• 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
          • 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
  • Radio/Podcasts
        • Catholic Review 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.

Happy New Year, a small resolution, Starburst flavors, and more (7 Quick Takes)

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

Happy New Year! How did you celebrate the arrival of 2021?

Thank you, God, for a new year

December 29, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary, The Domestic Church

Thank you for today, God, and for tomorrow – the days ahead we have yet to unwrap and discover.

A word and a saint for your New Year

December 28, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Saints

So, I am not making any specific New Year’s resolutions. But I love choosing an inspirational word of the year and a saint of the year.

Following the Star

December 28, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We don’t need a star to guide us to Jesus. But I like to think of how God leaves little invitations to draw us closer to Him everywhere we turn.

7 mini-stories about Christmas presents (7 Quick Takes)

December 26, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Here’s a glimpse into seven gifts from our Christmas.

Home for the holidays

December 21, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I’ve been feeling sad that we won’t get to spend time with family the way we normally would. But I’m trying to remember that changes in plans don’t always end in disappointment.

Deck the halls and move the finches

December 20, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We had to separate our finches and move them into different cages. I just didn’t know how we would do it.

First snow, an early Christmas gift, and remembering my mother-in-law (7 Quick Takes)

December 19, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We had our first snow this week, and we were all excited about it.

Gone fishing…in December

December 13, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I had promised my sons a fishing trip, and we were determined to go.

A golden birthday, emergency chocolate, and video backgrounds (7 Quick Takes)

December 11, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

It’s not every day that you turn 11 on the 11th.

Every day is the same

December 9, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Uncategorized

“Every day is the same,” one of my boys said sadly the other day.

Signs of Advent and finding joy and hope in the wait (7 Quick Takes)

December 4, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window

~1~ I bought Advent calendars for both of our boys on Sunday. One of my sons ate all of his chocolates that day. That’s one way to do Advent, trying to hurry things along, rather than savoring the sweetness of each day. I can absolutely understand that impatience—and that love for chocolate. Many years that’s […]

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 39
  • Page 40
  • Page 41
  • Page 42
  • Page 43
  • 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

  • Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass with 120,000 people in Cameroon: ‘Bring the bread of life to your neighbors’
  • 2026 Distinctive Scholars recognized
  • Movie Review: ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’
  • Trump says he has ‘right to disagree’ with Pope Leo, meeting him not ‘necessary’
  • Investigation ‘ongoing’ in false bomb threat at home of Pope Leo’s brother
  • Sister Marie Anna (Rose de Lima) Stelmach, O.P., dies at 80 
  • Trump administration ends contract with Miami Catholic Charities to shelter unaccompanied minors
  • Archbishop Lori urges respect, dialogue after Trump-pope tensions
  • Question Corner: Is it ever acceptable to say something other than ‘amen’ when receiving Communion?

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2026 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED