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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.

A big birthday

July 14, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

Life is short, after all. Life is worth celebrating. And life is better because of the many people who laugh and cry with us, listen to us, share their stories and accompany us along the way.

Cooked pieces of chicken on a plate

A Dinner Disaster

July 7, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I tasted it, and it wasn’t just too salty. It was terrible. Even though I had followed the recipe, the dish was inedible.

Major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque attract throngs of faithful to the Baltimore Basilica

July 7, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Baltimore Basilica, Feature, Local News, News, Saints

Hundreds of people venerated the major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during a July 5-6 visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.

Red, white, and blue wreath hanging on a white door

Happy 250th to the USA, climbing the Empire State Building, a Cookie Monster geode & more (7 Quick Takes)

July 4, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

July is my favorite month of the year. It’s my birthday month, so that adds to the joy, but July is also the heart of the summer—and summertime is the best.

Faith, freedom and the founders: How Maryland Catholics helped shape a new nation

July 1, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Special to the Catholic Review
Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Local News, News

At the time of the American Revolution, Catholics may have comprised only 1 percent of the total population of the colonies – with the majority of them living in Maryland. Despite their small numbers, Catholics played a role in the founding of the United States of America.

Firefighter rides on the back of a vintage fire engine

A Fourth of July Memory

June 30, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I was making coffee early on the Fourth of July when I heard the ping of a text message.

Meet four shining lights from the Class of 2026

June 29, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Special to the Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Extraordinary students graduated from Catholic high schools across the Archdiocese of Baltimore at the end of this academic year. The Catholic Review highlights four of them.

A child holds a plush mustard figure

Relishing a 7th Birthday with Mustard

June 24, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Did she like mustard? We didn’t know. Did she want a stuffed mustard? Maybe not. But we had a feeling this was the right gift.

Red, yellow, and black balloons at the ceiling

Not to Burst Your Balloon

June 22, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Getting someone’s attention at the balloon counter was tricky, but when I finally found an employee, I asked her to fill up six red balloons.

blue sky over the Cathedralof Mary Our Queen

Little Love Messages from God

June 15, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

God often has something else up his sleeve. And he likes to make sure we know that he sees us and that he’s walking right by our side.

Special delivery

June 10, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

I know there are people who say that a child learns best when they need to deal with the consequences. But I think there are enough hard consequences in life. The lessons I want to teach my children are to respond with compassion.

Prayer card and cover of funeral program for Msgr. Paul Cook

We are his family

June 5, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Whenever I think of Father Paul, I think of him smiling—that gentle smile that reflected his care for his parishioners and his great sense of humor.

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