We belong to each other May 15, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window We are born with hearts that are designed to love. We are created to be members of families and communities. We are intended to be neighbors—and not just to the people we know and love, but to everyone.
Let’s Keep the Faith May 11, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window Those questions were echoing in my mind as I watched children walking back to their seats after receiving Communion. They were beaming, full of light and love and hope and sacramental grace.
A Rabid Raccoon-aversary May 3, 2024By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window Back when I was just a few weeks from my high school graduation, our family dog got into a fight with a raccoon in our yard.
Spring is a little bit extra April 27, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window The other morning, I woke up and said to my husband, “Won’t it be great for us to have dinner tonight, all four of us together?” Then I looked at my calendar and realized we had a concert that evening.
‘It Was Just Your Turn’ April 17, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window As I was approaching an intersection, I heard an ambulance coming from the right. I stopped to let it go by. While I waited for the ambulance to pass, I felt something hit my car from behind.
A Rare Sight in the Heavens April 6, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I’m not traveling toward totality, and I’m not sure how much I will see of the eclipse. But I’ll be remembering that early-morning trip with my father to see a comet that only passes us every 76 years.
50 Days of Rejoicing April 1, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window Somehow it seems easier to lean into the penance and sacrifice of Lent than the extended exultation of Easter. Maybe a day or two—or even a week—of rejoicing seems manageable. But 50 days? How will we ever be able sustain it?
All That We Can Do March 27, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Bridge Collapse, Commentary, Open Window Prayer is so powerful. Telling someone you are praying for them—and following through—can be an extraordinary gift.
Heading into the Homestretch of Lent March 20, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window No matter how we plan, or the expectations we set for ourselves, the actual Lenten journey never seems to look the way we might have hoped it would.
Cardinal Shehan to the rescue March 18, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, Feature, Open Window “I think he realized I was troubled as a father. You have to fight for your children,” Don said. “He said, ‘I’m glad you came to me.’ What a fine example of what God calls us to do. He truly was a man of God.”
A Balloon at Mass March 3, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window As we turned to leave Mass, I saw that a little boy in the back had snagged a balloon.
Gratitude at the grocery store March 1, 2024By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window A few months ago, I noticed that our grocery store no longer had hand-held shopping baskets. If you wanted to shop, you had to use one of the large rolling grocery carts.
