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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.

Buttons on an elevator with the 3 lit up

A Wasp on the Elevator

June 2, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

My son and I were hurrying to an appointment, and the parking garage was packed. We snagged a spot on the top level of the garage and walked over to the elevator. I don’t always have much faith in elevators, and I would prefer to take the stairs, but we were in a rush, and […]

Statue of St. Rita

When Life’s Impossible, Talk to St. Rita

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

Sometimes you feel like you’re faced with a problem with no apparent solution. That’s when we can turn to St. Rita.

Two boys with backpacks walk on a sidewalk to school

I’m OK, you’re OK…well we’re mostly OK (on springtime transitions)

May 18, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I wouldn’t want to hold our children back. Or maybe I would, just a little bit, to keep them close a little longer.

Food packed in lunchboxes

The Final School Lunch

May 14, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Forever ago—or maybe it was just the other day—I packed a lunchbox for my 4-year-old to take to school.

A surprise painting

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

“I love thinking of how God was watching, guiding us toward one another, always knowing how it would come together. He must have enjoyed seeing how we connected over a much-loved painting of a little girl and a dog.”

The Mom Friends You Need

May 8, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Before becoming a mother, I had no idea how important my relationships with other mothers would be.

Hand pointing toward a groundhog cake

An overnight trip to see an off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway musical

April 29, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Back in the fall, my sister Maureen reached out to tell us that her son, a junior in high school, had landed an actual role in his school musical.

One dozen varied donuts in a box

Donuts After Mass, Please, and Make Them Delicious

April 19, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

When Seminarian Andrew Chase was assigned to St. Joseph’s in Cockeysville, he learned he would be responsible for the donuts and coffee after Mass.

The four astronauts hug after returning from their trip on Artemis II

Fly Me to the Moon (or Fly Someone Else and Let Me Watch)

April 12, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

This type of encounter helps us see the beauty and the power and the imagination behind God’s creation.

White statue of Jesus stands in a garden outside a church

The Little Girl at the Cross: Our Faith Is Always New

April 5, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window

When it was her turn, she walked right up to the cross, carefully leaned down very low, and gave the dark wood a kiss. Then she bounced away.

Three yellow daffodils stand tall on a green background

An Easter Reflection: Winning with Joy

April 5, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window

The Easter season is a time for rejoicing—not just for ourselves, but in a way that invites those around us to join in the celebration.

The slow work 

March 30, 2026
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

As much as we want to keep trying to fix a problem, maybe this is the time to hand it over to God. We can place whatever is troubling us into his hands, trusting that he will walk with us, moving mountains we cannot move and preparing us for the next step on our journey.  

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