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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.

Graduation speech from a cicada: Get ready to fly

May 16, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Cicadas, Commentary, Open Window

The cicadas will be guests at many of the region’s commencements this year. We might as well offer one of them the chance to speak to the Class of 2021.

Cicada fun, fashion questions, baby bunnies, and more (7 Quick Takes)

May 15, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Cicadas, Commentary, Open Window

I’ve been joking that I wanted to find a cicada swatter to add to my flyswatter collection during the visit from Brood X.

Tra-la, it’s May, and it’s a bit much

May 12, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Everything bursts into bloom in the spring. The grass is greener, the bushes are bursting with color, and buttercups are popping up on the neighborhood lawns. It’s such a beautiful time of abundance. Much as I love spring, though, I also find it to be tiring. May always seems to be the busiest month of […]

Badminton and counting down to summertime (7 Quick Takes)

May 8, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The school year can end anytime, so we can kick off summer vacation.

Racism and the impact of words

May 2, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Racial Justice

Racism isn’t something that happens to other people. It affects all of us—and each of us plays a part in naming it, opposing it, and changing what we can.

Avocado toast, rats, a sonnet for St. Joseph, and more (7 Quick Takes)

May 1, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

7 poems inspired by a full week

Happy 18th birthday to a special niece

April 29, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

When my sister Maureen and her husband, Eric, told me they were expecting a baby, I couldn’t imagine more exciting news. The baby would be my parents’ first grandchild and my first niece or nephew. This little one was due in April 2003, and we couldn’t wait. I went with Maureen to a doctor’s appointment […]

The cicadas are coming and other poems (7 Quick Takes)

April 24, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Cicadas, Commentary, Open Window

7 poems sharing 7 topics on my mind, including the impending arrival of the cicadas

The gift of infertility

April 22, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

There is an emptiness and sorrow to infertility that is hard to describe.

When life gives you frozen lemonade…

April 21, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

It feels very special to find a few minutes during the day to make a quick, frozen treat.

Neighborly love

April 20, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

This Easter season, may we experience moments of great joy. And may we also find comfort in the promise of eternal life for ourselves and all those we love.

7 Poetic Highlights from Our Week (7 Quick Takes)

April 17, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Today, I’m trying 7 different poetic forms. I hope this is half as entertaining to read as it was to try to write them.

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