[MaryAlice]

Thank you, Joshua ... I was at last evening's Mass, and besides Father's sermon which was great, he really pulled out all the stops ... a very large contingent of altar servers and acolytes, 12 or 14 in all, processing with candles up and back down the center aisle before and after Mass.  And the incense we use -- especially for these feast days of Our Blessed Mother's -- was fabulous! All of the sung parts of the Mass were in Latin, except the Kyrie (in Greek, of course).  I just love Her to pieces!

Oh wow! That is interesting you sung the Kyrie in Greek.  My local parish sing Latin during Advent and Lent. They are slowly singing Latin in Easter season. We now occassionally roll out a mobile kneeler for those who wish to kneel and receive the Holy Eucharist on the tongue

This is very good news, Joshua ... seems like the pendulum is swinging back in your parish, to some semblance of decency, order, and reverence for Our Lord at Mass.  I'm very happy for you!

At my parish, we've been receiving The Blessed Sacrament, kneeling at the communion rail and on the tongue for all the years I've been a member there ... and that's been since the mid-1990s when I first began going to church.  The bishop never gave us a hard time about it because we're such a large parish (notwithstanding a good percentage of our weekly collection goes to the diocesan headquarters, which -- only my opinion -- is why that's the real reason he doesn't give us a hard time, neither about how the friars distribute Holy Communion, nor the Latin).

As an aside, something I noticed a few weeks before Advent last year ... the Master of Ceremonies (the chief altar server) has been donning white gloves just before he picks up, holds, and moves the Ciborium from the altar to the small waiting table to the left in the sanctuary and back again to the altar.  This is something I've not seen in years, again since before VCII.  Our Lord is very well pleased with this, I'm certain.  He's God, after all, and we are to treat Him accordingly.

As a further aside, several months ago, we were told (from the pulpit) that the parish roster bears families from over 100 ZIP codes in and around the central Ohio area.  People are starved for the more reverent and respectful Order of the Mass for worshiping God.  Even some Masses are celebrated up at the main altar, ad orientum (meaning, to the East).  For all of us here at this Church, it's very solidly Catholic.  We also don't have any altar girls nor women in the sanctuary; we don't need them (I'm very happy with that, too, by the way).  We have about 60+ altar boys and 30 or more men who serve as lectors and ushers; so in spirit, you're in good company.

But back to you, I'm very happy for you, Joshua, that your parish is returning to the more reverent distribution and reception of The Holy Eucharist.  This is a very good sign.  I hope for your and your fellow parishioners' sake that this trend will continue.  It's all good!

A very blessed and Merry Christmastide, and a Happy New Year to you and yours!