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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.

Failing at Lent? You’re doing just fine

February 25, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I was so proud of him. I didn’t care whether he made the team. I cared that he would feel good about how he did. I wanted him to be happy he had given it a shot.

Looking ahead to Lent, cousins visiting, a mother’s mistake, and more (7 Quick Takes)

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

It’s hard to believe that Lent starts in just a few days and that Ash Wednesday is this week. I’m looking forward to Lent and have no concrete plan yet—except filling our prayer basket with intentions to pick each morning.

A question to ask yourself as you prepare for Lent

February 16, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window

As we look ahead to the start of Lent, I’ve been thinking that that is a question we can ask ourselves about our relationship with God. “How do we show God that we love him, and how does he show us that he loves us?”

Candy before Mass

February 15, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

Even people who remember not to scarf down a box of Nerds minutes before Mass still have questions left to discern and explore.

Ramen and dumplings and stamps, oh my (7 Quick Takes)

February 11, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Our children love ramen, but I don’t think I’ve ever made homemade ramen before.

Praying Through the Fear

February 11, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The search was continuing. I thought about keeping our son home from school. Schools not far from us had been closed, but ours was open. Our son was eager to go, and I had to believe that he would be safe there. I have to have faith in our school leaders and teachers and law enforcement. We can’t live every day in fear.

What does it taste like?

February 5, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Some questions are difficult to answer. What is it like to receive the Eucharist? What is it like to believe that this life we are enjoying is just a part of a whole extraordinary journey that leads us to God?

An open letter to Marie Kondo: Thanks for sparking my joy

January 28, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Uncategorized

Dear Marie,
I’m grinning ear to ear. I hear you’ve given up on a tidy house—and that you’re happier for it.

Happy Chinese New Year! Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit (7 Quick Takes)

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

Chinese New Year is absolutely my favorite holiday. It’s a chance to celebrate a new beginning and a special animal in the zodiac by connecting with friends and family and food.

How is God like a flyswatter? (answered by ChatGPT and a human)

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

Dolly Parton said, “I feel closest to God when I write.” That’s how I feel, too. So, it’s hard for me to believe that any kind of computer program or artificial intelligence can write the way a person can, bringing light and beauty and emotion to the written form.

Abundance in the New Year, Rubik’s cubes, random selfies, and more (7 Quick Takes)

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

Whenever I have avocado toast for breakfast, I remember the year that my New Year’s resolution was eating avocado toast more often.

The Story of the Missing Pizza

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

The other night I ordered a pizza for dinner. When a text came through saying the pizza had been delivered, I checked, and there was nothing on our porch. For whatever reason, our house doesn’t show up properly on every GPS, so I wasn’t shocked. I called the pizza place and explained what had happened. […]

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