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Rita Buettner

Rita Buettner is a wife, working mother and author of the Catholic Review's Open Window blog. She and her husband adopted their two sons from China, and Rita often writes about topics concerning adoption, family and faith.

Rita also writes The Domestic Church, a featured column in the Catholic Review. Her writing has been honored by the Catholic Press Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Associated Church Press.

Wide shot of a sunrise on the beach, with a figure standing toward the left watching the light come into the sky

We’re at the beach. Let’s go see the sunrise

August 10, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The world was full of magic and wonder, and God—God was everywhere. And he was certainly with us on the beach, welcoming us into a new day, inviting us to see it for the gift it is.

Gray cloudy sky above a church and flowering trees

A Small Gift on a Cloudy Day

August 1, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

For a moment, as I reached for the church door, I hesitated. I could go back to the car for an umbrella.

A butterfly lands on a flowering bush with purple blossoms

A Miracle for a Baby in Rhode Island (and for all of us)

July 22, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We have all hoped and prayed for miracles. No wonder we get excited when we hear that the Vatican has confirmed one.

Painting of Martha and Mary during their visit with Jesus

A parenting lesson in the Mary and Martha story

July 20, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Uncategorized

Relationships are unique. We connect with each person in a distinctive way, meeting them where they are. We don’t talk to Mary the same way we talk to Martha.

Listen for God this summer

July 15, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, Feature, The Domestic Church

The Loyola School started with a seed of an idea from Jesuit Father William Watters, who has brought such vision and commitment to Jesuit education for children in Baltimore over the decades.

Sculpture of St. Rita and St. Therese with a cross and holy water font at the center sits on a table

A Gift and a Connection to the Past

July 13, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Earlier this year, my husband John mentioned that his cousin Terri had something she wanted to give to me. He showed me a photo of a sculpture that included statues of St. Rita of Cascia and St. Therese of Lisieux.

Cupcakes with 2025 graduation toothpicks in them and a bowl of cookies

Our 31-hour Road Trip

July 6, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We drove more than 450 miles, spent more than 10 hours on the road, and did almost everything we wanted to along the way.

2025 Stellar graduates

July 2, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Special to the Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

All across the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Catholic high schools produce graduates who excel in everything from academics to sports and Christian service. The Catholic Review highlights four of them.

Six lit candles on a chocolate birthday cake

Making a birthday wish come true

June 29, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

A few days before the big day, my sister—the birthday girl’s mom—invited us to join them. She happened to mention that her daughter was hoping to have “Aunt Rita’s Dip” that day, too.

A loaf of sliced bread

We are part of the miracle

June 22, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Jesus can—and will—feed the thousands of people in front of him. He doesn’t need the five loaves and two fish to create a feast for that crowd.

A homemade pie that is ready to bake sits on a kitchen counter next to a rolling pie

A Key Ingredient

June 15, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

For years, I have turned to my next-door neighbor Kathy for help.

A father’s gift 

June 12, 2025
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

When I think of our Father in heaven, I like to imagine him being a little like my father on Earth – looking at a problem and finding a way to solve it that I can’t see.

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