Thrissur: Living up to its brand name "God's Own Country", outsourcing of prayer to Europe and the US from local churches is thriving in Kerala.

Shortage of priests in many Western countries is said to be the main reason for the phenomenon.

The process comprises performing of prayers and special masses by local priests for which requests are made through Internet.

Also in good overseas demand are cassettes, CDs and VCDs of Christian prayers, devotional songs and high masses.

Church sources, however, denied that prayer outsourcing had any monetary motive though a nominal fee is charged for saying special prayers in local churches on behalf of those who make requests for them.

"The Church is not interested in sending out prayers on commercial basis. Some priests might have made prayers and requiem services in cassettes and sent them abroad," Fr Paul Alappat, Chancellor of Thrissur Archdiocese, said.

Cassettes and CDs showing masses and discourses held at the Divine Retreat Centre at Muringur near here also command brisk demand abroad, especially among Keralite Christians living overseas.

The Divine Centre, where charismatic retreats are held round the year, attracts about 8,000 foreign nationals a year and many of them take back cassettes and CDs for their near and dear ones when they go home, said Fr Mathew Thadathil, procurator and administrator of the Divine Centre.