They “will devote themselves to providing spiritual assistance for the poor people scattered over the country districts, and for the inhabitants of the small rural villages deprived of spiritual help.”
1818 Rule, Chapter 1, §1 article 1
Between 1816 and 1823 (when Eugene left Aix to go to Marseille as Vicar General) the missions and retreats preached to over half of these villages were to places which had less than 2000 inhabitants, more than twelve of which were to places with less than 1000 inhabitants. Eight missions were to places with between 2500 and 6000, and only on a few occasions did they participate in city missions together with other groups of missioners. In the latter cases they chose the poorer sections to minister to.
“If you are willing, we shall take charge, as we did at Arles, of that part of the city inhabited by the lower classes; thus we will not be going against the Rules of our Institute which require us to devote ourselves to that portion of the flock of Jesus Christ”
Letter to M. Rauzan, Superior of the Missionaries of France
in connection with the forthcoming joint mission in Aix,
30 October 1818, O.W. XIII n. 19.
In Marseilles, for example, in 1820 they preached in the three parishes frequented by labourers, sailors and fishermen.
On the whole Eugene insisted that the preference always be given to the rural areas:
I prefer no doubt that you employ your zeal in favour of the poor abandoned mountain people rather than waste your time with the proud citizens of disdainful cities.
Letter to P. Mie, 7 September 1826, O.W. VII, n. 253