Worship That Moves: 5 Songs Mary Kate Westrich Loves to Lead
Meet Mary Kate Westrich—a passionate worship leader who’s spent years helping young people encounter Christ through music. Whether she’s leading at a high school Mass, youth retreat, or parish event, Mary Kate carefully selects songs that are both beautiful and easy for everyone to sing along with.
“Whenever I lead worship music, I have two things in mind when choosing songs: Is this song beautiful and will people sing it? When we praise the Lord together, I think it’s our glimpse into the sound of Heaven. I close my eyes and imagine our voices joining in with the angels and saints to give our Master and Creator all the glory. It brings me a lot of joy to hear the congregation’s voices rise together, creating something truly beautiful for the Lord,” shared Mary Kate.
With that heart for worship, Mary Kate shares her top five favorite songs from OCP Worship:
1. “Go Make a Difference” - Steve Angrisano, Tom Tomaszek
“This song gets people hyped! I sing at a lot of different high schools and without a doubt whenever I start playing this song, smiles come across faces and voices get louder while singing. I love using it as a closing song to Mass to send people out to make a difference.”
2. “The Body of Christ” – Sarah Hart
“The lyrics to this song are beautiful. I love using it for communion to remind us all that we are ‘one in the body of Christ’ as we receive the body of Christ.”
3. “Go Out, Go Out” – Curtis Stephan
“I love playing this song at parishes and grade schools. I always hear children’s voices singing this one loudly. And what brings more joy than children praising the Lord?”
4. “We Thank You Lord” - John Paul Von Arx, David Leonard, Dana Schwarz, Matt Armstrong
“This song can be used for Mass, Adoration, or even in your car on your way to work, which makes it a great choice for all your praise needs. The line ‘all the plans you ever had were good, whether or not we loved you like we should’ cuts straight to the heart for me.”
5. “Spirit Breathe” - Sarah Hart, Sarah Kroger, Chase Wagner, Ben Walther
“The first time I heard this song my heart melted. ‘Spirit, breathe. Come fill the depths of me.’ is such a beautiful prayer. A congregation singing this together really makes you feel united in Christ.”
These are just a few of the songs that have inspired Mary Kate and the communities she serves. If you haven’t heard them yet, she encourages you to give them a listen—you might just find your new favorite worship song.
Mary Kate Westrich is a Catholic musician, songwriter, wife, and mother from St. Louis, MO. Her mission is to bring the healing power of Christ to others by praising the Lord through song. Whether leading worship at a conference, writing songs during nap time, or singing with her children, Mary Kate lives her vocation with joy and purpose.