About Guardian Angel Cathedral · Las Vegas, Nevada
Guardian Angel Cathedral is the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Las Vegas, located just off the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada, north of the Wynn and Encore hotels. It serves as the Mother Church of the archdiocese, ministering to over 760,000 Catholics in southern Nevada and to the millions of tourists who visit Las Vegas each year. Founded in 1963 by the Clerics of St. Viator after the demise of the unstable St. Viator Church, the cathedral was built on land donated by casino magnate Moe Dalitz and designed by celebrated African-American architect Paul R. Williams. Famous for its stained glass, mosaics, and murals—including work by the Piczek sisters—it is one of the most architecturally distinctive Catholic churches on the Strip.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- Guardian Angel (Holy Guardian Angels)
- Rector
- Most Rev. Gregory W. Gordon, STL (Rector)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Las Vegas
Why belong here
Guardian Angel Cathedral is the spiritual heart of Catholicism in southern Nevada—a parish uniquely shaped by Las Vegas itself, with a special indult from Rome allowing an early Saturday vigil Mass for hospitality workers finishing the graveyard shift. Worshippers can attend a full Sunday schedule (four Masses from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM, plus two Saturday vigil Masses at 2:30 and 4:30 PM) and weekday Masses at 9:00 AM and 12:10 PM. The cathedral offers robust adult faith formation, including Fr. Mugagga's weekly Theology Class and the 'Becoming Catholic' OCIA (RCIA) program held in Anderson Hall behind the cathedral. Beyond liturgy, the parish sustains a full music program with cathedral choir and music for funerals and weddings, three chapels (Blessed Sacrament, Lady, and Reconciliation), 1st Friday devotions with extended Eucharistic Adoration, and Jubilee Year plenary indulgence opportunities—making it an ideal spiritual home for residents, Strip employees, and tourists alike.
Mass times at Guardian Angel Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM
- Monday–Friday: 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
- Saturday: 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM (must end by 2:15 PM for priest preparation for Mass)
- First Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (with two confessors; adoration resumes until just before the 12:10 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00 AM Mass until just before the 12:10 PM Mass
- 1st Friday Adoration & Confession Time – also advertised on the calendar at 9:30 AM and after the 9 AM Friday Morning Mass
History of Guardian Angel Cathedral
The cathedral traces its origin to 1958, when the Clerics of St. Viator began celebrating early Sunday Masses in casino showrooms for hospitality workers. The opening of the Shrine in 1963, its elevation to co-cathedral in 1977, cathedral status in 1995, and Metropolitan Cathedral status in 2023 are all documented on the parish's own website and on Wikipedia.
- 1958: First 4:30 AM Mass celebrated in the Royal Hotel and Casino showroom
- 1955: St. Viator Church (Eastern & Flamingo) built on a former city dump; condemned and torn down within six months
- 1961: Moe Dalitz donates Strip land near the Desert Inn
- 1963: Guardian Angel Shrine opened October 2
- 1977: Elevated to Co-Cathedral and Parish under Bishop Norman McFarland
- 1990: Vatican indult grants Saturday 2:30 PM vigil Mass
- 1995: Diocese of Las Vegas established; Guardian Angel becomes Cathedral; $1.3 million renovation
- 2023, May 30: Diocese elevated to Archdiocese of Las Vegas by Pope Francis; cathedral becomes Metropolitan Cathedral
Architecture, Art and Sacred Spaces
Architect Paul R. Williams's Modern A-frame design is the cathedral's signature, crowned by a four-sided spire with cross and Holy Family statue. The interior is dominated by the monumental Piczek artworks: Edith Piczek's Guardian Angel mosaic over the main entrance (with figures of Penance, Prayer, and Peace), her 'The Final Beginning' mural on the rear chancel wall, and Isabel Piczek's stained-glass Stations of the Cross set into twelve triangular niches that bisect the A-frame. A large crucifix is suspended from the ceiling above the altar. The cathedral seats 1,100 across four main-floor sections and a deep gallery.
