Since the missions are one of the principal ends of the Institute, all will strive principally to fulfil this task well.
1818 Rule, Chapter Two, §1, Article 1.
During Eugene’s lifetime the Oblates in France had animated some 3000 parish missions, and the importance of this ministry is seen in that 19 of the 24 Oblate houses in France at the time of his death had mission preaching as their main ministry. Eugene explained:
The missions are the apostolic work par excellence. If we wish to achieve the same results as the Apostles and the first followers of the Gospel, we must use the same means as they.
Letter to M. Arbaud, 16 January 1819, O.W. XIII n. 22.
Therefore, just like the apostles, the Oblate vocation was
to imitate the virtues and example of our Savior Jesus Christ, principally by devoting themselves to the preaching of the Word of God to the poor.
1818 Rule Chapter One, §1 article 1
Imitating the Saviour, who came to seek out the lost sheep, the Oblates dedicated themselves to seek out those whom the structures of the Church were not touching. The means to achieve this was to do exactly what the Saviour himself did: to break the bread of the Word of God by means of missions, catechetical instructions, retreats and other spiritual exercises – especially in the context of the missions conducted in groups in the rural areas.