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 visit to a castle, crafts, cookies, crab soup, and other highlights (7 Quick Takes)

April 30, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Some time ago, one of the mysterious social media algorithms fed me a promotion for a craft bazaar at the Cloisters in Baltimore. I thought immediately of my friend Jaime, whose artistic creations seemed perfect for that setting, and I sent her the post.

Favorite flowers of spring, a monster truck, cupcakes, and more (7 Quick Takes)

April 23, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

What is your favorite spring flower? I struggle to answer this question because I love all the colors and varieties.

What do 1,000 pictures say: A Tribute to Fr. Anthony Azzarto, S.J.

April 20, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I didn’t know it then, but that man would change the trajectory of my life, as he did for thousands of other students who were fortunate enough to pass through the halls at Grand & Warren.

Part of God’s Plan: A Confirmation Story

April 19, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

As our son completed his preparation, I started wondering where we would finally be to see him receive the actual sacrament.

We’re all a little like St. Thomas

April 15, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

It’s such a human response. We have all felt that disappointment of missing a life-defining moment or experience.

Q&A with the Author of The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours

April 12, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

An interview with Barbara Szyszkiewicz, author of The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours

You can have a happy Easter even without a butter bunny (7 Quick Takes)

April 10, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window

We had a magnificent Easter, one that continues!

Enter into the joy of Easter

April 8, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window

He extends his grace, invites us to feast at the Eucharistic table, and welcomes us home.

A friend indeed

April 5, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, Lent

How fortunate we are to find strength and support in our friends – and offer them our love and support in return. We can be sure that those connections are no accident.

Pope Francis and the Grieving Mother

April 3, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window

That exchange with those grieving parents has had a deep impact on my Holy Week. The way the pope holds the mother and reaches out to the father shows such compassion and love. The way he pauses to pray with them as if they are the only people in the world is such a beautiful gift.

A late postcard, a surprise dinner, and our trip to Hogwarts at Universal (7 Quick Takes)

April 2, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Running behind on something? Don’t worry. You’re still doing better than the postcard my sister and her children sent to us last summer.

7 Lessons I Learned at Disney World

March 29, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Our older son traveled to Disney World with his high school band, so we decided to tag along as a family.