• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
        • In God’s Image
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

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.

Praying for healing for our pet

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

Every morning when I check the cages, I am relieved to see Ron is still with us, ready for his breakfast, looking forward to the day. I hope he pulls through and that he’s not in pain.

An invitation from God

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

Every year as the Feast of the Annunciation approaches, I think of how our Blessed Mother received the news that she would be the mother of Jesus.

Let’s make another St. Patrick’s Day Parade memory

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

For as long as I can remember, the Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been part of my world.

A Lenten Search

March 8, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, Lent, The Domestic Church

This Lent, as we walk toward Easter, we have a beautiful opportunity to ask ourselves what is missing in our spiritual life and spend time just being with Jesus.

This Lent, you are right where you need to be

March 6, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window

Some Sundays getting to Mass is trickier than usual, and this weekend, my husband and ended up going to separate services since we were all on different schedules. I was running behind, and I headed to a parish we only visit occasionally.

Launching into Lent (7 Quick Takes)

February 26, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window

It made me feel as if God was saying, “Just keep your eyes on Jesus, and your Lent will be just fine.”

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.

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 17
  • Page 18
  • Page 19
  • Page 20
  • Page 21
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 85
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Who was Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman?
  • An Amelia Bedelia moment and setting Lenten goals
  • French priest hears confessions while riding chairlift in the Alps
  • Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s cousin credits him with her life
  • Oldest priest in Archdiocese of Newark reflects on 104 years of life and 78 years of ministry
  • A quick history of Mardi Gras
  • How Archbishop Sheen embodied the 7 key virtues
  • 6 Catholic athletes from past Winter Olympics inspire with stories of faith, endurance
  • Head of Ukrainian Catholic Church meets with Pope Leo, calls Ukraine ‘wounded but alive’

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2026 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED