This new Buddhist gathering in Tucson started on Sunday August 10 at the Ida Peirce McCormick library, 1401 E. 1st St. on UA campus. Organizer is Tucsonan David Belcheff, with assistance of Sensei Lynn Sugiyama of AZ Buddhist Temple in Phoenix. (No relation to yours truly, though we share similar names since my maiden name was Sugiyama).
“The Little Chapel of All Nations is not a church – there is no minister or congregation. It is a non-profit, nonsectarian organization founded over 65 years ago by the late Ada Peirce McCormick, a Tucson writer and early-day feminist. The Chapel is a place to let the human spirit escape from the clamor of everyday life. It is simply a wayside shrine leading to your own belief.”
The Little Chapel is on the NE corner of E. 1st St. and Highland Ave (underpass) on University of Arizona campus. Parking is onsite, with service by Sun Tran bus # 4, and the Sun Link Streetcar (Highland Ave./E. 2nd St. stop).
I am so very glad you’ve come to Tuscon but it still so far….I am in
Sierra Vista, AZ. I’m not sure that
I still can not make the trip every
week. I’ve moved here from Los
Angeles. and found out that the
closest Jodo Shinshu was in the
Phoenix area. but I could not make
that at all. Here was a surprise that
this area has quite a few Japanese
here, and a very small Vietnamese
Buddhists temple. It was not what
I used to very different. Thank you
may be obon time. or special event,
if you would kindly let me know.
thank you. Ross Hirabayashi
nembutsu013155@gmail.com
Hi Ross, glad you found this new Tucson Jodo Shinshu gathering on Wed. nights at the Little Chapel on UA campus. They just started up in August 2025, but if they have any special events I will post it on the calendar and/or Upcoming Events. The only Obon festival in Arizona (as far as I know) is in June at the AZ Buddhist Temple in Phoenix.