As my faith grows, so does my irritation with the Church. I grew up in the 70's and missed out on all the Latin. Yet, I still long for it. I no longer take communion in the hand and neither will my son next year. We also sit in the pews that receive from the priest. I'm not a big fan of extraordinary ministers. Here are a couple sites that you might like reading. You may consider printing one of them out when it comes time for your son to begin his preparations. Good luck!
http://www.catholic-pages.com/mass/inhand.asp
http://www.tldm.org/directives/d03.htm
And what do you do when you sit on the side of the church with an extraordinary minister giving out communion?
These are well-meaning people, good people, so this isn't personal. However, the name is EXTRAordinary which means giving Holy Communion in extenuating circumstances (absence of a priest, obviously). But they're there, even during the weekday masses, I've noticed. (when I've gone during the week)
I grew up during the seventies too, and thankfully, things have calmed down (at least here in the Deep South) My grandparents were really hurt with all of the changes (Yes! change just for the sake of change), most especially my Grandpa. (he was a cradle Catholic, my Grandma converted from Lutheranism in her late 20s, I believe) But, they stuck it out. Hopefully, they are in Heaven praying that Latin, the beautiful and ancient language that bound us around the world as Catholics will make a return to everyday Mass again. Did I also mention that my parish's last priest doesn't even know Latin? I thought all of the Church documents (coming from the Vatican) were written in Latin? However, this priest also brought back the 24 hour exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, had May crownings of the Blessed Mother, and other traditional practices.
On a brighter note, when I went to Mass this morning we have around 12-14 seminarians for our diocese! As my diocese has gone back to more traditional practices (pre-Mass Rosaries, Novenas, First Friday Observations and Expositions of the Blessed Sacrament) so has the # of vocations gone up. Great news indeed!
ROFL.
My Father says that he's 'skeptical' about these extraordinary ministers.
I don't have to deal with it at my regular Mass, as it's the Tridentine Rite. I receive Communion on the tongue, on my knees, at the Altar rail with a dish held under my chin should the Host accidentally drop.
When I go to see my Parents though and I attend Mass there, there seems to be an extraordinary amount of extraordinary Ministers. I'm used to it by now, and I don't prefer it, but I don't care too too much, especially when the extraordinary Minister is an elderly Polish gentleman, who's a Holy Man in my estimation.