- Architect: Paul R. Williams (Los Angeles)
- Style: Modern, with A-frame structure
- Front mosaic: Guardian Angel with Penance, Prayer, Peace — Edith Piczek
- Chancel mural: 'The Final Beginning' — Edith Piczek
- Stations of the Cross stained glass: Isabel Piczek
- Capacity: 1,100
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel (right of altar); Lady Chapel (left)
Faith Formation and Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Guardian Angel Cathedral offers adult faith formation classes on Sundays and Mondays, beginning in September and running through the Easter season, in Anderson Hall directly behind the cathedral. The 'Becoming Catholic' OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, the new title for the former RCIA) meets Sundays at 10:30 AM following the 9 AM Mass and uses the USCCB ritual texts and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- Becoming Catholic (OCIA) — Sundays 10:30 AM in Anderson Hall
- Fr. Mugagga's Theology Class for Adults — Mondays at 10 AM in Anderson Hall
- Pre-Baptismal Catechesis — First Sunday of each month at 2:15 PM (Anderson Hall); pre-registration required
- Adult Faith Formation (Sundays and Mondays)
- Textbooks: Holy Bible, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Outlines of the Catholic Faith, Catholic Catechism for Adults; $50 registration fee
Sacraments
The Cathedral administers all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptisms require attendance at the Pre-Baptismal Catechesis Class for parents and godparents. Marriage preparation and wedding music resources are coordinated through the parish office. Holy Orders information is available for those discerning priesthood or religious life.
- Baptism
- Penance (Reconciliation)
- Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
Sacred Music
Guardian Angel maintains a robust liturgical music program. The Cathedral Choir leads worship at Sunday and feast-day Masses, and the parish provides specific music-planning resources for funerals and weddings — including approved musical settings of the Ordinary of the Mass.
- Cathedral Choir
- Funeral Music Information
- Wedding Music Information
- Musical Settings of the Ordinary of the Mass
- Weekly Music Plans
Our Clergy and Staff
The cathedral is led by the Archbishop of Las Vegas and the Rector. Day-to-day pastoral ministry is carried out by the Rector and Parochial Vicar, with the Viatorian clergy historically having served the parish from its founding. Cathedral Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, located inside the Archdiocesan Catholic Center.
- Most Reverend George Leo Thomas, Ph.D. — Archbishop of Las Vegas
- Most Reverend Gregory W. Gordon, STL — Rector
- Reverend Mugagga Lule — Parochial Vicar
- Cathedral Office: 8 AM – 4 PM, Monday – Friday
Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can support the cathedral through online giving, the weekly collection, volunteering, and praying during the published hours of private prayer. The cathedral welcomes new parishioners and those discerning vocations to the priesthood or religious life.
- Online Giving / Weekly Collection
- Volunteer (sign up through the Cathedral Office)
- Join the Cathedral Family
- Hours for Private Prayer: Mon–Fri 8 AM–1 PM; Sat 1 PM–5:30 PM; Sun 7 AM–1:45 PM
Visiting and Contact
Guardian Angel Cathedral sits at 302 Cathedral Way, just off the Las Vegas Strip and north of the Wynn and Encore hotels. The mailing address is 336 Cathedral Way, Las Vegas, NV 89109. Telephone: (702) 735-5241. Email: [email protected]. Public Mass and Confession schedules are listed above; private prayer is welcomed throughout the day.
- Address: 302 Cathedral Way, Las Vegas, NV 89109-0716
- Mailing: 336 Cathedral Way, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: (702) 735-5241
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.gaclv.org
- Office: 8 AM – 4 PM, Mon – Fri (inside the Archdiocesan Catholic Center)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard Crowley, CSV1958–circa 1970s
Founder; Viatorian pastor of the original 1958 Strip Masses and developer of Guardian Angel Shrine (1963).
- Rev. Lawrence Lentz, CSVcirca 2007 (and earlier)
Listed as Rector in 2007 diocese directory; served as a Viatorian rector of the cathedral.
- Rev. John Corredatocirca 2007
Listed as Parochial Vicar in 2007 diocese directory.
- Most Rev. Gregory W. Gordon, STLpresent
Current Rector of Guardian Angel Cathedral.
- Rev. Mugagga Lulepresent
Current Parochial Vicar.