Richard Crowley, CSV, now churchless, approached Moe Dalitz to donate land on the Las Vegas Strip.

Dalitz was familiar with the work of Los Angeles architect Paul R. Williams and approached him to design the new church.

In 1977 Bishop Norman McFarland of the recently re-designated Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas chose the shrine as the co-cathedral.

There is a large mosaic over the main entrance of the cathedral by Los Angeles artist Edith Piczek.

The stained glass windows, which depict the Stations of the Cross, are by her sister Isabel Piczek.