Outsourcing Prayers to India

Found via Living Room, the New York Times reports that:

With Roman Catholic clergy in short supply in the United States, Indian priests are picking up some of their work, saying Mass for special intentions, in a sacred if unusual version of outsourcing.

American, as well as Canadian and European churches, are sending Mass intentions, or requests for services like those to remember deceased relatives and thanksgiving prayers, to clergy in India.

...

The requests are mostly routed to Kerala's churches through the Vatican, the bishops or through religious bodies. Rarely, prayer requests come directly to individual priests.

Now I really wonder about this. I have a hard time imagining taking a prayer request or a Mass intention to my pastor, and hearing that there's no time for the prayer request, or all the Masses for the forseeable future are already committed.

Comments

[Jeff Miller]

I usually have to wait a couple of months between asking for a prayer request and for the actual Mass.

Though we usually already outsource most prayers. We outsource to the Saints in Heaven who intercede for us.

[geronius]

Geronius ferns +
ABBA FATHER, I SURRENDER THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN DISTRESS AND THEIR SUFFERINGS AND PROBLEMS.LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN THEIR LIVES.
1 POURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WISDOM, and GRACE& GOOD MEMORY FOR A STUDENT TO STUDY AND TO DO WELL IN HIS STUDIES AND EXAMS.
2. HEALING OF CONGENTIAL CATRACT OF 3 PERSONS, OUT OF WHICH 1 HAS ONLY 40 EYESIGHT LEFT AND BLIND WITH THE OTHER EYE
3 MIRACULOUS HEALING OF FRACTURED HAND OF A YOUNG MAN WHOSE OPERATION WAS A FAILURE
4 POURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SUITABLE FUTURE & A GOOD JOB FOR A YOUNG MAN.
5 GIFT OF A CHILD FOR 2 COUPLES.
6 INNER HEALING AND GRACE TO STICK TO DIET RECOMMENDED BY DOCTORS TO REDUCE OVERWEIGHT FOR 4 PEOPLE.
7 DELIVERENCE FOR 2 ALCOHOLIC MOTHERS OF SMALL CHILDREN.
8 INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GRACE & CURE FROM THEIR PHYSICAL AILMENTS.
9. ENLIGHTENMENT & HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR A COUPLE TO TAKE A MAJOR DECISION ACCORDING TO YOUR PLAN
10)FOR THE MIRACULOUS CURE OF LOUISA ACUTE CHEST PAIN.
11)FOR A 8 YEAR OLD BOY SAHIL WHO HAS AN EYE SURGERY TO BE PERFORMED ON BOTH THE EYES,