Associate Anthony Gugino

by | Jul 16, 2025 | Meet a Viatorian

Anyone who has gone on the Viatorian Youth Congress (VYC) has met Associate Anthony Gugino.

Here’s Anthony on the first VYC – in 2010 – introducing then-Br. John Eustice, CSV following their Viatorian interviews.

Those who went on the first VYC in 2010 met him as a delegate. Those who went on the next few encountered him as a young adult leader or coordinator. And those who have gone on any VYC’s since 2016 have worked him as the music ministry director.

“Becoming an associate, for me, was an extension of the VYC. I had so many great mentors – associates, brothers, and priests ­– really encourage me to become part of the community,” Anthony said. “VYC made me feel very at home and very comfortable. I knew I was part of the mission, and it was very natural to formally join this mission and continue my work in my parish here in Las Vegas.”

Anthony was born and raised in Las Vegas, going to St. Viator Catholic Community. There, he was baptized, went to St. Viator Parish School from kindergarten through eighth grade, received his Sacraments, and continued belonging as an adult.

While Anthony works a steady career in the parks and recreation department of Clark County, he also loves music and is an experienced pianist, accompanist, and liturgical music minister.

Anthony has been directing music ministry on VYC since 2016. Here, he leads the choir at Mass at Maternity BVM during VYC 2022 in Bourbonnais.

“Growing up, I think music was the only way to keep me quiet during Mass when I was a kid!” Anthony joked. “Watching my music teacher Cheri Scott, who had been the music director at St. Viator even longer than that, I learned a lot about music ministry, and I think music ministry is a great way to express our faith.”

Anthony began as a substitute pianist at St. Viator in 2008, and it snowballed from there, thanks in part to Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation Associate Rosy Hartz. “Rosy had a desire to bring a youth band to our Sunday evening Mass. At first, we started out with one Mass per month, doing mostly contemporary Catholic music,” Anthony explained. “In 2014, I took on the Mass every week, and it morphed into more contemporary Christian music. But I also like to use older Catholic hymns, transform them into something new, and give them a breath of fresh air. That way, we honor the past, but we also use recently written songs as well.”

Anthony began music ministry at St. Viator as a substitute pianist in 2008 and gradually served more and more, becoming a music ministry associate in charge of the Mass on Sunday evenings.

For Anthony, it’s an opportunity to partner with Viatorian celebrants, homilists, and lay liturgical ministers in providing beautiful liturgy to the community. Anthony values teamwork, as he often pulls in his brother Associate Tommy Gugino, his friend Associate Ky Guerrero from St. Thomas More in Henderson, and many friends he’s known in the parish since childhood who, like him, continue serving as adults.

All of this is part of what it means to Anthony to be a Viatorian Associate. “When people don’t know about the Viatorians and association, I explain that as a lay associate, I support the work of the Viatorian Community. I support the work of my pastor and the brothers and priests who have ministered here over the years. It’s a partnership,” Anthony said. “Then I also have my own mission through my own work in music ministry and liturgical ministry. It lets the Viatorian priests focus on presiding at Mass and giving a homily, and then, together, we can have a great liturgy.”

A great piece of trivia about Anthony is that his long-running music ministry means he has ministered in every Viatorian-founded or Viatorian-sponsored church in the US part of our province. And his work continues, going strong, as he serves on the Henderson-Las Vegas regional leadership team and continues directing music for VYC and the Sunday evening Mass at St. Viator.

Anthony was elected to the regional leadership team alongside (L-R) Associates Kim Martinez, Tommy Gugino, and Dan Schwarz. Together, they plan and prepare fellowship, prayer, and service events for the Viatorians in the Henderson-Las Vegas region.

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“From VYC, to going to Belize on an immersion trip, to getting to work with Viatorians in planning liturgy, and supporting ministry across the province, it all reaffirms the Viatorians’ investment in me as a young person in high school and throughout college, and how it’s shaped me into the young adult I’ve become,” Anthony said. “It’s important that the Viatorians set up our parishes and schools for future success by trusting Millennials and Gen-Z’ers as leaders that are ready to go, so we can carry the mission forward.”

So, Anthony doesn’t want to stop with himself and his generation – he’s looking to the teens and young adults coming up after him. “So many of the leaders who come through VYC are interested in one day becoming associates,” Anthony said. “We have to figure out how we keep up our relationships with them, foster that connection, and keep them engaged. That way, when they’re ready and able, we’re in position to invite them in and help them and our community grow.”

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