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.

Good Enough Is Good Enough: Q&A with Author Colleen Duggan

April 11, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Books, Open Window

“Writing is such a form of prayer,” Colleen told me. “When I get out of the way, the Holy Spirit can really work through me.”

The first day of baseball season

April 9, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

At that first practice, anything and everything is possible. The season lies ahead of us fresh and clean and exciting.

Saving a seat for a stranger

April 9, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

The responsibility to make everyone feel welcome at Mass begins with each of us.

Easter dinner and eggs and bunnies, a half-birthday celebration, and a sign of gratitude (7 Quick Takes)

April 5, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Easter fun, eggs, babies and gratitude.

Yet another reason to sing Alleluia

April 3, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you didn’t get hit by the Chinese space station.

Boiling eggs, a new teakettle, a Garmin for Jesus, and more (7 Quick Takes)

March 30, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized

Every year when I take out the eggs for Easter I google “how to boil eggs.”

Five inspiring quotes from Sister Helen Prejean

March 27, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized

Here are five of my favorite quotes from Sister Helen’s talk, though she has given me so much to think about this week.

The joy of snow days, when St. Anthony comes through, March Madness limericks, and other inspiration (7 Quick Takes)

March 23, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Just when we thought winter was over, the snow arrived! And, I have to admit, I loved the surprise.

Failing and succeeding and praying through Lent

March 21, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

I love Lent. I look forward to it. Going into Lent, I always have plans and ideas for how it could be an amazing journey.

Rock, paper, scissors…champion!

March 18, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It all started Saturday morning as Daniel and I were driving to his First Communion Workshop.

A little slice of Ireland: Irish soda bread recipe

March 16, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Recipes

It’s not St. Patrick’s Day until I’ve filled the house with the smell of freshly baked Irish soda bread, full of that distinctive caraway seed flavor and the soft raisins. Yum.

Professional photos, 17 for dinner, a spontaneous date night, and a photobombing selfie (7 Quick Takes)

March 15, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

We haven’t had professional photos taken of the boys in almost four years, so I scheduled a shoot last week, got them all dressed up, went to the mall, and they posed for the camera.