I worked hard on those retreats, and was very glad to have organized them. There is also a group of young parishioners who go to Mass every first Saturday of the month. After mass, I hear their confessions, and then I take them to breakfast. Nearly all of them are girls, and I don't mind that at all. And I am glad that I took them.
Girls are very important people.
They are the future mothers in our society and they will have the most influence in handing on the faith to the next generation. I consider any time I take for them to be well spent. My reason for being sad or dismayed at this change is that I am going to miss being a spiritual father to my altar boys. I will miss that joyful experience of trying to pass on to them something of myself, my love for the mass, and especially my priesthood. As I said, I have great respect for the girls.