LOOP COMMUNITY
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH W / SEPH SCHLUETER | Matt McCoy
Seph Schlueter sat down with Loop Community Founder Matt McCoy to talk about worship in the Catholic Church, Damascus Worship and his latest music.
[ Matt ] You’ re a part of the Catholic Church. What would happen if a Catholic Church had more music that was captivating the younger generation? Is it a missed opportunity?
[ Seph ] That’ s the stuff that keeps me up at night and a big reason why Damascus youth camps exist. We have mass every day at camp. In the context of mass, we are playing modern music. We’ ll throw hymns in too but we’ re doing it with guitar and drums. The kids are so engaged. High school boys, who are usually closed off, are crying worshiping the Lord. We have 300 + young adults who are there for the whole summer as counselors and staff members who are encountering God in powerful ways. But it’ s so tragic, they’ re going back to their parishes, churches, universities, and they’ re asking,“ Is there a place for this?” and sometimes they’ re being told“ That’ s not even Catholic.” It’ s such a missed opportunity. A common critique amongst Catholics is this type of worship is“ too emotional” or“ all about me”. I say, go look at the CCLI Top 100. Almost all of them are so vertical and all about the Lord. That’ s my goal on any Sunday. I don’ t care what style you want to do. I have preferences but at least make it vertical. Why would we discount that? They are songs about Jesus and elevate your heart to Jesus.
[ Matt ] Do you think this is something more Catholic churches would be open to?
[ Seph ] It totally depends on the pastor. The problem I think, is I’ ll ask if it’ s something people find is wrong, and they say no, it just makes them uncomfortable. But you shouldn’ t let your comfort with something get in the way of other people’ s encounter with Jesus.
LEADING WORSHIP WHEN YOU FEEL SPIRITUALLY DRY [ Matt ] There was an Instagram post you posted recently that talked about how the enemy wants us isolated, but the Lord wants us integrated. Can you talk about that?
[ Seph ] So often we don’ t engage in community in an authentic way. That’ s what the enemy loves. The Lord wants you integrated which
means bringing your whole self into something. What’ s been vital for me, is I’ m connected where I live. I have a community of people who know me, who will keep me accountable, who I can go to, and they’ ll pray for me. The enemy wants us to think that no one else experiences something, it’ s just us. But when you’ re fully integrated, you’ re bringing your flaws and all. Get connected to community and be vulnerable. Nothing is going to drain you more than having to put up a façade. When you can be yourself, and communicate to someone that you’ re feeling spiritually dry, that can be what helps you break through.
Click here to watch the full conversation.
You can get the Master Tracks for Seph Schlueter’ s music to lead his songs at your church on LoopCommunity. com.
Matt McCoy Matt is a worship leader, songwriter and Ableton Certified Trainer from Chicago, IL. He has been using Ableton and tracks in worship since 2002. He’ s passionate about creating new products and teaching worship leaders and artists how to use technology in live performance. www. LoopCommunity. com 44 October 2025 Subscribe for Free...