An overnight trip to see an off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway musical April 29, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window Back in the fall, my sister Maureen reached out to tell us that her son, a junior in high school, had landed an actual role in his school musical.
Donuts After Mass, Please, and Make Them Delicious April 19, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window When Seminarian Andrew Chase was assigned to St. Joseph’s in Cockeysville, he learned he would be responsible for the donuts and coffee after Mass.
Fly Me to the Moon (or Fly Someone Else and Let Me Watch) April 12, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window This type of encounter helps us see the beauty and the power and the imagination behind God’s creation.
The Little Girl at the Cross: Our Faith Is Always New April 5, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window When it was her turn, she walked right up to the cross, carefully leaned down very low, and gave the dark wood a kiss. Then she bounced away.
An Easter Reflection: Winning with Joy April 5, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window The Easter season is a time for rejoicing—not just for ourselves, but in a way that invites those around us to join in the celebration.
It’s Holy Week and You’re Right on Time March 29, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Lent, Open Window Whether you have been preparing since Ash Wednesday or are just deciding that you want to shift into a new mode now, the moment is yours.
What I have done and what I have failed to do March 23, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I’m on a quest to attend 226 Masses during 2026. So, back at the end of January, I decided to try to go to Mass every day of February. February is the shortest month, so I thought maybe I would have a chance at hitting that goal. But going every day is a real challenge […]
A Sacred Transformation (or a visit to a hospital chapel) March 15, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window I was looking around, wondering whether the Mass would be offered in a different space, when a man passed me pushing a rolling cart.
More than a Cup of Coffee (and accepting Lenten interruptions) March 7, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window As we were walking, I saw a man who looked like he was on his way to work. He was carrying a paper coffee cup—a beacon to me on my hunt for coffee.
That Takes the Diaper Cake February 28, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window When a colleague reached out to invite me to a baby shower, I started thinking about whether I had time to make a diaper cake.
Today is a good day to begin again February 22, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window Lent isn’t about winning. It’s about taking small steps that we hope lead to big ones. If we’re doing this right, Lent will not be easy. But we are trying.
An Amelia Bedelia moment and setting Lenten goals February 15, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window So, dinner was a little bumpy. But then my sister pulled out a pan of fresh apple crisp—still warm from the oven—for dessert.
