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Pastor uses Web sites to increase church outreach

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WHITEHALL, Wis.--The Rev. Pat Umberger oversees a small church with a congregation of thousands. According to an Associated Press report, Umberger’s congregation extends well beyond southwestern Wisconsin through his operation of three Web sites.

Umberger e-mails a morning prayer to about 8,500 people worldwide and a weekly spiritual reflection to about 3,000 people.

Since 1998 about 336,000 people have visited Umberger’s personal site, called Father Pat’s Place. The site offers more than 100 pages on issues ranging from grief support, reconciliation, marriage problems, Lenten regulations and Catholic teaching on war.

"I think the Internet is a great way to spread the gospel message because it's where people are," Umberger said. "The church needs to be where people are."

Umberger is the parochial administrator of St. John Apostle Parish in Whitehall and St. Ansgar Parish in Blair. He set up a Web site for the parishes at www.johnsgar.com. The parish Web site is similar to a church bulletin, except it is updated as events occur.

He also has a personal Web site (www.frpat.com) and a third site (www.cmonback.com) for people who have been away from the church and want to return.

Umberger said his sites are different than many church sites, which are little more than a one-dimensional information sheet about the church. His sites are more interactive and live.

"Many churches have a Web site with a picture of the church, a Mass schedule, but not many are as comprehensive as ours," Umberger said. "We have e-mail lists as well, so if something happens in the parish, they can be the first to know when there's a funeral, when there's a good show on television, when a variety of things are happening in the parish."

Umberger typically spends a couple of hours a day at his church office computer, updating the Web sites or replying to e-mails.

"This is a way to touch many lives, and do God's work," he said.