindful of grace—God's absolutely gratuitous,
unmerited, lavish grace that has transformed my life and continues to transform
it daily. None of us deserves the invitation Christ extends. All of us receive
it as a pure gift. The only appropriate response is gratitude, and gratitude
expressed through action: accepting the invitation, grasping the hand, walking
toward the Light, and inviting others to do the same.
That's what Saintly Journeys is about. That's what "Come &
See" means. That's why we're here.
Your Next Step
Don't let this moment pass. You've read this far, which means something
resonated. Don't let that fade into background noise.
Take one concrete step today:
- Share your email, first name, and
any thoughts in the Come and See section. (I will hold
your information within and will not share it; you will only receive
emails from saintlyjourneys@gmail.com)
- Explore our available programs
- Commit to one spiritual
practice—daily prayer, weekly Mass, regular Scripture reading
- Reach out with your questions or
your desire to go deeper
The Light is shining. The hand is extended. The invitation is offered.
Is this your year?
Come and see.
A Blessing for Your Journey
As we begin this new year together, I want to leave you with a blessing:
May the Lord bless you and keep you as you take your next step toward
Him.
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and illuminate the path
before you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace—the
peace that comes from knowing you're loved, you're invited, you're welcomed
into the very heart of God.
May you have the courage to grasp Christ's outstretched hand.
May you have the perseverance to keep walking even when the way seems
difficult.
And may this be your year—the year you respond to the invitation that has
been waiting for you since before you were born.
Welcome to Saintly Journeys. Welcome to the Light.
Come and see.
Randy Schwingle is the founder of Saintly Journeys, an online Catholic
evangelization ministry. A Eucharistic Minister at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic
Church in Wildwood, Florida, he is active in the Cursillo movement and
studies spiritual direction at the Avila Institute. Responding to Isaiah
6:8—"Here am I. Send me!"—Randy creates accessible resources for
spiritual formation and outreach.
