The Vincentian Order was named after St. Vincent dePaul, a 17th century priest whose work with the poor has inspired more than 2 million people worldwide to serve in various organizations known as the Vincentian Family.

Visiting from the province of Kerala in the southern part of India, this is Puthuva's second trip to the United States. His journey is the result of the quest for contributions from Catholic parishes nationwide for mission work in his native land. It will take him from the East Coast to as far away as California.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Father Paul Puthuva to St. Joseph's and we're thankful he was able to take time out of his lengthy itinerary to visit the Health Center residents and associates," says John Capasso, president and CEO of St. Joseph of the Pines Life Care System. "Father's work in missions for his native India is to be admired. We value his religious contribution to our organization here and wish him well in his efforts to promote charitable activities for his people back home."

Sister Mary Zeno of the order of the Sisters of Providence, and Sisters Lilly Grace and Roseena Jacob of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Mark escorted Puthuva, introducing him to residents, patients, associates and volunteers. With 16 years in the ministry, Puthuva has a doctorate in theology from the University in Rome, Italy, and hails from the same province as the three sisters working and volunteering at St. Joseph of the Pines.

Noting he finds similarities between the two disparate nations, he places emphasis on the fact that "people are very hospitable and generous and loving (in the United States) just as they are in India." He notes the difference in the living standard, "with the majority being very poor," did not hinder the people in India from being any less generous with their warmth and kindheartedness.

The Rev. Carl Naylor, St. Joseph of the Pines director of missions and pastoral care departments, said the short time he shared with the visiting priest yielded a wealth of information about many topics affecting the people of India.

"I heard firsthand from someone who is waging a war against poverty," says Naylor. "I enjoyed spending time with Father Puthuva. He is a very spiritual man."

In India there is no shortage of Catholic clergy and many of the priests and nuns commit most of their time to going out into the community, taking personal responsibility for supplying the affected population with the vaccines for tuberculosis. They also follow up with each patient to make sure they continue to take the medicine prescribed for them.

This, says Naylor, as he pictures the clergy traveling over the primitive roads into the devastating conditions plaguing so much of the population, reveals the true pious quality of Father Puthuva and the other priests and nuns in a country of well over a billion men, women and children.

St. Joseph of the Pines Health System is sponsored by the Sisters of Providence and is a member of Catholic Health East. It includes the Health Center, Rehabilitation Center, Coventry, Belle Meade Retirement Resort, Villas at Pine Knoll and Overlook at Pine Knoll, and Providence Place.