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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.

vintage postcard image of Santa Claus in his sleigh pulled by two reindeer

Up on the Housetop

December 18, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I must have been about 5 or 6 that Christmas Eve. My grandmother was spending the night so she could wake up with all of us on Christmas morning. To make sure that Grandma had a bed, my oldest sister Maureen and I slept on the third floor of our Rodgers Forge townhouse. We were […]

Tiny wooden nativity shows the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and an Infant Jesus

Spending Advent with St. Joseph

December 14, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window

As a woman and mother, I sometimes feel like I should feel close to Mary during Advent. And I do. But I often find myself looking more to St. Joseph. In so many ways, his story is similar to our stories. He’s thrust into a situation he couldn’t have anticipated. He considers backing out and […]

Four unlit candles stand in an Advent wreath on a table

An Advent Invitation

December 4, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Sometimes we choose our journeys, and sometimes they choose us. Sometimes you know the destination but you’re not quite sure how you’ll get there. Sometimes you blink and suddenly discover you’re almost at your destination. Sometimes journeys are smooth, and sometimes they’re painful. But they all lead somewhere—and often to exactly where we ought to […]

Picture Perfect

December 4, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Commentary, The Domestic Church

As we walk toward Christmas, may we try to view this season as one of opportunity rather than obligation, being open to the journey and to the ways we can give and receive.

Gift ideas: Shopping for a six-foot stuffed goose?

November 29, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Christmas is coming, and ads are everywhere. My social media feed is full of gift suggestions that make me wonder who they think I’m buying gifts for this year.

The cranberry sauce

November 26, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

I like to think that God is waiting, trusting, walking with us, even when we feel we aren’t doing anything significant for the world.

Preparing for Change

November 22, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window

As we look ahead to Advent, it almost feels as if nature is paving the way to that time, calling us to let the fading vibrancy of autumn go, and be open to the journey ahead. Change can be wonderful, but it can also be hard.

The flame of a candle burns. The candle is in a translucent container, set on a brocade tablecloth.

What little we have to give

November 14, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The other day I was in a meeting at work. We were introducing ourselves to a group of people visiting from outside our organization. When it was time for one of my coworkers to introduce himself, he mentioned he had just started working there recently. The person leading the meeting laughed. He dismissed my new […]

The loss of a pet and a visit with Padre Pio

November 8, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Padre Pio was such a holy man with a deep devotion to the Eucharist. He lived a life full of miracles. I really wanted to visit his relics while they were in Baltimore.

Everyday Memories of Those Who’ve Gone Before

October 30, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

You never know what will make you remember the people you miss. Rainbows make me think of our late neighbors, John and Loretta. We shared such a beautiful rainbow with them one summer afternoon. Reaching up to close a window takes my mind to our friend Father Tom. He once told me how he felt […]

100 Masses in a Year

October 23, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Back in December, my husband told me about a friend who set a goal to spend 100 hours on his boat during 2023. I found myself wondering what I could do 100 times in a year. I told our oldest son that maybe I would try to go to 100 Masses. “You probably already go […]

Sculpture relief with Haussner's printed on it and a man carrying a platter of food

Haussner’s Memories (25 Years Later)

October 13, 2024
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

There were those sweet little chocolate chip muffins that came in the breadbasket. Then there were the decadent platters of food that came steaming out of the kitchen. But what I remember best about Haussner’s Restaurant was gazing up at the artwork that covered every inch of the walls. We didn’t eat out much as […]

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