The church being discussed is in Virginia.
Over the centuries, the Latin Church has introduced many of its practices to the Maronite Church, including statues, rosary, stations of the cross, etc. The Novus Ordo "look", (Mass in English and facing the people), came about, following Vatican Council II. Here is brief history of those changes.
The most recent reform in the Maronite liturgy came about as a resent of Vatican II. On December 4, 1963, the Vatican Ecumenical Council issued a decree entitled " The Liturgy".
In accordance with the terms of the decree and the wishes of the Maronite Clergy,
1) The Vatican Ecumenical Council.
2) The Maronite Bishops.
3) Other Members of the Maronite belief, clergy and laity alike.
4) The Maronite Patriarch in Lebanon who was empowered (by the terms of the regulations issued November 21, 1965, pertaining specifically to the Eastern Church and being part of the Ecumenical Decrees of Vatican II) to reform the liturgy of the Maronite Church, Hs Eminence Cardinal Patriarch Peter Paul Meouchi in a patriarchal decree, dated April 13, 1973, ordered the priests of the Maronite Church to amend the Mass and to use the new Ordo Missae, as new form of prayer and devotion for a trial of one year from the date of the decree.
Shortly after the Decree was issued, hostilities broke out in Lebanon, and His Beatitude and Eminence Cardinal Patriarch Antonius Peter Khoreiche prolonged the experimental year for a further indefinite period. Moreover, to free the clergy of the Maronite Church for more important work of ministering to those who had suffered as a result of the upheavals in Lebanon, His beatitude ordered a postponement of decision - making meetings respecting church procedures until some future date when the country was once more at peace.
In 1992, His Eminence Cardinal and Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, has ordered the new edition of the Maronite Mass, ad experimentum for five years.
The most important elements written into the Maronite Mass by the Patriarch at the time of the decree made April 13, 1973, and in July 1992 are as follows :
In his observance of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, a priest should always face the Congregation at those times when he directly addresses the Community or when he gives a blessing or benediction, and he should turn to the altar when he addresses or pray to the Lord.
The text of the Mass should be in the vernacular particularly at those times when the priest speaks to the congregation. However, the words of Consecration, the Epiclesis (the invocation of the Holy Spirit), as well as certain hymns and blessings should be spoken in the original Aramaic, the language used by Christ, to remind the faithful of their Maronite heritage and traditions.
The faithful will bow their heads in accordance with an ancient Maronite custom rather than genuflect in the roman catholic fashion.
The first part of the Mass, the "preparation of the faithful", shall consist of prayers, hymns, and readings which will varied according the seasons of the Church and feast days honoured by our Holy mother Church.
On certain special feast days during the year, such as Ash Monday, Palm Sunday, Commemoration of the Finding of the Cross, etc., and for weddings, funerals, and baptisms, a special liturgy appropriate to the occasion will replace the usual prayers prescribed for the preparation of the faithful.
I wouldn't have been able to differentiate if I was in a novus ordo church until I saw that the Church was more traditionally oriented, i.e., Communion rail, traditional Stations of the Cross, statues, no banners, etc.
In the Maronite Tradition, there never was nor still is a need for a communion rail. As you know, communion is by intinction and has always been administered standing.
In similar fashion, Maronites do not genuflect (a Latin tradition), rather, they make a profound bow towards the Tabernacle. It is also considered proper in the Maronite Rite, to stand after communion, rather than kneel. These practices are traditional to their liturgy.