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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.

An art history lesson, fun with words, and why these 7 Quick Takes are a 12th birthday gift

March 28, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Our younger son brought home this beautiful pastel drawing of a cityscape. I don’t know what the assignment was or whether it’s inspired by a famous artist. I just know I love it.

Listening for God on the feast of the Annunciation

March 24, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It was a quiet day in Galilee when the archangel Gabriel arrived at Mary’s home. Imagine what it must have been like in that moment.

Finding your Lenten rhythm, Irish soda bread, Peeps, and Maryland Day festivities (7 Quick Takes)

March 22, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Here we are in the heart of Lent. We’re far enough into Lent that maybe I should be feeling my spiritual rhythm.

The day we met Brooks Robinson

March 21, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It was kind of a crazy idea.

A new lesson from St. Joseph

March 19, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It turns the whole story on its head for me.

A little lesson in trust

March 19, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

Sometimes the large, life-changing moments are the ones that show us we need to turn everything over to God. Sometimes it’s the flat tire or a snowstorm derailing our plans. But each time we have an opportunity to come away trusting Jesus a little bit more.

A simple St. Patrick’s Day appetizer: Shamrock-shaped tortilla chips

March 17, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Every Sunday my fellow small group leader and I bring a snack for our second graders to enjoy in our Sunday School class. Because it was St. Patrick’s Day, I thought we might make the snack a little more fun than usual.

Fortune cookies, Shamrock Shakes, muskrat dinners, zoo charades, and more (7 Quick Takes)

March 15, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Don’t you just love fortune cookies? You get a cookie that has a little note just for you inside.

Remembering an Irish priest

March 11, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

When I think of growing up in St. Pius X parish in Rodgers Forge, I think of Msgr. Baumgartner.

Thoughts as Lent begins, our final-final Chinese New Year celebration, Pancake Tuesday, and ballroom dancing (7 Quick Takes)

March 7, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Lent, Open Window

We really love Ash Wednesday, don’t we? I love how it’s not even a holy day of obligation, and yet churches fill with people who want to receive ashes. There’s something about that mark of humility and repentance that feels so right.

What Jesus hopes for you this Lent

March 3, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Lent, Open Window

Lent isn’t a test we will pass or fail. It’s an opportunity. It’s an invitation.

A basket of intentions for Lent, spelling words, jumbo playing cards, a Cinderella story, and more (7 Quick Takes)

March 1, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Lent, Open Window

Every Lent we fill a basket with slips of paper with the names of people we know—living and deceased. We pull one out every morning and pray for that person that day. It’s a simple concept, but it works well for our family.

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